Legislature is putting teens out of work

Now more than ever, our young people need economic opportunities and the life lessons they offer. While we know not all jobs are meant to be careers, each one offers an important experience. Jobs provide our youth structure, accountability, social interactions, and an escape from their online world.

The job of state lawmakers should be to foster an environment that enables employers to thrive and offer these opportunities. Unfortunately, policies from Olympia have pushed our state in the wrong direction.

House Bill 1644, passed during the 2025 legislative session, imposes even more requirement...