Labor & Employment (Child Labor)

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 19, 2026

SB 6221: Removing the sunset date for an employer's ability to correct wage and salary disclosures and defining "applicant."

This bill removes the expiration date (sunset) for employers to correct wage and salary disclosure errors in job postings, making the correction period permanent. It requires employers to fix noncompliant postings within five business days of written notice from a job applicant or third party, preventing penalties for good-faith corrections. The law applies to employers with 15+ employees and defines "applicant" as someone with genuine employment intent. It maintains enforcement options (like $100-$5,000 penalties per violation) but ensures employers can correct mistakes before legal action.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to correct wage disclosures within 5 business days, preventing misleading job postings and protecting workers' right to accurate pay information under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 6053: Establishing labor protections for domestic workers.

SB 6053 establishes wage and working condition protections for domestic workers in Washington State, directly affecting nannies, home care workers, housekeepers, and similar employees working in private residences. Key provisions require hiring entities (private households or agencies) to provide written agreements detailing pay, hours, benefits, and termination notice (2 weeks for non-live-in workers, 4 weeks for live-in), pay at least the state minimum wage plus overtime for hours over 40, and prohibit wage theft like withholding pay without legal justification. The bill also mandates written notification before termination (with specific exceptions) and requires employers to maintain records for enforcement. These changes apply to domestic workers not performing casual labor or family-related tasks, ensuring clear, enforceable standards for this workforce.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates written agreements, minimum wage + overtime for domestic workers, strengthening their rights and working conditions per bill's explicit protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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signed · Washington · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1644: Concerning the safety and health of working minors.

HB 1644, "Concerning the safety and health of working minors," aims to strengthen protections for young workers in Washington state. The bill amends the criteria for "responsible bidders" on public works contracts, requiring that contractors not have a revoked minor work permit to be eligible for these projects. It also modifies the process for issuing citations to employers who violate requirements related to minor work permits. These provisions are intended to promote adherence to safety and health standards for minors in the workplace.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens minor worker safety by requiring valid permits for public contracts and modifying enforcement, directly protecting young workers' health and safety per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1121: Concerning restrictions on the working conditions and hours of sixteen- and seventeen-year olds.

HB 1121 modifies Washington state labor rules regarding the working hours of 16- and 17-year-olds. The bill allows minors enrolled in a bona fide college program or an approved career and technical education program to work the same number of hours during school weeks as they can during school vacations. For career and technical education students, this flexibility applies when the work is performed for an employer approved by their program. The Department of Labor and Industries is directed to revise its rules to implement these changes, aiming to provide equitable work hour opportunities for these student groups. These new provisions will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands work hour flexibility for minors in approved education programs, supporting their employment opportunities while maintaining safety oversight through Department of Labor guidance.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5756: Concerning the safety and health of working minors.

SB 5756 amends Washington State law to strengthen penalties for employers violating safety and health rules for minor workers (under 18). It establishes tiered civil fines starting at $100 for minor permit violations, up to $71,000 for violations causing serious harm or death, with higher penalties for repeat offenses. Employers with three or more violations in two years face a 12-month ban on obtaining minor work permits. The bill also allows immediate workplace safety orders when a minor’s life is at risk and requires annual inflation adjustments to penalty amounts starting in 2027. It directly affects employers hiring minors who fail to comply with work permit, hours, break, or safety requirements.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens penalties for employer safety violations involving minors, directly enhancing workplace safety protections for vulnerable workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Workplace Safety

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2052: Allowing agricultural employees to voluntarily waive overtime requirements for up to 15 workweeks in a calendar year.

HB 2052 allows Washington agricultural employees to voluntarily waive overtime pay for up to 15 workweeks per calendar year during peak harvest seasons. This directly affects farmworkers who choose to work more hours without receiving the standard 1.5x overtime rate, potentially increasing their earnings during busy periods. The bill amends state law to add this voluntary waiver option for agricultural employees, replacing previous seasonal overtime caps that limited hours during harvest. It does not change the standard overtime rate but provides a temporary, worker-initiated exception to overtime requirements.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill allows agricultural workers to waive overtime pay, weakening a core labor protection (overtime requirement) that ensures higher pay for extra hours. This directly restricts worker benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1181: Concerning labor standards and the Washington minimum wage act.

HB 1181 clarifies who is covered by Washington's minimum wage law by updating definitions in the Washington Minimum Wage Act. It adds specific exclusions, such as farm interns with special certificates and minor league baseball players under collective bargaining agreements, while refining definitions for terms like "family member" and "retail establishment." These changes directly affect employers and workers in defined categories, ensuring the law applies only to eligible employees. The bill does not change the current minimum wage rate but refines coverage to align with evolving workplace structures.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAdds exclusions (e.g., minor league players under collective bargaining) from minimum wage coverage, restricting protections for specific worker categories.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5487: Authorizing agricultural employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50 hours a week before overtime applies.

SB 5487 modifies Washington's overtime law to allow agricultural employers to select 12 weeks per year during which workers may work up to 50 hours weekly without triggering overtime pay. This directly affects agricultural workers and employers by creating a seasonal exemption from the standard 40-hour overtime rule, specifically addressing the time-sensitive labor needs of crop harvesting and planting seasons. The bill aims to help farms manage peak labor demands without reducing worker hours or earnings, as seen in California's similar overtime policy. It amends RCW 49.46.130 to add this temporary exemption while maintaining overtime protections for most workweeks.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill allows agricultural employers to avoid overtime pay for 50-hour weeks during 12 weeks annually, weakening standard wage protections for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

Track