<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Florida: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As promised at our Legislative meeting last night, here is the email regarding SB 676, a bill designed to pay employees sub-minimum wages. I have reviewed the bill’s status this morning and it was in a committee hearing on Monday and temporarily removed after working on some amendments. Let’s put on the pressure! The template you may wish to use is below and the list of Senators on the relevant committees is attached. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Camille Tate, president<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbflorida.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tel: 321.372.4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> president@nfbflorida.org <president@nfbflorida.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:10 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Florida List for Leaders' <nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Camille Tate <president@nfbflorida.org><br><b>Subject:</b> Legislative Alert Updated: SB 676 Employment <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Florida: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are opposing SB 676, a bill that aims to circumvent the Florida minimum wage increases, as approved by Florida voters in 2020. As a reminder, Florida voters passed a bill in 2020 to gradually increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour over a five year period. The minimum wage is currently $13 per hour, increasing to $14 per hour on October 1, 2025. The minimum wage increases to $15 per hour on October 1, 2026 and then returns to its normal annual increase amount provided for in Florida statute. SB 676 will allow employers to have employees “volunteer” to be paid below the state required minimum wage. Additionally, this legislation will re-classify certain job types so they are no longer subject to state minimum wage requirements. The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Florida is opposed to such circumvention of state minimum wage laws. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We encourage everyone to contact the relevant committee members as this bill is well into its forwarding to the floor for possible vote. The three relevant Senate Committees are: Commerce and Tourism, Government Oversight and Accountability and Rules. There is a template below that you may use when making contact with members of the relevant committees. I have also attached a listing of each committee, their Capitol phone number and the chair and vice chairs of each committee. I have only included the email addresses for the chairs and vice chairs, however, each committee member is listed. The email address format is Last Name.First <a href="mailto:name.Web@FLSenate.gov">name.Web@FLSenate.gov</a> and you can also find their contact information by visiting FLSenate.gov. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear State Legislature Member: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My name is [insert name]. I live in [insert city, Florida]. I am a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, the nation’s oldest and largest transformative civil rights organization of blind people. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am writing to you regarding Senate Bill, SB 676. This bill aims to pay sub-minimum wages to Florida workers and re-classify certain jobs that are not currently subject to Florida’s minimum wage requirements, set forth by Florida voters in 2020. The National Federation of the Blind and all of its 52 affiliates have worked for decades to end the practice of paying sub-minimum wages to disabled people. This bill is a backward step and creates an additional barrier to our economic opportunity. We, blind and disabled Floridians, have the right to earn Florida’s prevailing minimum wage, to support ourselves and our families and take part in the American Dream. This legislation will have a detrimental effect on the disability community, who work hard to be part of the socio-economic fabric of our communities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We strongly urge SB 676 and its related bills be removed from consideration. Support Florida workers and our blind and disabled community. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[insert name] <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[insert any titles you hold in the National Federation of the Blind of Florida] <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Camille Tate, president<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbflorida.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tel: 321.372.4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>