Rules filed September 2, 2025



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The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) updated its rulemaking website

Rules filed September 2, 2025

For information on all L&I meetings and public hearings related to rulemaking, please visit our public participation calendar [ [link removed] ]. [ [link removed] ]



Division: Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH)

Topic: Adoption (CR-103) – Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries & Illnesses

Brief Description: This rulemaking was federally initiated and amended Chapter 296-27 WAC, Recordkeeping and reporting. In July 2023, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated federal rules to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. The rule went into effect in January 2024. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) must update rules to remain as effective as OSHA, as required by the Washington State Plan.

In addition to housekeeping changes to clarify language, the adopted amendments:


* Establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries must electronically submit information from their Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and Form 301, Injury and Illness Incident Report, to OSHA once a year. These submissions are in addition to submission of Form 300-A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.
* Added new Appendix B-1 regarding designated industries required to file annual electronic submission of OSHA Form 300 and Form 301.
* Updated filing requirements for establishments listed in Appendix B-1 that had 20-249 employees the previous year.
* Renamed Appendix B to Appendix B-2.
* Updated Appendix B-2 to remove no longer used NAICS codes and include new codes.
* To improve data quality, establishments are required to include their legal company name when making electronic submissions to OSHA from their injury and illness records.

*Effective date: October 3, 2025*

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-103 Adoption [ [link removed] ]
Adoption Language [ [link removed] ]
Concise Explanatory Statement (CES) [ [link removed] ]



Division: Field Services and Public Safety (Electrical Program)

Topic: Proposal (CR-102) – Electrical Rule Updates

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to amend Chapter 296-46B WAC, Electrical safety standards, administration, and installation, to adopt the 2026 edition of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 70, the National Electrical Code (NEC), to ensure the rules align with the latest national safety standards. The 2026 NEC would replace the current 2023 edition.

The NEC sets the standard for safe electrical installations in homes, businesses, and institutions to protect people and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. The 2026 edition of the NEC will be published in the fall of 2025. L&I is proposing adopting the 2026 NEC in its entirety by reference under this rulemaking with a delayed effective of December 31, 2026, to give stakeholders advance notice of its adoption and more opportunity for review and comment, prior to its publication and L&I’s formal rule review process.

Additional amendments under this rulemaking are also necessary to eliminate an unnecessary temperature restriction for certain cable types and to provide better clarity for reporting trainee hours of experience.

Public hearing date: October 7, 2025 (Tumwater/virtual/phone) [ [link removed] ]
Written comments due: October 7, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.
Intended adoption date: November 18, 2025

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-102 Proposal [ [link removed] ]
Proposal Language [ [link removed] ]
Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) [ [link removed] ]



Division: Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards (Employment Standards)

Topic: Preproposal (CR-101) – Youth Employment Updates (ESHB 1644, SHB 1121, and HB 1722 Implementation)

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to amend Chapter 296-125 WAC, Non-agricultural employment of minors; Chapter 296-131 WAC, Agricultural employment standards; and WAC 296-128-400; and to create a new chapter under Title 296 WAC. This rulemaking intends to implement three bills the Washington State Legislature passed during the 2025 legislative session:


* Substitute House Bill 1121 [ [link removed] ] (Chapter 79, Laws of 2025) requires L&I to allow 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 approved by the educational program.
* Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1644 [ [link removed] ] (Chapter 173, Laws of 2025) increases safety and health requirements for minors and consequences for failures to keep minor workers safe in both agricultural and non-agricultural industries.
* House Bill 1722 [ [link removed] ] (Chapter 98, Laws of 2025) requires L&I to allow minors with certain licenses to work around bloodborne pathogens.

Labor & Industries may also consider rules to clarify existing requirements in Chapters 296-125 and 296-131 WAC which may include reorganizing, combining, renumbering, and moving existing standards as well as repealing any duplicates. L&I may consider removing outdated requirements in chapters 296-125 and 296-131 WAC and WAC 296-128-400. Other rulemaking topics being considered include housekeeping and technical updates to ensure each child labor chapter describes L&I’s existing child labor procedures. L&I may consider improving the alignment of child labor standards, including between state and federal non-agricultural prohibited duty standards, between child labor protections and procedures in agricultural and non-agricultural industries, and between private and public employers in non-agricultural industries.

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-101 Preproposal [ [link removed] ]



Division: Insurance Services (Self-Insurance Program)

Topic: Preproposal (CR-101) – Requirements of Decertified Self-Insured Employer Groups and Municipalities (HB 1275 Implementation)

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to implement House Bill 1275 [ [link removed] ] (HB 1275), Chapter 57, Laws of 2025, under Chapter 296-15 WAC, Workers' compensation self-insurance rules and regulations. HB 1275 established the L&I’s authority to ensure payment is received from a self-insured group or municipal employer after their self-insurer certification is withdrawn. These rules will ensure funds are available for the continuity of benefits for injured workers if their self-insured employer becomes decertified. This will include rules regarding the continued obligations of decertified self-insured employers, and the methods of how the self-insured employer shall meet financial obligations.

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-101 Preproposal [ [link removed] ]








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Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · 7273 Linderson Way SW · Tumwater WA 98501
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