Washington lawmaker proposes regulations for self-checkout machines
Proposed legislation could change the way customers shop at grocery stores, as one Democratic lawmaker is pushing for regulations on self-checkout machines.
House Bill 1739 would establish rules for when and how self-checkout stands could be used in grocery stores. If passed, self-checkouts could only be used when a regular checkout lane is open. An employee who monitors self-service lanes would have to do so exclusively, and be limited to supervising a maximum of two stands. For their part, customers would be limited to bringing just 15 items to check out.
The regulations would apply to grocery stores over 15,000 thousand square feet in size, but not to any bulk goods stores with memberships. The Department of Labor and Industries would be responsible for investigating and enforcing violations with a fine.
“There has been a lot of challenges across Washington for grocery workers with unchecked automation and chronic understaffing,” said prime sponsor State Representative Mary Fosse, D-Everett.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/12/washington-lawmaker-proposes-regulations-for-self-checkout-machines/