The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has proposed updates to the state’s non-agricultural and agricultural child labor standards. L&I will hold three public hearings on the proposed rules in April.
L&I filed the Proposed Rulemaking CR-102 in response to three bills that passed during the 2025 legislative session.
Substitute House Bill 1121 (SHB 1121) – Allows minors enrolled in career and technical education programs to work the same number of hours in a day and week during the school year as during school vacations, so long as the work is performed for an employer participating in the educational program.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1644 (ESHB 1644) – Requires safety-and-health and child labor consultations for employers seeking exceptions to certain child labor requirements. The bill also increases consequences for failing to keep minor workers safe in agricultural and non-agricultural industries.
House Bill 1722 (HB 1722) – Allows minors with certain licenses or certifications issued by the Washington State Department of Health to work around bloodborne pathogens.
L&I also proposes to improve the organization and clarity of L&I’s child labor requirements. The rules would create a new chapter in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for agricultural child labor (Chapter 296-122 WAC) and consolidate sections with similar topics in the non-agricultural rules (Chapter 296-125 WAC). The proposals would also improve the descriptions of minor work permits, parent/school authorizations, and special variances to clarify L&I’s existing practices and procedures. The rules would repeal duplicate and outdated standards.
The proposals would also strengthen protections for minors by establishing retaliation protections for agricultural and non-agricultural child labor. In addition, the non-agricultural rules would improve alignment with federal prohibited duty standards. The agricultural rules would improve consistency with non-agricultural prohibited duties.
Public hearings
You can provide testimony and written comments at three public hearings in April. L&I staff will lead a pre-hearing overview 30 minutes before each hearing. During the overview, staff will present a summary of the proposed rule language and answer questions from the public. The hearings are scheduled for:
April 9 at 1:30 p.m. with the overview at 1 p.m. This hearing is in-person only and will be held in Room S117 at the L&I Tumwater building at 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater.
April 13 at 10:30 a.m. with the overview at 10 a.m. This hearing is virtual only. The meeting ID is 276 663 922 511 63 and the passcode is Bt6Kg7LR. To join by phone (audio only), call 564-999-2000. The meeting ID is 825 800 720#.
April 14 at 10:30 a.m. with the overview at 10 a.m. This hearing is in-person only and will be held at L&I’s Union Gap office at 1205 Ahtanum Ridge Drive, Suite C, Union Gap, WA 98903.
Interpretation services can be provided at no cost to you when you request them ahead of time. You can request interpretation services by contacting us by email.
Se le pueden proporcionar servicios de interpretación sin costo alguno si los solicita con anticipación.
Written comments
You can provide testimony or written comments at the above hearings or send written comments by 5:00 p.m. on April 17, 2026, to:
Mail: WA State Department of Labor & Industries Division of Labor Standards, Employment Standards PO Box 44510 Olympia, WA 98504-4510
Fax: 360-902-5300
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has proposed updates to the state’s non-agricultural and agricultural child labor standards. L&I will hold three public hearings on the proposed rules in April.
L&I filed the Proposed Rulemaking CR-102 in response to three bills that passed during the 2025 legislative session.
Substitute House Bill 1121 (SHB 1121) – Allows minors enrolled in career and technical education programs to work the same number of hours in a day and week during the school year as during school vacations, so long as the work is performed for an employer participating in the educational program.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1644 (ESHB 1644) – Requires safety-and-health and child labor consultations for employers seeking exceptions to certain child labor requirements. The bill also increases consequences for failing to keep minor workers safe in agricultural and non-agricultural industries.
House Bill 1722 (HB 1722) – Allows minors with certain licenses or certifications issued by the Washington State Department of Health to work around bloodborne pathogens.
L&I also proposes to improve the organization and clarity of L&I’s child labor requirements. The rules would create a new chapter in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for agricultural child labor (Chapter 296-122 WAC) and consolidate sections with similar topics in the non-agricultural rules (Chapter 296-125 WAC). The proposals would also improve the descriptions of minor work permits, parent/school authorizations, and special variances to clarify L&I’s existing practices and procedures. The rules would repeal duplicate and outdated standards.
The proposals would also strengthen protections for minors by establishing retaliation protections for agricultural and non-agricultural child labor. In addition, the non-agricultural rules would improve alignment with federal prohibited duty standards. The agricultural rules would improve consistency with non-agricultural prohibited duties.
Public hearings
You can provide testimony and written comments at three public hearings in April. L&I staff will lead a pre-hearing overview 30 minutes before each hearing. During the overview, staff will present a summary of the proposed rule language and answer questions from the public. The hearings are scheduled for:
April 9 at 1:30 p.m. with the overview at 1 p.m. This hearing is in-person only and will be held in Room S117 at the L&I Tumwater building at 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater.
April 13 at 10:30 a.m. with the overview at 10 a.m. This hearing is virtual only. The meeting ID is 276 663 922 511 63 and the passcode is Bt6Kg7LR. To join by phone (audio only), call 564-999-2000. The meeting ID is 825 800 720#.
April 14 at 10:30 a.m. with the overview at 10 a.m. This hearing is in-person only and will be held at L&I’s Union Gap office at 1205 Ahtanum Ridge Drive, Suite C, Union Gap, WA 98903.
Interpretation services can be provided at no cost to you when you request them ahead of time. You can request interpretation services by contacting us by email.
Se le pueden proporcionar servicios de interpretación sin costo alguno si los solicita con anticipación.
Written comments
You can provide testimony or written comments at the above hearings or send written comments by 5:00 p.m. on April 17, 2026, to:
