Florida Republicans Advance Sub-Minimum Wage Bill

March 12, 2025 Employment, Republicans

Florida Politics reports:

Should employers be allowed to pay interns and apprentices below minimum wage? The House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee thinks so. The panel advanced a bill (HB 541) with a 10-5 vote as the Republican sponsor, Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, argued his proposal gives more opportunities to young people breaking into certain industries, citing horse trainers near his home by Ocala as an example.

The measure would let employees voluntarily opt out of minimum wage if they are involved in internships, work-study programs, or apprenticeships. “An unintended consequence of Florida’s minimum wage is that it cripples an employer’s ability to provide more opportunities for unskilled workers in the areas of apprenticeship and education,” Chamberlin said. “This is having a huge impact on our young people.”

Read the full article.

Florida Democrats are blasting the bill, pointing out that employers will find ways to label regular positions as internships or apprenticeships.

Even Chamberlin himself admits that large corporations like Target could exploit his bill in that fashion, but he’s confident that they wouldn’t. Yeah.

Chamberlin first appeared here in November 2023 for his ultimately failed bill that would have expanded Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law to state workplaces and would ban LGBTQ nonprofits from eligibility for state grants.

He last appeared here in January 2024 when he proposed abolishing property tax in Florida and replacing it with a new “consumption tax” tacked onto the sales of goods and services across the state.

Chamberlin belongs to a Pentecostal church and launched a failed bid for the US House in 2020, finishing sixth in the GOP primary. His predecessor, Joe “Don’t Say Gay” Harding, served a five month sentence on COVID fraud charges.



Tags

© joemygod.com 2025