Florida citizens voted for or against Florida Amendment 2, the $15 Minimum Wage Initiative, on the November ballot.
Based on the results, the amendment is now ratified, which means that the minimum wage will increase from $8.56 to $10 on September 30, 2021 and then increase by $1 increments every subsequent September 30 for 6 years.
The minimum wage will be $15 on September 30, 2026.
The reason for this amendment was to reduce poverty in Florida.
In 2019, 12.7% of Florida’s population was found to be below the federal poverty line, which is currently at an annual income of $26,200 for a family with four members.
The main mark of being below the poverty line is food insecurity, or the unsteady access to nutritious food.
Food insecurity negatively impacts physical and mental health, which could lead to people developing diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, and children struggling from learning impediments.
Florida expects to have more than one million citizens climb out of poverty by 2026.
