The Florida legislature will be getting to work early this year with the 2020 legislative session officially convening on Jan. 14. This session, several employment bills could have significant impacts on Florida employers, including proposals that would introduce paid family leave for new parents, expansive amendments to the Florida Civil Rights Act, and increasing the state minimum wage to $15. While the below list is by no means exhaustive, nor is it clear whether any of these bills will make it out of committees to be voted upon by the legislature, we’ve rounded up the top workplace law bills that employers should keep their eye on in 2020.

  • $15 minimum wage (SB 456 / HB 691 / Amendment No. 2).

The state minimum wage is again in the spotlight with two bills and a ballot initiative all seeking to raise the Florida minimum wage to $15 an hour. The House bill is proposing an increase of $1.00 plus the rate of inflation starting Sept. 30, 2020, with annual increases thereafter of $1.50 plus the rate of inflation through September 2025. The Senate bill is taking a slightly more gradual approach with a proposed increase of $0.80 plus the rate of inflation beginning Sept. 30, 2020, with annual increases thereafter in the same amount until September 2028. On Nov. 3, 2020, Floridians will also vote on Amendment No. 2—a proposed constitutional amendment that would increase the state minimum wage to $15 by September 2026.

  •  Paid family leave (SB 1194 / HB 889).