Bill > SB462

This bill expands child labor regulations by raising the age threshold for work permit requirements from under 16 to under 18 years old across multiple sections of Wisconsin state law. The bill modifies existing statutes to require work permits for all minors under 18 in various employment contexts, including street trades, gainful occupations, and other work settings. Notably, the bill maintains some existing exceptions, such as allowing minors 12 and older to work in farming, 14 and older to participate in youth apprenticeship programs, and minors to work in certain home-based or nonprofit settings without a permit. The bill also adds a new provision allowing minors to work as election inspectors without a permit and clarifies that employers must obtain and keep work permits on file for minors, with failure to do so considered prima facie evidence of unlawful employment. Additionally, the bill updates language around job advertisements and solicitation of minors, requiring that any job postings for positions requiring a child labor permit specify the minimum age of the desired worker. The changes will take effect on the first day of the seventh month after the bill's publication, providing time for employers and the Department of Workforce Development to adjust to the new requirements.

Business and Industry

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb462