Ohio Senate Advances SB 50: A Bill Allowing Teenagers to Work Longer Hours — But at What Cost to Their Future?

Ohio lawmakers have advanced Senate Bill 50, legislation that would allow teenagers to work longer hours during the school week. While the intention may be to support families facing financial hardship, this proposal raises serious concerns about how it could impact the long-term success, development, and well-being of Ohio’s young people.

We know many families are struggling to make ends meet. The rising cost of living means some households depend on income from teen workers to help with groceries, transportation, or basic needs. SB 50 may appear to offer immediate relief, but public policy must consider more than the short-term. We must ask: What do our children lose when we extend the hours they are permitted to work during the school year?

When teens spend additional hours on the job, something else inevitably gets pushed aside. Their schoolwork, rest, participation in tutoring, and engagement in enriching after-school activities all compete with extended work schedules. These enrichment opportunities, sports, arts, clubs, and academic programs, are not “extras.” They are essential experiences that help students develop confidence, curiosity, leadership skills, and the academic foundation necessary to thrive in adulthood.

Allowing longer work hours risks shifting students’ time and energy away from the activities that truly build their futures. Fatigue from late shifts, reduced study time, and the inability to participate in extracurricular programs can undermine their educational progress and limit opportunities, especially for students who already face systemic barriers.

If lawmakers want to support working families, the focus should be on expanding economic stability, creating structured youth employment programs, and offering more robust enrichment opportunities that prepare teens for real careers not pushing them into longer workweeks that compromise their growth.

Short-term income may meet a need today, but education, enrichment, and protected time for learning are what will uplift entire communities tomorrow. As Senate Bill 50 moves forward, we must keep one priority front and center: ensuring Ohio’s children have the time, support, and focus they need to build bright, productive futures.