OregonOregon ties rules for minors’ work hours to federal standards
Starting January 1, 2027, Oregon’s labor bureau must keep minors’ work-hour rules at least as protective as the federal standard in effect on January 1, 2026.
What it does
Oregon’s labor bureau must keep its rules for minors’ work hours at least as protective as federal rules. Stricter state rules are allowed only as needed to match legal changes that increase protections for minors.
Argument forMinors may get more consistent work-hour protections because state rules must track federal standards and can be stricter only to match protective legal changes.
Argument againstEmployers may have less room to set stricter hour limits, even when they believe tighter limits would better protect young workers.
More detail
The Bureau of Labor and Industries must set rules for minors’ total work hours that are no less protective than the federal standard. The standard applies to state rules governing the total hours a minor may work. State rules may be stricter only as needed to implement or match changes in federal or state law that increase protections for minors. The federal standard is the Fair Labor Standards Act as in effect on January 1, 2026. This law takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 17Chapter 7, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.Latest
- Mar 5Governor Tina Kotek signed.Became Law
- Feb 27President signed.Major
- Feb 26Speaker signed.Major
- Feb 25Third reading. Carried by Taylor. Passed.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Taylor. Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Carried over to 02-25 by unanimous consent.
- Feb 23Carried over to 02-24 by unanimous consent.
- Feb 20Second reading.Minor
- Feb 20Recommendation: Do pass.Minor
- Feb 18Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Public Hearing held.
- Feb 11Referred to Labor and Business.Minor
- Feb 11First reading. Referred to President's desk.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading. Carried by Grayber. Passed.Passed House
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Grayber. Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Second reading.Minor
- Feb 6Recommendation: Do pass.Minor
- Feb 4Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Public Hearing scheduled.
- Feb 2Referred to Labor and Workforce Development.Minor
- Feb 2First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.Introduced
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