Bypassing Authentication on Localhosts.

Yes.

// bootstrap/app.php
$app->router->group([
    'namespace' => 'App\Http\Controllers',
], function ($router) {
    if (app()->environment('local')) {
      require __DIR__.'/../routes/routes.php';
    } else {
      require __DIR__.'/../routes/web.php';
    }
});

// routes/web.php
$router->group(['middleware' => 'auth'], function () use ($router) {
    require_once __DIR__ . '/routes.php';
});

// routes/routes.php
$router->get('/', function () use ($router) {
    return $router->app->version();
});