New laws will hit wallet

OLYMPIA — With a new year just around the corner, a host of new statewide laws will soon impact Washingtonians’ wallets beginning Jan. 1.

Here are some of them.

Minimum wage

The state’s minimum wage – already the highest state-level minimum wage in the nation – will increase 38 cents.

According to the state Department of Labor & Industries, the minimum wage will rise to $16.66 an hour next year, a 2.35% increase over the current minimum wage of $16.28.

The increase applies to workers age 16 and older.

Employers may pay 85% of that wage, or $14.16 an hour, to workers ages 14-15.

Paid sick leave...