Florida Bills Proposed to Loosen Child Labor Laws, Limit Local Wage Requirements
• Florida lawmakers proposing to loosen child labor laws to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work overnight shifts without breaks • Bill would treat older teens as adults and override work hour restrictions for minors • Separate bill aims to ban local governments from requiring contractors to pay above state minimum wage • Business lobby groups claim bills empower teenage workers and aid employers facing shortages • Lawmakers accused of prioritizing powerful donor interests over protecting vulnerable youth and working families