A Moms Group Wants Disney To Wade Back Into Florida Politics to Protect Florida’s Children

Moms Rising, a grassroots organization that boasts over a million members, is calling on the Walt Disney Company to wade back into Florida politics. But this week, Disney learned just how harmful it can be to get involved in those very same Florida politics.

This week, District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the Walt Disney Company’s First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for removing the Reedy Creek Improvement District and replacing it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District after Disney spoke out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Related: New Florida Law Would Allow Disney World/Universal to Work Children to the Bone

But despite that defeat, Moms Rising is still seeking Disney’s help, or more specifically, is asking Disney to pull its support for Florida House Bill 49. The bill would allow high school students to work more than 30 hours a week and more than eight hours a day. According to the Orlando Weekly, the bill is being supported by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, which counts Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando as two of its most prominent members.

Nina Perez, the Florida director of Moms Rising and national director for the group’s Early Learning campaign, shared in a statement: 

Moms and families are Disney’s core customers, and we strongly support the child labor laws that protect children’s health, workplace welfare, and education. We are sending a message to Disney, all FRLA members, and Florida lawmakers that we oppose child labor and oppose passage of these bills. The safety, health, well-being, and education of our children must come first. he happiest place on earth must not support laws that put our teens at risk. Mickey Mouse can be the hero of this story if Disney and the FRLA stand up for our kids. 

Related: Florida’s Takeover of Disney’s Monorail System is Complete

Florida House Bill 49

According to Jason Garcia of Seeking Rents, current state law forbids 16 and 17-year-old high school students from working between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. on school nights. Students cannot work more than eight hours a day or more than 30 hours a week. Students are also not allowed to work more than six days in a row.

Florida House Bill 49 would remove all those restrictions and bar any state municipality from enacting stronger child labor laws. The bill was introduced by Tampa Bay Republican Representative Linda Chaney, who told legislators:

Employers consider the entry level work of teens like jobs in hospitality, grocery and retail to be ‘invisible curriculum’ that teaches them the soft skills that bolsters candidates for future opportunities. HR managers say Gen X’ers lack career readiness skills, reducing their employment opportunities. These skills are learned as teens in their entry level positions, if they so choose.This bill is not about children, this bill is about teenagers. They’re 16 and 17 years old. They’re driving cars. They are not children. This is not child labor.

The first person to testify in favor of the bill? A lobbyist for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association…whose board of directors includes execs from Disney, Outback, Olive Garden, Universal, Red Lobster, Walmart, Wendy's, Amazon, JW Marriott & Ritz Carlton hotels, etc.

— Jason Garcia (@Jason_Garcia) January 10, 2024

Related: New Florida Law Would Ban Pride Flags at DeSantis’ Disney District

The Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios do not allow anyone under 18 to work as a cast member in Disney Parks. However, many of its third-party vendors do use minors and follow the laws that are currently in place in Florida. So, while high school students would not work directly for the parks, they would still be allowed to work for any vendors that either park chose to bring in for additional work.

Moms Rising said that it has collected thousands of signatures from moms, parents, and Disney supporters urging the company to pull its support for the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Florida House Bill 49.

The bill is currently making its way through the Florida Legislature, and should it pass, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis is expected to sign it into law.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.