Governor Tony Evers said no on Friday to a bill that would have allowed your kids to work additional hours while helping local businesses fill in their work shortages. The bill, which was approved by the Assembly in January after being passed by the Senate in October, would have allowed 14 and 15-year-olds to work until 11 p.m. on days when they do not have school the next day. Currently, they cannot work past 7 p.m. during the school week and 9 p.m. during the summer months.  Rep. Joel Kitchens expressed his disappointment in the Governor's veto, believing it would have helped small businesses in Door County facing labor shortages get through the summer season.

In his veto, Governor Evers said he objected to creating two separate systems of work requirements for employers, which could have created more administrative work for businesses. He pointed to several initiatives he allocated hundreds of millions of dollars for to address workforce challenges and expressed hope in working with the Legislature to address in the future. The bill was one of four vetoes he issues along with 18 bills he signed into law. While a bill banning the concept of critical race theory was vetoed, State Senator Andre Jacque saw a number of his bills empowering the state’s most vulnerable populations and increasing access to mental healthcare get signed into law.