Sunshine Sentinel

NFIB Florida Legislative Director Tim Nungesser recently testified in favor of House Bill 541 and Senate Bill 676. These bills propose allowing small business employers to opt out of the state-mandated minimum wage for certain employees.

During his testimony before the House Careers & Workforce subcommittee, Nungesser highlighted the hiring challenges faced by Florida's small businesses. He noted that the proposed legislation would permit small employers to use the federal minimum wage for younger and less experienced workers.

"This is a problem nationwide; it’s not just here in Florida," said Nungesser. "States are looking for ways to get more skilled workers, and one of the ways we can do that is with this voluntary program – and I will emphasize that this is a voluntary program. And I did want to say that I think one of the things we are targeting here is younger workers, getting them some more experience working in these professions."

According to NFIB's recent jobs report, 38% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, marking the highest reading since August 2024. Overall, 53% of small business owners indicated they were hiring or attempting to hire for their open positions.

A recording of the hearing is available online, with Nungesser’s testimony beginning around the 1:21:25 mark.