Law of hiring 15 year olds in florida
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Executive summary
Florida law currently allows most teens to work starting at age 14 and includes federal and state restrictions on hours, times and hazardous tasks; districts can grant waivers for hour/curfew limits and written agreements are required for school-based training programs [1] [2] [3]. In 2025 multiple bills (notably SB 918/HB 1225) sought to roll back protections for 14–17 year‑olds—proposals would lift or loosen limits for 16–17 year‑olds and expand younger workers in some drafts, prompting intense debate and lawsuits and leaving the regulatory picture in flux [4] [5] [6] [7].
1. Minimum hiring age and basic framework — teens can generally work at 14
Florida’s practical hiring floor is generally age 14: minors under 14 may not work for an employer except in family businesses, while those 14 and older can be employed subject to child labor rules that restrict hours, types of work and require employers to keep proof of age [1] [8]. Those state rules sit alongside federal Fair Labor Standards Act protections, so employers must comply with both [8].
2. Hours, curfews and waivers — school districts can approve exceptions
Florida law limits when teenagers may work to protect schooling and welfare; the Department of Education notes districts may create waiver application forms under Rule 61L‑2.007 for reasons such as school status, financial or medical hardship, and those waivers define which provisions are suspended [2]. The state’s Child Labor Section enforces these provisions and provides a hotline for questions [2].
3. Work‑study and school‑signed agreements — formal paperwork is required
When employment is tied to a school program, statute requires written agreements naming the student and signatures from the employer, school coordinator, principal and parent or guardian, with copies kept by school and employer [3]. That statutory structure creates an administrative trail that proponents say protects students while critics warn paperwork can be insufficient if oversight is weak [3] [6].
4. 2025 legislative push — bills would loosen protections for teens
In 2025 lawmakers proposed measures—SB 918 and HB 1225 among them—to remove many limits on 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds and to roll back restrictions more broadly. Some drafts aimed to restore federal‑level parity or permit earlier work starts; others were amended to allow some 13‑year‑olds in limited circumstances. Sponsors argued the changes address labor shortages and give families flexibility; opponents said the bills would erode protections for education and child welfare [4] [5] [9] [10].
5. Enforcement and criticism — gaps in oversight amplify concerns
Critics note Florida lacks a standalone state labor‑standards enforcement division and that violations have been high: Florida recorded 209 child labor violations in 2023, the second‑highest in 15 years, fueling concerns that loosening rules without stronger enforcement invites exploitation [6] [5] [7]. Advocacy groups warn that expanding hours or reducing breaks will disproportionately affect lower‑income youth and can depress adult wages by increasing cheap teen labor [6] [9].
6. Political and policy context — competing agendas at work
Supporters frame the bills as deregulation and parental empowerment to fill workforce gaps; some commentators and lawmakers linked the push to broader immigration and labor‑supply debates [10] [9]. Opponents, including policy groups and some educators, portray the push as ideological deregulation and warn of long‑term costs to education and child welfare [6] [4].
7. What this means if you’re hiring or a 15‑year‑old looking for work
Under current statutes and guidance, a 15‑year‑old in Florida can work but is subject to the state’s hour and task restrictions and may need documentation of age; many entry‑level employers list openings for 15‑year‑olds but must follow child labor rules and federal FLSA limits (p2_s1; [12]–s10; [13]1). Proposed 2025 changes targeted older teens (16–17) and some proposals even discussed 13‑year‑olds, but outcomes depended on legislation and legal challenges [4] [9] [5].
Limitations and next steps: available sources do not provide final, post‑2025 statutory text or outcomes for every bill mentioned; readers should consult the Florida statutes and DBPR/DOE child labor pages for current, enforceable rules and check whether HB 1225/SB 918 or related measures became law or were enjoined after 2025 [2] [3] [11].