{"id":135562,"date":"2026-01-28T22:37:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T22:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/135562\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T22:37:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T22:37:06","slug":"gop-lawmakers-ok-minimum-wage-change-tallahassee-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/135562\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP Lawmakers OK Minimum Wage Change \u2013 Tallahassee Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida<\/p>\n

Republican lawmakers are trying to revive an effort to create an exemption to the state\u2019s voter-approved minimum wage that would apply to workers classified as trainees.<\/p>\n

The GOP-controlled House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on Wednesday voted 11-6 along party lines to approve a measure (HB 221) that would allow people to waive their rights to the minimum wage if they are in a work-study, internship or pre-apprenticeship program.<\/p>\n

Supporters said the state\u2019s minimum wage, which will increase to $15 an hour in September, limits entry-level jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt cripples an employer\u2019s ability to provide more opportunities for unskilled workers in areas of apprenticeship and education,\u201d bill sponsor Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, said.<\/p>\n

When he filed the bill, Chamberlin wrote that the minimum wage \u201chas become a weight on Florida\u2019s economy and a hindrance to workers seeking to improve their personal finances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWage controls are always enacted with good intentions but lead to a decrease in opportunities,\u201d Chamberlin wrote. \u201cWe must seek alternative options like career development and continued education to ensure workers are receiving the skills needed to compete in today\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Democrats derided the proposal as providing businesses with cheap labor.<\/p>\n

Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, said the bill isn\u2019t about creating opportunities for people, but \u201cgetting corrupt corporations and greedy billionaires richer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said people are struggling, and $15 an hour, which would total about $31,200 a year, \u201cis not even enough anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand that there is an ideological opposition to the minimum wage in this body, I get that,\u201d Eskamani said. \u201cBut at the end of the day, the free market is not going to always operate in the best interest of the consumer, let alone the best interest of the worker, it operates in the best interest of the profit. And profit doesn\u2019t always keep in consideration worker\u2019s health benefits or safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, said the concept of the bill is good, but it\u2019s not practical today.<\/p>\n

\u201cAffordability is just a huge issue across this entire country, and I don\u2019t know that folks can afford to get the experience they might need to get them to a much higher income level,\u201d Antone said.<\/p>\n

A 2020 Florida constitutional amendment required gradual increases in the minimum wage. It is $14 an hour and will go to $15 an hour on Sept. 30. For tipped employees, the state\u2019s minimum wage is $10.98 an hour.<\/p>\n

Employers in Florida are allowed to pay sub-minimum wages to certain workers, such as people ages 19 and younger during the first 90 days of employment and to students working part-time in vocational training programs.<\/p>\n

The bill wouldn\u2019t allow employers to go below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.<\/p>\n

Rep. Judson Sapp, a Green Cove Springs Republican and the CEO of a railroad construction company, said the bill has more guardrails than he\u2019d have proposed, noting that \u201cif there are no opportunities, companies are going to stop giving it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only is it our job to make money as a company, it is also our job to look after our employees, to make a payroll,\u201d Sapp said.<\/p>\n

Under Chamberlin\u2019s proposal, which was revised Wednesday, the \u201cwork-based\u201d opportunities couldn\u2019t last longer than 252 days or two semesters for people earning school or college credits. People 18 and younger couldn\u2019t accept pay under the minimum wage for longer than 126 days or one semester when earning school credit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis just creates a scenario for those that are desiring to enter into a specific kind of career and there\u2019s an opportunity for them to get some real strong mentorship, some leadership, and maybe even more beneficial to them than paying $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000 for a year of college,\u201d Chamberlin said.<\/p>\n

A similar measure by Chamberlin cleared three House panels during the 2025 session but was not heard on the House floor. A Senate version did not get through the Rules Committee. Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, has filed the Senate version (SB 1412) for this year\u2019s session.<\/p>\n

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