Florida Lawmakers Propose Bill Allowing Some Workers to Be Paid Federal Minimum Wage During Training Programs

CS/HB 221 would create limited exemptions from Florida’s state minimum wage for certain work-based learning and training opportunities, prompting debate over worker protections.

By: Haitian Prime News|January 30, 2026|Tallahassee, Florida

Florida lawmakers are considering a proposed bill that would allow certain employees to be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during approved training and work-based learning programs, despite the state’s constitutionally mandated minimum wage increases.

The legislation, CS/HB 221 – Minimum Wage Requirements, was introduced during the 2026 legislative session and is currently moving through committee review in the Florida House of Representatives. The bill does not repeal Florida’s minimum wage law, but it would create specific exemptions for designated categories of workers participating in structured training or educational employment programs.

Under the proposal, eligible employees could voluntarily opt out of Florida’s state minimum wage by signing a written waiver, allowing employers to pay no less than the federal minimum wage during the duration of the work-based learning opportunity. The bill explicitly prohibits employers from coercing workers into signing such waivers and requires that employees be paid at or above Florida’s state minimum wage once the training period concludes.

Supporters of the bill argue that it could expand access to internships, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs by reducing labor costs for employers offering hands-on training opportunities. They contend that such programs may benefit students, young workers, and career-changers by providing experience that could lead to long-term employment.

Critics, however, warn that the proposal could weaken wage protections approved by Florida voters in 2020, when a constitutional amendment set the state on a path to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. Labor advocates have expressed concern that exemptions could disproportionately affect low-income workers and create pressure to accept lower pay in order to gain employment experience.

According to legislative records, CS/HB 221 received its first reading in the Florida House on January 29, 2026, and has been referred to additional committees for consideration. The bill has not yet passed the full Legislature and has not been signed into law.

If enacted, the proposed exemptions would take effect on July 1, 2026. Florida’s statewide minimum wage schedule, established by constitutional amendment, would otherwise remain in place.

Sources

Florida Senate — CS/HB 221: Minimum Wage Requirements https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/221

Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24 (Minimum Wage)