PRIA Logo™
119-hr-3545119th CongressWALLET

TEENS Act

Sponsored By: Representative Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a safe-harbor allowing 14- to 16-year-olds to work up to 24 hours in weeks when school is in session, and only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. local time. It would limit the Secretary of Labor's ability to treat those hours as oppressive child labor when both conditions are met.

Show full summary
  • Families and teen workers: Provides clearer legal room for part-time jobs that fit around school, making it easier for teens to earn while attending classes.
  • Employers: Gives businesses a specific compliance target so they can schedule 14- to 16-year-olds with less risk of enforcement when they follow the weekly and time-window limits.
  • Enforcement: Narrows the Secretary of Labor's discretion to label such schedules oppressive, focusing review on work that falls outside the two-part threshold.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More work hours allowed for teens

If enacted, teen workers ages 14 to 16 could work up to 24 hours in a week when school is in session for any part of the week. Each shift would need to start at 7:00 a.m. or later and end by 9:00 p.m. local time. If these limits are met, the Secretary of Labor could not treat the job as oppressive child labor based on hours alone. Other child labor limits on job types would still apply. This would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]

SD • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/21/2025

  • Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 5/21/2025

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 10/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation