L&I announces rulemaking plans
for child labor requirements

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) Wednesday filed a preproposal for rulemaking regarding non-agricultural and agricultural child labor requirements. This rulemaking is 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 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 certain child labor exceptions. The bill also increases consequences for failures 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 is considering amending its existing agricultural (Chapter 296-131 WAC) and non-agricultural (Chapter 296-125 WAC) child labor rules to align with the new standards created by the bills.

We may also consider housekeeping and technical updates to clarify existing agricultural and non-agricultural child labor standards. This may include reorganizing, combining, renumbering, and moving existing requirements, as well as repealing any duplicate or outdated standards. L&I may also consider additional child labor rule updates.

You will have an opportunity to provide input on draft rules when they are released for public comment later this year.

© Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

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