Iowa teens can work longer hours and take jobs that were previously banned under a law signed Friday by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
"In Iowa, we understand there is dignity in work and we pride ourselves on our strong work ethic," Reynolds said in a statement Friday. "Instilling those values in the next generation and providing opportunities for young adults to earn and save to build a better life should be available."
Senate File 542 allows 16- and 17-year-olds to serve alcohol in restaurants with a parent's permission and to work in some currently prohibited jobs as part of a work-based learning program. The law permits teens as young as 14 to work up to six hours a day during the school year and to work longer into the evening.
While Republicans characterized the changes as common sense measures, the law saw some of the most high-profile opposition of this year's legislative session from critics who said it could put children in unsafe situations at work.
Labor unions condemned the changes, organizing protests around the state. And federal Department of Labor officials criticized the proposal, saying parts of it are inconsistent with federal law.
Democrats in the House pushed for amendments that Republicans adopted to take out the most controversial aspects of the bill, but the minority party ultimately voted against the final legislation.
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