3 New Florida Laws That May Change Your Life in 2021

TAMPA, FL — Although the new Florida law with the biggest impact — the minimum wage increase — won't take effect until September when the minimum wage increases to $10 an hour, three other Florida laws officially go on the books Friday.

As of Jan. 1, all government employers and some private businesses that use the federal electronic system called E-Verify will be required to check the immigration status of new workers.

The new legislation was a priority for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the 2020 legislative session, and he said it became more vital as the coronavirus began impacting Florida businesses.

“Given the high unemployment rate due to COVID-19, it is more important than ever to ensure that the state’s legal residents benefit from the jobs that become available as Florida continues to reopen in a safe and smart manner,” DeSantis said when he signed the legislation in June.

Under the new law, all school districts, public universities and state agencies to use E-Verify, a system run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Government employers and contractors that do not register for E-Verify by Jan. 1 will not be eligible for government contracts.

See related story: New Minimum Wage Law Could Either Sink Or Revive FL Economy

Greyhound Racing Ends

The New Year will also bring an end to a 100-year-old Florida betting industry.

Florida Amendment 13 was approved by 69 percent of voters in November 2018, effectively ending the practice of greyhound racing in Florida.

Racetracks and greyhound trainers attempted to overturn the ban, claiming it constituted the taking of property without compensation. However, on April 27 Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker dismissed the lawsuit, saying, "Through Amendment 13, Florida has prohibited plaintiffs’ property from being used in a particular manner that the state has determined to be contrary to the health, morals or safety of the community. Whether Amendment 13′s purpose was to protect the health and welfare of racing dogs or to prohibit wagering on dog races, Amendment 13 is a legitimate exercise of Florida’s police power."

When voters approved the amendment, Florida was one of only 10 states in which wagering on dog races was legal. At the time, 11 of the country's 17 greyhound racing tracks were in Florida, some dating back to 1931 when the Florida Legislature passed the law allowing betting on dog and horse races.

While the amendment was backed by groups opposed to wagering in general, it was the efforts of greyhound protection groups that assured passage of the amendment.

"Commercial greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane," said Carey Theil, co-founder of Grey2K USA. "Every three days, a greyhound dies at a Florida dog track. Greyhounds endure lives of confinement, and many suffer serious injuries."

"It ends tonight. For all of us who worked hard to make it happen, it's here and it's done and, as of midnight, the Florida dogs are free," said Joyce Carta, vice president Greyhound Adoptions of Florida and co-chairwoman of the Committee to Protect Dogs, the sponsoring group lobbying to pass Amendment 13.

The only two greyhound racetracks remaining in Florida are Derby Lane in St. Petersburg and the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach. The last greyhound race is scheduled to take place Thursday at 11:59 p.m. at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.

Penalties Doubled For Passing School Buses

Finally, as of Jan. 1, penalties will be doubled for illegally passing a school bus. The legislation came after several high-profile accidents in which children died or were seriously injured by vehicles passing school buses while students were getting off the buses.

Under the new law, the penalty for failure to stop for a school bus increases from a minimum $100 to $200, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department. If a second offense is committed in five years, the person’s license will be suspended for up to 1 year.

Additionally, the penalty for passing a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal increases from a minimum of $200 to $400. If a second offense is committed in five years, the person’s license can be suspended up to two years.