Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill that lets professional baseball players get paid less than minimum wage in Florida

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Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed 17 bills, including a measure (SB 892) that creates an exemption to the state’s minimum-wage law for professional baseball.

The measure incorporates into the state minimum-wage law a carve-out for minor-league baseball players that is part of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

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The federal act includes several minimum-wage exemptions, such as for baseball players, casual babysitters, some seasonal amusement workers and border patrol agents.

It requires baseball players to receive an in-season weekly salary equal to the minimum wage for a 40-hour work week.

When Congress amended the federal law in 2018, the minor-league minimum was set at $290 a week — the equivalent of $7.25 an hour — without overtime eligibility.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Florida voters in 2020 backed a constitutional amendment that increases the minimum wage $1 a year until reaching $15 on Sept. 30, 2026.

The Florida minimum wage is now $11 an hour and will go to $12 on Sept. 30.

Before the state House passed the bill last month, sponsor Brad Yeager, R-New Port Richey, warned that without the change, baseball teams could limit access to training facilities or pull players from games to ensure they don’t exceed weekly work-hour limits.

Democrats argued the bill supports “billionaire” major-league team owners.

©2023 The News Service of Florida

32 Responses to “Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill that lets professional baseball players get paid less than minimum wage in Florida”

  1. Amy

    Don’t vote for this man. He wants to control everything in your life and send the country backward not forward. I hope young people will get out and vote and stop this nonsense. He wants more border patrol measures but wants to cut their pay.

    Reply
  2. patrickligs@yahoo.com

    Will someone please think about those poor professional athletes! 😂

    Reply
    • eclectronic

      This is aimed at minor league players, who make very little money, literally less than minimum wage in some cases. 90% of them never play in the majors, and a further chunk of that remaining 10% will never be in the majors long enough for it to matter financially.

      There’s a reason there’s a tradition of players being hosted by local families. Low wages is part of that.

      It is not uncommon for players who are married and have children to give up on their dream of playing in the major leagues because they need to get a job that actually pays them a wage that can support their family.

      Reply
  3. Zenix Saxzon

    No team is going to pull their prospect just so they don’t hit 40 hours. Ridiculous again by DeathSantis

    Reply
  4. Mike Smith

    So if I am reading this article correctly and understanding what the author is claiming, proffesional minor league baseball is getting paid a minimum of $7.25 per hour which IS the federally mandated minimum wage.

    I understand that states can raise the minimum wage but my understanding is that any major sports team is exempt from the state’s minimum wage. So professional minor league baseball is NOT being paid below federal minimum wage.

    Reply
  5. timbo

    Isn’t Flowriduh one of the wealthiest of states? They can’t afford to paying living wages? It’s not a cheap state to live in at any wage.

    Reply
  6. Ron Z

    ARE YOU KIDDING ME ?
    WOULD THESE BILLIONAIRES WORK FOR THAT WAGE ?
    THEY KNOW THE LOVE THESE PLAYERS HAVE FOR THE GAME AND THEY USE THAT AGAINST THEM WHEN DECIDING HOW MUCH TO PAY THEM.
    THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT PAYING A FAIR WAGE FOR LABORERS.
    SO, GREEDY OWNERS, GO AHEAD AND SQUEEZE YOUR EMPLOYEES AS MUCH AS YOU DESIRE, BUT
    YOU WILL FACE JUDGEMENT FOR YOUR GREED.
    MAKE CERTAIN TO ENJOY YOUR SHORT TIME HERE, AS IT WILL PASS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
    THEN, YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU SO RICHLY DESERVE FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!

    Reply
  7. Rosa Anderson

    This is crazy then if that’s gonna happen how about football and other sports these guys work hard and to have it taken away.

    Reply
  8. Carol Cooper

    Ron DeSantis will do anything to get votes. Even sell his soul to the devil. About as much as his wife Casey’s worth.

    Reply
  9. Mr M

    They don’t get to become billionaires by paying the peasants anything do they and their man pudding boy is definitely in their pocket

    Reply
  10. Brando

    Leave it to Republicans to strive to ensure people are paid as little as possible.

    Reply
  11. Omni Pulsar

    Regardless if this applies to you or not what a great way to make sure no one votes for you if you choose to re-elect

    Reply
    • Timpa02

      DeSantis can’t run again. DeSantis already served his 8 years. In FL you can only serve 8 yrs in a 12 yr period.

      Reply
  12. David P. Bresett

    Anything for hate. The hate state is getting worse under the worst governor ever.

    Reply
  13. Marc Harris

    DeSantis has been signing more and more pro-buisness, anti-citizen legislation. He said he’s fighting the WOKE agenda…but at what cost? Authoritarianism!

    RFK or bust. Enough with the Neocons.

    Reply
  14. Prexy

    Is it true that a baseball owner gave DeSantis $1,000,000.00 the day after the bill was signed ? If so , will we ever have a decent , somewhat honest , Republican candidate on the next presidential ballot ?

    Reply
  15. Mike-L

    They’ll just leave Florida. I swear, DeSantis is determined to destroy this state before he’s out of office.

    Reply
  16. Kevin Carpenter

    MLB already agreed to a new pay structure with the minor league players association. What FL allows isn’t really relevant. The players agreed to the changes. And they are given housing allowances and Fed every day as well. When you put it all together, it’s significantly more than minimum wage.

    Reply
  17. Sam Miller

    Sadly, no one has to vote for him. Unfortunately, even if he loses the presidential election he has the option to return to his seat as governor

    Reply

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