Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act

This bill, titled the "Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act," seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to strengthen protections for minors in agricultural work. Its primary purpose is to prohibit the employment of individuals under the age of 18 in tobacco-related agriculture. Specifically, the legislation modifies Section 3(l) of the FLSA by defining "oppressive child labor" to include any instance where an employee under 18 years old has direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves . This amendment effectively removes tobacco-related agriculture from existing exemptions that allow children to work in other agricultural sectors, thereby classifying such work as illegal for minors. The bill aims to safeguard children from the health risks associated with exposure to tobacco in agricultural settings.