Latest news with #HB541
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What is the minimum wage in Florida? Bills to lower wages for apprenticeships fail to pass
What's going on with the minimum wage in Florida? Rumors flew in April that President Donald Trump raised the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour. He did not. Two bills in the 2025 Florida legislative session that sailed through committee hearings would have allowed people working in apprenticeships, internships, or work-study programs to choose to work for less. Supporters said young students and teenagers were missing out on training opportunities due to high state-mandated wages. Critics warned that companies could label all entry-level jobs as 'apprenticeships' or 'internships' to force employees to work for less. However, both bills, SB 676 and HB 541, died on May 3, along with about 1,300 other bills in this year's session that were "indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration" so Florida lawmakers could focus instead on the battle over the still-unfinished final 2025-26 state budget. So, where does that leave Florida's workers? Florida's minimum wage is currently $13 an hour for non-tipped employees and $9.98 for tipped employees. On Sept. 30, 2025, both those rates will go up another dollar. They'll go up another buck in 2026 until the state minimum wage is $15 an hour, a move mandated by an amendment Florida voters approved in 2020. In 2004, another voter-approved amendment established a state minimum wage "to provide a decent and healthy life for them and their families, that protects their employers from unfair low-wage competition, and that does not force them to rely on taxpayer-funded public services in order to avoid economic hardship." One of the bills that did make it through the legislature this year severely limits the chances of Florida voters ever managing to do something like that again. On the same day it passed, Gov. Ron DeSantis quickly signed into law a bill that makes it more difficult for citizens to get constitutional amendments on the ballot, effective immediately. The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009. Most states, including Florida, have established higher minimum wages and 21 states raised theirs at the beginning of the year. Michigan passed a gradual wage hike similar to Florida's. Fourteen states pay the federal minimum rate of $7.25, Georgia, Wyoming and Montana pay less, and Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee have no state minimum wage law. Where is minimum wage going up? These states and cities are due for hikes in 2025 When he was still president-elect in December, Trump said he would consider raising the federal minimum wage. But he has made no moves to do so, and his Treasury secretary flatly said no. During Scott Bessent's Senate confirmation hearing, Sen. Bernie Sanders asked him point-blank if he would work to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. "I believe that the minimum wage is more of a statewide and regional issue," Bessent replied. When asked again, he said simply, "No, sir." According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the highest minimum wage in the U.S. is $17.50 an hour in Washington, D.C. The highest state minimum wage is Washington state, with $16.66. California and parts of New York pay $16.50. Georgia and Wyoming businesses pay $5.15 an hour, although in Georgia, it only applies to employers of six or more employees. In Montana, businesses with gross annual sales of less than $110,000 pay $4 an hour. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee have no state minimum wage law. Employers of tipped employees must pay their employees minimum wage, but they can count the tips the employees receive toward it up to the maximum of $3.02, the allowable Fair Labor Standards Act tip credit of 2003. So the direct wage they must pay is the minimum wage minus $3.02. The current minimum wage in Florida is $13 an hour, so the tipped minimum wage is $9.98. Both will go up a dollar each until they reach $15 an hour for non-tipped employees and $11.98 for tipped employees. The minimum wage is different from a living wage, however, which tries to calculate how much a person needs to earn per hour to afford the necessities — housing, childcare, health care, food, etc. — where they live. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) living wage calculator, the living wage in Florida is $23.41 an hour for one adult with no children, $38.72 for an adult with one child, $47.53 for an adult with two children and $59.64 for an adult with three children, as of February 2025. No, there are certain occupations and situations where the Department of Labor allowed exemptions to the federal minimum wage law where employees may be paid less. These include, among others: Executive, administrative and professional employees Commissioned sales employees Farm workers Seasonal or recreational establishment workers Newspaper delivery people Federal criminal investigators Informal workers such as babysitters Minors under certain circumstances Student workers Employees with disabilities if the employer has a certificate from the Department of Labor allowing it (a measure to encourage more employers to hire people with disabilities) Nonprofit or educational organizations that have applied for an exemption, and others. Employees of enterprises with an annual gross income of less than $50,000 This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida minimum wage bills lowering apprenticeship pay fail
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minimum wage exemption bill likely dead in Florida Senate
A proposal to carve an exemption in the state's voter-approved minimum wage isn't expected to pass during this year's legislative session, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, told reporters Thursday. 'I don't love it, to tell you the truth,' Albritton said. 'I think if somebody works, whether they're being an apprentice or whatever, the minimum wage is in the (state) Constitution for a reason.' When pressed if the bill is dead, Albritton added, 'I would expect so.' The proposal (SB 676 and HB 541) sought to allow people to voluntarily accept pay below the minimum wage when employed in positions deemed a 'work-study, internship, preapprenticeship, or other similar work-based learning opportunity.' Senate sponsor Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, argued the proposal would help people gain skills through entry-level work experience that isn't available at the state's minimum wage. Opponents countered that employers would simply redefine entry-level jobs as 'internships.' A 2020 state constitutional amendment required gradual increases in the minimum wage. It is $13 an hour and will increase to $14 an hour on Sept. 30 and will go to $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Several states to increase minimum wage in 2025. When was the last time Kentucky did?
While minimum wage in Kentucky hasn't changed in almost 16 years, many states are seeing minimum wage increases this year. Here's where. According to data compiled by the National Employment Law Project, the following states have enacted minimum wage increases after the New Year or are set for increases later this year. Oregon: $15.05 will be the new standard minimum wage as of July 1. The minimum rate is $16.30 for the Portland metro area and $14.05 for nonurban communities. Florida: Minimum wage will increase to $14 and $10.98 for tipped employees on Sept. 30 Michigan: $12.48 per hour became the new minimum wage as of Feb. 21 Alaska: $13.00 will be the new minimum wage as of July 1 California: $18.63-$24 will be the new minimum wage for healthcare, depending on the type of facility, as of July 1 Here are some of the cities and jurisdictions seeing minimum wage hikes this year, according to data compiled by the National Employment Law Project: Santa Fe, New Mexico: Minimum wage increased to $15 per hour, effective March 1 Los Angeles County, California: Minimum wage increases to $17.81, effective July 1 San Francisco: Minimum wage increases to $19.18, effective July 1 Washington, D.C.: Minimum wage increases to $17.95, effective July 1 St. Paul, Minnesota: Small and micro businesses will see an increase to $15 and $13.25, respectively, effective July 1 Virginia: Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill in March that would have raised the minimum wage to $13.50 per hour by Jan. 1, 2026, and $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2027. Tennessee: A 2025 bill to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour has stalled, reported the Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. North Carolina: The wage floor in North Carolina is set by the federal rate, $7.25. A bill proposing a $22 per hour minimum wage was referred to a committee on March 11, while a separate measure to increase the wage annually until it reached $18 per hour in 2030 was also referred to a committee. Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill in February that will increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027. It will also incrementally increase wages for tipped workers. Florida: While Florida's minimum wage gets increased every year due to a prior law, bills under consideration in the state legislature, SB 676 and HB 541, would carve out exemptions for apprenticeships, internships or work-study programs to be able to work for less, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. Minimum wage increases throughout the entirety of 2025 will directly impact 3 million workers earning minimum wage, and can also help bump up wages for another 6.2 million workers as companies adjust to the new minimum, USA TODAY previously reported. Wage jumps in recent years have helped some Americans try to keep up with inflation, which hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in mid-2022 before falling to 2.4% in March. However, some of the trade policies pursued by the Trump administration have experts concerned that inflation rates could rise again. Advocates have pointed out that some minimum wages are below what they call the "living wage" threshold for the cost of living in the area. Others argue that raising the minimum wage is associated with higher prices and job loss. Minimum wage in Indiana is $7.25 an hour and has been since 2009, according to the Department of Labor, when the federal minimum wage was increased from $6.55. Employers must pay tipped employees at least $2.13 per hour if the employer claims a tip credit and if the employee's tips combined with the hourly wage do not equal the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference. According to MIT's Living Wage Calculator in Jefferson County, a living wage (for full-time employment) for one adult without children is $21.55 an hour, which is almost three times the current state minimum wage. One child increases that living wage to $36.47 an hour, two children to $45.91 an hour and three children to $58.41 an hour, which is almost six, seven and nearly nine times the state minimum wage of $7.25. Contributing: Paul Davidson, Diana Leyva, C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @ Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@ Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What is minimum wage in Kentucky? What is minimum wage in other states?
Indianapolis Star
21-04-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Several states will increase minimum wage this year. When was the last time Indiana did?
Show Caption While minimum wage in Indiana hasn't changed in almost 16 years, many states are seeing minimum wage increases this year. Here's where. States with minimum wage changes after Jan. 1, 2025 According to data compiled by the National Employment Law Project, the following states have enacted minimum wage increases after the New Year or are set for increases later this year:Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Florida: Minimum wage will increase to $14 and $10.98 for tipped employees on Sept. 30 Michigan: $12.48 per hour became the new minimum wage as of Feb. 21 Alaska: $13.00 will be the new minimum wage as of July 1 California: $18.63-$24 will be the new minimum wage for healthcare, depending on the type of facility, as of July 1 Oregon: $15.05 will be the new standard minimum wage as of July 1. The minimum rate is $16.30 for the Portland metro area and $14.05 for nonurban communities. These cities see minimum wage hikes throughout 2025 Here are some of the cities and jurisdictions seeing minimum wage hikes this year, according to data compiled by the National Employment Law Project: Santa Fe, New Mexico: Minimum wage increased to $15 per hour, effective March 1 Los Angeles County, California: Minimum wage increases to $17.81, effective July 1 San Francisco: Minimum wage increases to $19.18, effective July 1 Washington, D.C.: Minimum wage increases to $17.95, effective July 1 St. Paul, Minnesota: Small and micro businesses will see an increase to $15 and $13.25, respectively, effective July 1 Minimum wage debates moving through state legislatures Virginia: Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill in March that would have raised the minimum wage to $13.50 per hour by Jan. 1, 2026 and $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2027. Tennessee: A 2025 bill to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour has stalled, reported the Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. North Carolina: The wage floor in North Carolina is set by the federal rate, $7.25. A bill proposing a $22 per hour minimum wage was referred to a committee on March 11, while a separate measure to increase the wage annually until it reached $18 per hour in 2030 was also referred to a committee. Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill in February that will increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027. It will also incrementally increase wages for tipped workers. Florida: While Florida's minimum wage gets increased every year due to a prior law, bills under consideration in the state legislature, SB 676 and HB 541, would carve out exemptions for apprenticeships, internships or work-study programs to be able to work for less, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. Minimum wage increased as inflation persisted; advocates say it's not enough Minimum wage increases throughout the entirety of 2025 will directly impact 3 million workers earning minimum wage, and can also help bump up wages for another 6.2 million workers as companies adjust to the new minimum, USA TODAY previously reported. Wage jumps in recent years have helped some Americans try to keep up with inflation, which hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in mid-2022 before falling to 2.4% in March. However, some of the trade policies pursued by the Trump administration have experts concerned that inflation rates could rise again. Advocates have pointed out that some minimum wages are below what they call the "living wage" threshold for the cost of living in the area. Others argue that raising the minimum wage is associated with higher prices and job loss. What is minimum wage in Indiana? Minimum wage in Indiana is $7.25 an hour and has been since 2009, according to the Indiana Department of Labor, when the federal minimum wage was increased from $6.55. Employers must pay tipped employees at least $2.13 per hour if the employer claims a tip credit and if the employee's tips combined with the hourly wage do not equal the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference. What is considered a living wage in Indianapolis? According to MIT's Living Wage Calculator in Indianapolis, a living wage (for full-time employment) for one adult without children is $21.54 an hour, which is almost three times the current state minimum wage. One child increases that living wage to $40.30 an hour, two children to $51.31 an hour and three children to $64.48 an hour, which is almost six, seven and nearly nine times the state minimum wage of $7.25. Contributing: Paul Davidson, Diana Leyva, C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY Network
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposal to exempt trainees from minimum wage advances in Florida House
A proposal that would create an exemption to the state's voter-approved minimum wage for workers classified as trainees is ready to go to the full House. The Republican-controlled Commerce Committee on Monday voted 14-6 along party lines to approve a revised bill (HB 541) that would allow pay below the minimum wage for employees involved in a 'work-study, internship, pre-apprenticeship or other similar work-based learning opportunity.' Bill sponsor Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, revised the bill to shorten the time that employers could pay a sub-minimum wage to nine months or two full school semesters. The bill previously included a limit of 12 months from when a person is hired. 'This would be a job they would take if money wasn't the primary issue, but the specific training was available that they believe, if they had a three- or six- to nine-month opportunity to do it, it could accelerate them far more than that few extra dollars per hour,' Chamberlin said. 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. Rep. Gallop Franklin, D-Tallahassee, said the state allows unpaid internships so people can gain work experience. 'We do have a workforce issue,' Franklin said. 'And the challenge is not because we're paying too much. The challenge is because we're paying too less.' A 2020 state constitutional amendment required gradual increases in the minimum wage. It is $13 an hour and will increase to $14 an hour on Sept. 30 and will go to $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. For tipped employees, the state's minimum wage is $9.98 an hour. The federal minimum for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. A similar Senate bill (SB 676) would need to clear the Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
