DeSantis signs bill barring local labor regulations on heat exposure, minimum wage for contracts
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Thursday that preempts local governments from establishing ordinances that regulate heat exposure for workers.
Local government can require the coverage of health benefits – but not a specific level of coverage.
The bill also states that, starting Sep. 30, 2026, a political subdivision is prohibited from preferring one contractor over another based on the wages or employment benefits provided by the contractor.
A political subdivision cannot require a minimum wage for certain employees under the terms of a contract. It also cannot require a minimum
The legislation, HB 433, was sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Esposito, R-Fort Myers. The Senate version was filed by Sen. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City.
The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners previously considered a proposal that would require construction and agriculture companies with five or more employees to guarantee workers access to water and give them 10 minute breaks in the shade every two hours on days when the heat index equals or exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Local businesses argued that many of them already kept to these standards and that the county implementing these requirements would be the first of its kind in the entire nation.
Florida follows federal law in regards to most worker provisions, due to its emphasis on labor deregulation.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is the driving force of federal labor regulations. The Safety and Health Act of 1970 is often looked at as the national standards when it comes to issues of worker safety, including heat exposure.
Florida has also set int place its own labor regulation laws, specifically with minimum wage. In 2004 Florida voters approved a ballot amendment establishing a state minimum wage that increased over time as inflation shifted. In 2020, voters approved another amendment that gradually increases the minimum wage to $15 by 2026.
