Ratifying the Federal Child Labor Amendment

Maryland's HJ 3 is a resolution requesting the state to formally ratify a 1924 constitutional amendment proposal that would grant Congress authority to regulate child labor for minors under 18. The bill does not create new laws but completes Maryland's ratification process for an amendment first proposed by Congress in 1924, which currently requires 10 more state ratifications to become part of the U.S. Constitution. If fully ratified by all necessary states, the amendment would empower Congress to set federal standards for child labor, including restrictions on work hours and types of labor for youth. This resolution follows other recent state efforts, such as those in Hawaii and Connecticut, to advance the long-pending amendment.