HB 1739
In CommitteeHouse
Self-service checkout
Regulating the use of self-service checkout stations.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill sets new rules for self-service checkout stations in large Washington grocery stores, requiring at least one staffed checkout to remain open, limiting self-checkout to 15 items, and capping how many stations one employee can monitor. It also adds enforcement tools and penalties, while exempting certain store types.
- Grocery stores must offer at least one staffed manual checkout station whenever self-service checkout is available, giving customers a choice.
- Stores must limit self-service checkout to 15 items or fewer per customer, with clear signage indicating the limit.
- No more than two self-service stations may be monitored by one employee at a time, and that employee must be relieved of all other duties while monitoring.
- Stores must include self-service checkout in their workplace hazard analysis for accident prevention programs.
- Enforcement: Employees can file complaints with the Department of Labor & Industries, and violators face civil penalties of up to $10,000.
- Exemptions: Discount warehouse stores (e.g., membership-based bulk retailers) and stores in designated food deserts meeting specific criteria are not subject to the new checkout rules.
Who is affected
- Eligible grocery workers — Grocery workers at large stores (over 15,000 sq ft) who may be affected by changes in store ownership and by new rules limiting self-service checkout use.
- Grocery employers and store operators — Grocery store operators (especially large chains or regional employers) must comply with new checkout rules, including staffing and item limits for self-service stations.
- Grocery store customers — Customers at large grocery stores gain the right to choose between self-service and staffed checkout, and may see limits on how many items they can buy at self-checkout.
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries — The Department of Labor & Industries gains enforcement authority and must investigate complaints and impose fines for violations.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Guaranteeing at least one staffed checkout option ensures customers retain the right to human-assisted service, protecting against algorithmic bias, technical failures, or forced automation that could disproportionately exclude elderly, disabled, or low-digital-literacy shoppers.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)Limiting employees to monitoring no more than two self-checkout stations while relieved of other duties improves workplace safety by reducing cognitive overload and physical strain — lowering risks of errors, theft, injuries, and customer confrontations in high-volume settings.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(c)Requiring inclusion of self-checkout in workplace hazard analyses ensures employers proactively assess and mitigate risks such as repetitive strain injuries, slips/falls, and customer aggression — improving occupational health outcomes for checkout staff.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)Empowering employees to file complaints with L&I and seek civil penalties creates a meaningful enforcement mechanism that deters employer retaliation and strengthens labor rights in a sector historically vulnerable to wage and safety violations.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(a)-(c)Limiting self-checkout to 15 items reduces the risk of shoplifting and scanning errors, while also decreasing the likelihood of customer frustration and aggressive behavior — improving safety and efficiency for both workers and shoppers.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)
Mandating that one employee monitor no more than two self-checkout stations while relieved of all other duties increases labor costs for employers, especially during peak hours, potentially reducing staffing flexibility and increasing wage expenses per customer served.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(c)Imposing a 15-item limit on self-checkout may increase checkout line congestion and total transaction time for average shoppers, potentially reducing store throughput and increasing labor hours needed per customer — especially impactful for low-income households making smaller, more frequent trips.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(b)Civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation case and daily fines of $100 create financial risk for employers, particularly smaller regional chains or independent operators, potentially leading to store closures or reduced investment in new locations — especially in marginally profitable markets.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(a)-(c)Mandating at least one staffed checkout per store may disincentivize development of new grocery stores in low-density or lower-income areas due to higher fixed labor costs, potentially limiting access to fresh food in underserved neighborhoods over time.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)The exemption for discount warehouse stores (e.g., Costco, Sam’s Club) means the policy’s labor protections do not extend to workers at those large-format retailers, creating a two-tiered system where warehouse employees face greater pressure to manage more stations with less oversight.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Grocery workers at large stores benefit significantly: reduced workload per self-checkout station, clearer safety protocols, and enforceable rights to report hazards or violations without fear of retaliation. However, they may face increased pressure during peak hours if staffing is not adjusted to meet new monitoring limits.
Large grocery chains (e.g., Fred Meyer, Safeway) face higher compliance costs and operational redesigns, but may absorb them better than smaller operators. The exemption for discount warehouse stores reduces competitive pressure on big-box retailers, potentially widening the cost gap between full-service and warehouse-format stores.
Customers gain choice and protection from automation-only checkout, especially benefiting seniors, people with disabilities, low-income shoppers, and those uncomfortable with self-service tech. However, longer lines and item limits may inconvenience high-volume shoppers or those relying on self-checkout for speed.
L&I gains new enforcement responsibilities and authority, increasing its regulatory footprint. This expands its capacity to protect workers but may strain resources unless additional funding is allocated — though penalties fund the Supplemental Pension Fund, not L&I operations.
Low-income and rural communities in food deserts may benefit from the exemption allowing flexible checkout models where staffing is already scarce — but they also risk being excluded from the new labor and safety protections if stores in those areas rely heavily on self-checkout.