The push to lower Florida’s minimum wage for younger workers hit a roadblock late Monday when a state Senate committee unexpectedly postponed consideration of the controversial proposal.
As a political correspondent who’s covered legislative battles across multiple states, I’ve rarely seen a bill generate such immediate backlash from both sides of the aisle. This development marks a significant moment in Florida’s ongoing minimum wage saga.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1592, sought to create a “training wage” for workers under 21 that would have allowed employers to pay them just $10.31 per hour – substantially below Florida’s current minimum wage of $12 per hour. This rate would have represented only 85% of the standard minimum wage.
“We’re talking about creating opportunities for young people to enter the workforce,” said bill sponsor Sen. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, in a statement obtained by my colleagues at Epochedge. Yet the timing of the committee’s decision to temporarily postpone (TP) the bill suggests growing concerns about its political viability.
Florida voters made their position clear in 2020 when they approved Amendment 2 with a 61% majority, mandating gradual minimum wage increases to reach $15 per hour by 2026. The current proposal directly challenges that voter-approved constitutional amendment.
John Morgan, the Orlando attorney who bankrolled the 2020 amendment, didn’t mince words when I reached him for comment. “This is a direct assault on the will of Florida voters,” Morgan told me. “They’re trying to create a loophole big enough to drive a truck through.”
According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, approximately 647,000 Florida workers would be affected by the proposed change, with young workers in tourism, retail, and food service bearing the brunt of the impact. Those sectors represent nearly 32% of Florida’s economy.
The bill’s postponement in the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee doesn’t necessarily mean it’s dead. Legislative maneuvering could still revive it before the session ends. However, sources close to leadership tell me the delay signals significant hesitation among key lawmakers.
“There’s recognition that moving against a super-majority of voters is politically risky,” explained Dr. Susan MacManus, political analyst and professor emerita at the University of South Florida. “Especially in an election year when many legislative seats are in play.”
I’ve covered minimum wage fights across the country, and Florida’s battle follows a familiar pattern. Business groups, including the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, have lobbied aggressively for the change, arguing it would create more entry-level opportunities.
“When labor costs rise too quickly, businesses have to make tough choices about staffing,” said Carol Dover, President of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, in materials distributed to lawmakers. The association has been a major financial contributor to campaigns supporting the bill.
On the other side, labor advocates point to studies showing minimum wage increases have minimal impact on employment levels. A recent analysis by the Center for American Progress found that states with higher minimum wages haven’t experienced the job losses predicted by opponents.
Rich Templin, legislative and political director for the Florida AFL-CIO, told me the bill’s postponement represents “a temporary victory in an ongoing fight.” He added, “Working Floridians can’t afford to have their voter-approved raises undermined by special interests.”
What makes this situation particularly interesting is the constitutional question at its core. Florida’s constitution now explicitly mandates minimum wage increases, making legislative attempts to create exceptions legally questionable.
Ben Wilcox, research director at Integrity Florida, a nonpartisan research institute, explained: “Even if the bill passed, it would almost certainly face immediate legal challenges based on its conflict with the constitutional amendment.”
I’ve spent enough time in Tallahassee to know that
