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LD 618

An Act To Allow Minors Under 16 Years Of Age To Work Until 9 P.M. During The School Year And Until 10 P.M. During Summer Vacation

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Steve Bishop and 9 co-sponsors

LD 618 would let Maine minors under 16 work until 9 p.m. on school days and 10 p.m. in summer, expanding teen labor hours, but the bill died in 2025 and is dead.

Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) Roll Call Number 163 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0
#employmentpractices #minors #workhours
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Bill Summary · LD 618

Summary of LD 618: An Act To Allow Minors Under 16 Years Of Age To Work Until 9 P.M. During The School Year And Until 10 P.M. During Summer Vacation

Overview

LD 618 sought to expand the permissible working hours for minors under 16 in Maine, allowing them to work until 9:00 p.m. during the school year and until 10:00 p.m. during summer vacation. The bill was introduced February 20, 2025, and progressed through the Legislature but ultimately was placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) after a roll call vote.

  • Bill number: LD 618
  • Official title: An Act To Allow Minors Under 16 Years Of Age To Work Until 9 p.m. During The School Year and Until 10 p.m. During Summer Vacation
  • Sponsor: Rep. Boyer, Jr. of Poland
  • Committee: Labor
  • Status: Dead (placed in Legislative Files)
  • Final floor roll call: Yeas 20, Nays 14, Excused 1, Absent 0
  • Introduced: February 20, 2025
  • Fiscal note: No fiscal impact; Fiscal Note required: No
  • Legislative actions: Referred to Labor (Feb 2025); Work Session (Mar 25, 2025); Reported Out as ONTP/OTP (May 9, 2025); Majority Ought Not to Pass Report accepted (May 13–14, 2025); Final roll call and DEAD status (May 14, 2025)

Key Provisions (Proposed)

  • Age threshold: Applies to minors under 16 years old.
  • School-year hours: Allows work until 9:00 p.m. on days when school is in session.
  • Summer hours: Allows work until 10:00 p.m. during summer vacation.
  • Implementation: The bill would have amended state employment practices laws governing minors’ work hours. Specific limits, safety safeguards, industry restrictions, or supervision requirements are not detailed in the provided material.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Minors under 16 who are employed or seeking employment in Maine.
  • Employers: Businesses and organizations that hire minors under 16, across sectors where youth employment is permissible.
  • Schools and families: Potentially affected indirectly through scheduling and balancing school responsibilities with after-school employment.

Fiscal and Administrative Impact

  • Fiscal impact: Preliminary fiscal note states "No fiscal impact" for the original bill.
  • Administrative: As with any expansion of work hours for minors, there would typically be considerations related to labor inspections and enforcement, though no specific administrative changes are detailed in the provided documents.

Procedural Timeline

  • 2025-02-20: Referred to the Committee on Labor.
  • 2025-03-25: Work session held.
  • 2025-05-09: Reported Out as ONTP/OTP.
  • 2025-05-13 to 2025-05-14: Majority Ought Not to Pass report accepted; further actions placed on concurrence; roll call conducted.
  • 2025-05-14: Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) with Roll Call 163 (Yeas 20 – Nays 14 – Excused 1 – Absent 0).

Analysis and Context (Neutral)

  • The bill represents an expansion of permissible work hours for younger teenagers, a topic frequently debated in terms of youth safety, educational impact, and economic opportunity for families.
  • No current exemptions or protections are specified in the provided material; readers should consult the full bill text for any proposed safeguards, industry-specific rules, or school performance requirements.
  • The bill did not advance past the reporting stage in this session, reflecting legislative concerns or opposition captured in the final action.

Bottom Line

LD 618 aimed to extend evening work hours for minors under 16 during both the school year and summer, but the measure was defeated in the 2025 legislative session and is now considered dead.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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