Washington Plans Regulations for Self-Checkout Systems

Proposed legislation in Washington, House Bill 1739, seeks to regulate self-checkout machines in grocery stores amid concerns over automation and understaffing. The bill mandates that at least one traditional checkout lane must be operational whenever self-service checkouts are open, limits customers to 15 items at self-checkout, and requires an employee to monitor no more than two self-service stations. Democratic Representative Mary Fosse, the bill's sponsor, emphasizes that the regulations aim to ensure responsible use of automation rather than to ban it outright. However, some lawmakers, like Republican Representative Joel McEntire, question the need for government intervention, suggesting that the private sector should address any issues. If passed, violators could face civil penalties of $100 per day, with a maximum of $10,000. The proposed rules are intended to improve the retail experience for both employees and consumers in stores larger than 15,000 square feet.