Washington lawmakers consider bill that would strengthen youth labor laws

Lawmakers in Olympia are considering a proposal that would create tougher regulations around youth labor in Washington. HB 1644 would set minimum penalties for youth labor violations and prohibit companies with multiple serious safety violations from hiring minors.  In 2023, a Washington teen lost both of his legs working on a construction site through a school program. An investigation by Cascade PBS found that public officials and the construction company disregarded safety rules leading up to the injury. Lizz Giordano is an investigative reporter at Cascade PBS. She joins us with details of the bill and her reporting.