TALLAHASSEE — When Florida voters went to the polls in 2020, they approved a constitutional amendment to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Workers during the coming week will see the second installment, with the minimum wage going from $10 to $11.
Under the amendment, the minimum wage went to $10 in 2021 and will increase on Sept. 30 of each year by $1, before ultimately hitting $15 an hour in 2026. After that, it will be adjusted based on inflation.
Rich Templin, a Florida AFL-CIO official who lobbies the Legislature, said the state’s lowest-paid workers need the increase.
“It is going to help a lot of people, but in addition to wages going up, we’ve got to do something about the cost of living in Florida,” Templin said. “That’s what continues to be neglected.”
Business groups have long expressed concerns about increases in the minimum wage, pointing, in part, to potential effects on small businesses.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
SUPREME COURT CLOSED: The Florida Supreme Court will be closed Monday for Rosh Hashanah.
LABOR SECRETARY IN MIAMI: U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is scheduled to make appearances in Miami-Dade County, with other participants expected to include U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. (Monday, noon, Blink Charging, 605 Lincoln Road, fifth floor, Miami Beach. Also, 2 p.m., Jessie Trice Community Health System, 5607 N.W. 27th Ave., Miami. Also, 4 p.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami.)
SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a meeting, followed by a hearing on a budget and millage rate for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. (Monday, meeting at 3 p.m., hearing at 5:05 p.m., Suwannee River Water Management District, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)
POLK STATE TRUSTEES MEET: The Polk State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Monday, 4 p.m., Polk State College, Lakeland Campus, 3425 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland.)
GREEN OPENS VOLUSIA HEADQUARTERS: Democrat Karen Green, who is running for an open seat in Central Florida’s Congressional District 7, is scheduled to open a campaign headquarters. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., 247 West Voorhis Ave., DeLand.)
CRIST, DEMINGS AT BROWARD RALLY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings are expected to take part in a rally hosted by the Faith in Florida Action Fund. Aramis Ayala, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, also is expected to appear. (Monday, 7 p.m., New Mount Olive Baptist Church, 400 N.W. Ninth Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022
BIDEN MAKES FLORIDA APPEARANCES: President Joe Biden on Tuesday is slated to appear in Fort Lauderdale to discuss health-care costs, Medicare and Social Security and then travel to Orlando for a Democratic National Committee rally. The White House had not released full details as of Friday.
VIRTUAL SCHOOL DISCUSSED: The Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSp-oyR-9hroocmIumUXCg)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a workshop about a proposed rule related to energy-efficiency goals. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Florida Public Service Commission, Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida SouthWestern State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida SouthWestern State College, Lee Campus, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers.)
WALSH SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh will speak to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. (Tuesday, noon, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)
BROWARD COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Broward College Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, 1409 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.)
KEYS COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Board of Trustees of The College of the Florida Keys will meet. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., The College of the Florida Keys, Key West Campus, 5901 College Road, Key West. https://meet.goto.com/786841333. Call-in number: 1-571- 317-3112. Code: 786841333)
ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a hearing on a budget and millage rate for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. (Tuesday, 5:05 p.m., St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)
SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY WIDENING EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an online meeting about widening part of the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Information at www.SawgrassAtlantictoSample.com)
MANATEE-SARASOTA COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Board of Trustees of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota will meet. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, Bradenton Campus, 5840 26th St. West, Bradenton.)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022
FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Polytechnic University, Applied Research Center, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland.)
FISH AND WILDLIFE PANEL MEETS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start a two-day meeting, with issues expected to include a report on captive breeding of diamondback terrapins. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Hilton Miami Dadeland, 9100 North Kendall Dr., Miami.)
CITRUS ISSUES ON MENU: The Florida Citrus Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)
PAROLE CASES CONSIDERED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee. Call-in number: 1-877-309-2073. Code: 337350165)
DISTRICT DISCUSSES RESILIENCY: The South Florida Water Management District will hold a forum about resiliency issues related to sea-level rise and flooding. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., South Florida Water Management District, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)
HISTORIC PRESERVATION ON AGENDA: The Florida Historical Commission is slated to review historic-preservation grant applications. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough St., Tallahassee. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6485869983072431376)
PSC HOLDS CUSTOMER MEETING: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting about a proposed rate increase in Polk County by Hidden Cove, Ltd., which provides water and wastewater service. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. http://www.floridapsc.com/Conferences/AudioVideoEventCoverage)
UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The state Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, 1211 Governors Square Blvd., Suite 300, Tallahassee. Call-in number: 850-988-5144. Conference ID: 175899214)
WORKERS’ COMP AT ISSUE: The Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association will meet. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. Information at https://fwciga.org/meetings/)
LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES AT TIGER BAY: Candidates in four Orlando-area legislative races are slated to appear at the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., Citrus Club, 255 South Orange Ave., Suite 1800, Orlando.)
ALZHEIMER’S ADDRESSED: The state Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 12:30 p.m., Florida Department of Elder Affairs, 4040 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83233822025?pwd=NnZrdk1udnR zdkNGZVg5OEJoSkFnQT09. Meeting ID: 83233822025. Code: 610451)
CENTRAL FLORIDA COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The College of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Hampton Center, 1501 West Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.)
UTILITY RATES AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer hearing about a proposed rate increase in Polk County by CHC VII, Ltd., which provides water and wastewater service. (Wednesday, 3 p.m. http://www.floridapsc.com/Conferences/AudioVideoEventCoverage)
AUDIOLOGY, HEARING AID PANELS MEET: The Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and the Florida Board of Hearing Aid Specialists will hold a joint meeting. (Wednesday, 4 p.m. https://app.gotomeeting.com/?meetingId=335609357. Call-in number: 1-866-899-4679. Code: 335609357)
HILLSBOROUGH COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees will meet. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Hillsborough Community College, South Shore Campus, 551 24th St., N.E., Ruskin.)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
FISH AND WILDLIFE PANEL MEETS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will conclude a two-day meeting with an update on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and a proposed rule change about gear intended to improve the survival of released reef fish. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Hilton Miami Dadeland, 9100 North Kendall Dr., Miami.)
ENTERPRISE FLORIDA BOARD MEETS: The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will meet in Hillsborough County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, 510 Water St., Tampa.)
UCF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., University of Central Florida, Live Oak Event Center, Orlando.)
INDEPENDENT EDUCATION COMMISSION MEETS: The state Commission for Independent Education will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, 1501 International Parkway, Lake Mary.)
GREENWAYS AND TRAILS PANEL MEETS: The Florida Greenways and Trails Council is scheduled to meet in Volusia County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., DeBary Hall Stable, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary.)
PSC HOLDS CUSTOMER MEETING: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting about rates for Anglers Cove West, Ltd., which provides water and wastewater service in Polk County. (Thursday, 10 a.m. http://www.floridapsc.com/Conferences/AudioVideoEventCoverage)
SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)
NORTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL MEETS: The Emerald Coast Regional Council will meet. (Thursday, 11;45 a.m., The Crossing at Blackwater Golf Course, 4927 Antioch Road., Crestview.)
LONG-TERM CARE ON TABLE: The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program state council is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Dr., Orlando.)
FARMWORKERS AT ISSUE: The Florida Farmworkers Advisory Council is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88636690326?pwd=eWxCU3o0Wl RYU3Zxd0xJYnh5THpCdz09. Meeting ID: 88636690326. Code: 413692; Call-in number: 1-929-205-6099)
UTILITY RATES DISCUSSED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting about rates for S.V. Utilities, which provides water and wastewater service in Polk County. (Thursday, 2 p.m. http://www.floridapsc.com/Conferences/AudioVideoEventCoverage)
LIFE AND HEALTH PANEL MEETS: The Florida Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 3 p.m. Contact Michelle Robleto at 850-523-1870 for information.)
SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY WIDENING EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting about widening part of the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Tamarac Community Center, 8601 West Commercial Blvd., Tamarac.)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
MINIMUM WAGE GOES TO $11: In the second increase under a 2020 constitutional amendment, Florida’s minimum wage will go to $11 an hour on Friday. The voter-approved amendment, spearheaded by prominent Orlando attorney John Morgan, will gradually lead to a $15-an-hour minimum wage on Sept. 30, 2026, and inflation-linked increases after that. Under the measure, the minimum wage went to $10 an hour on Sept. 30, 2021, and will increase by $1 each Sept. 30 until 2026.
TRANSGENDER TREATMENTS CONSIDERED: A joint committee of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine will discuss a draft rule that could restrict doctors from providing treatments to transgender people under age 18. The meeting will come after the Florida Department of Health in July filed a petition seeking a rule-making process on the contentious issue of treatment for gender dysphoria. The petition proposed what is known as a “standard of care” that would prohibit patients under age 18 from receiving sex-reassignment surgery and puberty-blocking, hormone and hormone “antagonist” treatments. It also would require that older patients sign a consent form and then wait 24 hours before starting such treatments. (Friday, 8 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
LONG-TERM CARE ON TABLE: The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program state council is scheduled to meet. (Friday, 8 a.m., Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Dr., Orlando.)
SUICIDE PREVENTION AT ISSUE: The Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council will meet. (Friday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Children and Families, 2415 North Monroe St., Tallahassee.)
INDEPENDENT EDUCATION COMMISSION MEETS: The state Commission for Independent Education will meet. (Friday, 9 a.m., Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, 1501 International Parkway, Lake Mary.)
GREENWAYS AND TRAILS PANEL MEETS: The Florida Greenways and Trails Council is scheduled to meet in Volusia County. (Friday, 9 a.m., DeBary Hall Stable, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary.)
HUNGER ISSUES DISCUSSED: Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is slated to take part in a “statewide hunger call” to address efforts aimed at ending hunger. (Friday, 11 a.m. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8382835405127995152)
FLORIDA GULF COAST TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Friday, 1 p.m. https://www.fgcu.edu/about/leadership/fgcuboardoftrustees/boardcast)
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Sept. 23.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2022
WALTZ, DONALDS, INGOGLIA AT SUMTER EVENT: The Sumter County Republican Party will hold a Lincoln Day Dinner, with speakers expected to include Republican Congressmen Michael Waltz and Byron Donalds and state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill. (Saturday, 7 p.m., Brownhood Hotel & Spa, 3003 Brownwood Blvd., The Villages.)