Future in Logging Careers Act

The Future in Logging Careers Act (H.R. 1397) would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in certain timber harvesting and logging operations, provided the business is owned or operated by their parent or a legal guardian. Under current federal child labor laws, most logging occupations are classified as hazardous and are restricted to individuals 18 years of age or older. This legislation aims to create a pathway for young people to gain experience in family-run timber businesses, aligning the rules for the logging industry with existing exemptions already available to family-owned farms.