Governor signs legislation expanding minor work hours and strengthening safety requirements
In April, Governor Ferguson signed two new laws impacting youth employment in Washington State. HB 1121 expands allowable work hours for 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, while HB 1164 increases safety requirements and penalties for violations involving minor workers.
Sponsored by Representative McClintock (LD-18), HB 1121 directs the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to update its rules to allow eligible students in CTE programs to work the same number of hours during the school year as they can during school breaks—so long as they are employed by an approved employer-partner.
Introduced by Representative Fosse (LD-38), HB 1164 imposes stricter conditions for student learner variances, increases penalties for violations of youth employment laws, and requires L&I to conduct safety consultations before minors can begin certain types of work-based learning.
What employers need to know
- While HB 1121 provides greater flexibility for student workers, HB 1164 introduces new administrative requirements and potential delays due to mandatory L&I safety consultations.
- Employers may also face increased liability, even in cases where incidents are caused by the student’s own actions, raising the stakes for compliance with youth labor laws.
These changes align with broader legislative efforts to expand CTE opportunities, including the creation of a Statewide CTE Task Force (2024) and the planned extension of CTE programming to sixth grade by 2025. However, the full impact of these new laws remains to be seen.
As part of the Retail Workforce Initiative, WR will continue collaborating with CTE directors and employers to monitor how these changes affect youth employment and workplace readiness across the state.
