Rep. Brennan Releases Statement Commending Governor DeWine on Vetoing Senate Bill 50

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today released the following statement regarding Governor DeWine’s veto Senate Bill (SB) 50:

“As someone who has been working since he was about 11 or 12 years old, a former middle and high school teacher, and now as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, I want to personally thank and commend Governor Mike DeWine for vetoing Senate Bill 50. I reached out directly to the governor urging him to reject this legislation, and I am grateful that he chose to stand firmly on the side of Ohio’s children.

SB 50 would have allowed 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on school nights - two hours later than current law permits and in direct conflict with federal labor standards. This approach was not, and never will be, the appropriate way to address any perceived labor shortage. Children should not be the backstop for economic pressures faced by businesses.

The truth is that young teens can be paid at or near the federal minimum wage - below Ohio’s minimum for older workers - making them a cheap and easily exploited labor source. Extending their allowable work hours would only increase the incentive for some employers to hire the youngest, lowest-paid, and most vulnerable workers available.

As someone who spent years in the classroom, I have seen firsthand how much students struggle to balance school, extracurriculars, family responsibilities, and part-time jobs. The research is overwhelming: late-night work on school nights harms academic performance, disrupts sleep, and contributes to stress, depression, and other mental-health challenges. No child should have to choose between a paycheck and being prepared for class the next morning.

If Ohio truly wants to strengthen its workforce, we should be focusing on policies that support families — like increasing access to affordable childcare, investing in workforce training, and ensuring jobs pay wages that attract and retain adult workers. Those are real solutions that grow our economy without putting additional burdens on our kids. 

Governor DeWine’s veto of SB 50 reflects a commitment to protecting the health, education, and future of Ohio’s children. I thank him for making the responsible and compassionate choice, and I will continue fighting for policies that lift up families without asking our youngest Ohioans to bear the cost.”