OLYMPIA — Employers, landlords and service providers will be prohibited from discriminating against individuals based on their citizenship or immigration status under a bill passed in the Washington Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on March 18.

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, the bill’s prime sponsor, said passing these legislative protections for undocumented immigrants was part of a three-year effort spurred by a request made by the Human Rights Commission of the city of Tacoma.

Saldaña said the request had raised community concerns about people being discriminated against based on the perception and assumption that they were “non-citizens.” She said this kind of discrimination can limit residents’ access to employment, education and housing.

The bill, which was passed by the House and Senate with party-line votes, is an expansion of the Washington Law Against Discrimination to include “citizenship or immigration status,” as a protected class.

This means employers, potential employers, service providers, real estate transactors and credit and insurance companies cannot discriminate against individuals because of perceptions around their documentation as a citizen.

Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, said he and the members of the House Republican Caucus voted against the bill because they thought it was confusing. Ybarra said the policy was “over-broad” and “not a very clear law.”

He said there are federal laws in place that require landlords and employers to ask potential tenants and employees to produce specific documentation. Employers ask for proof of work visa or social security, and landlords will want to verify credit.

Ybarra said he felt like the legislation conflicts with federal law and makes it harder for businesses to know how to manage undocumented immigrants in situations of employment and transactions.

Saldaña said that federal laws do supersede what they can do at the state level. In fact, SB 5165 includes a provision to allow exceptions only when a “federal law, regulation, or a government contract” requires it.

Ybarra also raised the point that the Washington Law Against Discrimination already includes protections for discrimination based on nationality.

Saldaña said the law is intended to make people feel protected, so they can contribute in their communities. She said the undocumented immigrants that live in our state and raise their children here are our neighbors and just as American as anyone else.

The new law goes into effect on June 11.