NFIB State Executive Bill Herrle today applauded Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing House Bill 49, legislation that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work additional hours with their parents’ or guardians’ permission.

“House Bill 49 simply puts control back in the hands of parents and guardians if their 16- or 17-year-old has decided they want to work more than 30 hours in a week.

“For many young people, this first job is the key to gaining the skills they need to be successful for the rest of their lives. Many of these young people go on to own and operate businesses of their own using the very skills they learned early on in these jobs.

“No one wants teens to work at the expense of their education or under unsafe conditions. House Bill 49 simply gives parents and guardians the right to decide what’s right for their teens and helps Florida’s small businesses find workers.