Last Week in Florida Politics: Anti-worker Bills on the Move (Week 7 of Session)
We've made it through week seven. On the move are proposals to weaken child labor law, allow employers to pay workers less than minimum wage, and more.
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We’re getting close to the final stretch of Florida’s 2025 state legislative session, with just two weeks left to go [insert a sigh of relief]. Beyond the legislation that’s advancing, it’s been quite an eventful affair, with new drama involving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey’s charity gaining much of the spotlight this week in state news.
As the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald have reported, Casey’s Hope Florida Foundation (a program that aims to get Floridians off government assistance) is under serious scrutiny for alleged misuse of public money. From what I hear, it’s caused greater tension within the state Legislature. And it’s not just Democrats who are rattled.
There have also been tense moments between DeSantis and the House and Senate leaders. Florida House speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican who says he doesn’t want to be DeSantis’s “enemy,” has nonetheless publicly referred to DeSantis as “emotional” over disagreements in legislative and budget priorities, according to Politico. This is Perez’s first regular session as House speaker.
Nonetheless, the slate of anti-worker bills I’ve been keeping an eye on are still on the move. Here’s what moved this last week, and what’s on tap this next week.
What moved this week
HB 1225: Weaken child labor law
Bill sponsor: Rep. Monique Miller (R)
What it would do: The bill would get rid of restrictions on the number of hours that minors aged 16 and older can work per week during the school year, and get rid of their mandated meal breaks. These same protections would also be stripped from children as young as 14 who are home-schooled, enrolled in virtual school, or have a high school diploma.
Amendment: Miller got rid of a provision that would have lowered Florida’s legal working age to 13 (presumably as a result of public backlash)
Where it was heard: House Education & Employment Committee (2nd committee stop)
Vote: 14 to 6, largely along party lines. Democrat Kimberly Daniels joined Republicans in support of the bill, while Republican (former Democrat) Susan Valdes joined Democrats in opposition.
Supporters: Moms for Liberty
Opponents: Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Rising, Beyond the Bars, Florida Student Power, Florida Faith Advocacy Office, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Six Action, Florida Policy Institute, ACLU of Florida, Florida NAACP, League of Women Voters Florida, Florida NOW
What’s next: The bill has one last committee stop it would need to clear before heading to the full Florida House. It has not been scheduled for a hearing (yet) this upcoming week.
SB 1672 — Gutting labor protections for temp workers
Bill sponsor: Sen. Keith Truenow (R)
What it would do: This bill would repeal Florida’s Labor Pool Act of 1995, stripping or otherwise significantly weakening over a dozen labor protections for day laborers and temp workers, including basic rights such as being informed how you will be paid.
Where it was heard: Senate Fiscal Policy (3rd committee stop)
Vote: Not applicable; the bill was ‘temporarily postponed,’ then re-added to the Senate Fiscal Policy committee agenda for this next Tuesday, April 22.
Supporters: Pacesetter Personnel Services, National Federation for Independent Business
Opponents: Beyond the Bars, Florida AFL-CIO, Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida Rising, State Innovation Exchange Action
Notable moment: Republicans on the committee moved to temporarily postpone the bill after hearing damning public testimony from formerly incarcerated people, organized with Beyond the Bars, who work temp jobs. The bill sponsor has been disingenuous about what the bill would actually do, arguing that it would simply get rid of duplicative statutes, so his colleagues were evidently taken aback by the concerns brought forward. This was actually a pretty incredible moment. Currently working on a story about this for the Weekly.
What’s next: SB 1672 was re-added to the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee’s agenda; however, I’m told the bill is likely dead. Will be keeping an eye on this one, regardless, in the event it’s revived.
“Us working Floridians are not to be used and abused. We deserve to know what's being taken from our pay, to have temp-to-permanent opportunities and to have chairs to sit on,” said Davonte, a temp worker and member of Beyond the Bars. “This is the bare minimum. This is the bare minimum, and please don’t take that away from us.”
HB 1157: Making it harder to qualify for unemployment assistance
Bill sponsor: Rep. Shane Abbott (R)
What it would do: This bill would make it harder for Floridians to access or continue receiving unemployment benefits (or “re-employment”) by adding new requirements in order to qualify. For instance, Floridians would be required to contact at least five prospective employers per week, and would be disqualified if they miss three or more scheduled job interviews without contacting the employer to reschedule. Mind you, Florida’s unemployment system offers up to a measly $275 per week max for those who qualify (meaning, you could end up receiving less).
Where it was heard: House floor
Vote: Members of the Republican-dominated Florida House voted 83 to 31 in favor of the legislation, largely along party lines, with two Democrats joining Republicans in favor: Gallop Franklin II and Allison Tant. Notably, Rep. Susan Valdes (a Republican who formerly identified as a Democrat before switching parties last year) joined Democrats in voting it down.
Supporters: Opportunity Solutions Project/Foundation for Government Accountability, National Federation of Independent Business
Opponents: Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Rising, Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, Florida State Building & Construction Trades, Florida Center for Fiscal & Economic Policy
What’s next: The Senate version of the bill (SB 1238) has cleared one of its three committee stops. The legislation needs to be approved by both the Senate and House chambers in order to pass and head to the governor for his signature.
“We heard we rank dead last in unemployment, or re-employment benefits. I think that depends on how you look at that. I would say that we rank dead first” — Rep. Shane Abbott, the bill sponsor
On tap for next week
HB 541: Allowing employers to pay more workers less than minimum wage
Has been added to the House’s Second Reading Calendar (it’s cleared all of its committee stops and is slated for a vote by the full chamber next)
SB 676: Allowing employers to pay more workers less than minimum wage
Will be heard by the Senate Rules Committee tomorrow, April 21, during its 2 p.m. meeting.
HB 955: Expanding E-verify requirements to all employers (going after undocumented workers)
Has been added to the House’s Special Order Calendar, which means it’s being prioritized for consideration by the full Florida House (it’s already cleared all of its committee stops)
SB 1672: Gutting protections for temp workers
On the agenda for the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee, which is meeting Tues., April 22, at 11 a.m.
Note: All of these committee hearings/meetings are available to watch live (they’re also archived) on thefloridachannel.org. Fortunately, you don’t have to live in Tallahassee to keep an eye on what’s moving through the state Legislature.