Ohio Senate approves measures on youth work hours, school drug education and solid-waste rules; youth work-hours vote draws opposition

The Ohio Senate on Tuesday adopted a concurrent resolution and three bills addressing minor work hours, school-based substance-prevention instruction and solid-waste management.

The most contested vote was on allowing 14- and 15-year-olds, with parental and school consent, to work until 9 p.m. year-round. The chamber approved the change in a bill and adopted a companion concurrent resolution after a floor debate that split senators. Supporters described it as protecting parental choice and giving teens work opportunities; opponents warned it risks student safety, academic impacts and the rollback of child-labor protections.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 3: Urged Congress to allow people under 16 to be employed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. during the school year (adopted, 24–9).

- Senate Bill 50: Amended age, schooling-certificate and minor work-hour requirements to permit 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. year-round with parental and school consent; required a commerce-developed minor work-hour notification form (passed, 24–9).

- Senate Bill 7: Required annual, developmentally appropriate instruction for K–12 students on the harmful effects of substance abuse (including opioids, marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes), and added anti-bullying and anti-hazing instruction; directed the Ohio Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a list of evidence‑based curricula and materials (passed, 33–0).

- Senate Bill 147 (amended): Changed law governing transfer and disposal of solid waste and construction and demolition debris and established procedures for a county to…