| Welcome back to the Small Business Insider, the go-to resource for essential information that empowers and connects Florida’s local businesses and is made exclusively available to members of the Florida Chamber Small Business Council. |
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| ICYMI: September Webinar Discussion on Amendment 3, Elections & Florida's Economic Outlook |
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The Small Business Council met virtually on Wednesday, September 16, to receive updates on Florida’s economy from Sheridan Morby, Senior Director of Economic Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation, and gather insight from H. French Brown, Partner at Jones Walker LLC, on Florida’s current property tax system and Amendment 3. Amendment 3, which will appear on Floridians’ ballots in November, addresses homestead tax exemptions, non-homestead property assessments, and defines local government core services. Constitutional amendments must pass with a 60% threshold to go into effect.
Finally, Alex Coelho, Director of Research Data and Analytics for the Florida Chamber political team, briefed the Council on Florida’s 2026 primary results and provided an overview of Florida’s battleground landscape as November’s general election nears. A brief synopsis of Amendment 1, related to Florida’s Budget Stabilization Fund, and Amendment 2, related to tangible personal property ad valorem tax exemptions on agricultural land, was also presented.
If you missed the September 16th meeting, you can access the presentation slides here. |
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Register Today: December 8th Small Business
Council Meeting |
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| Registration is open for our next virtual meeting at 9:00AM ET on December 8, 2026. Please mark your calendars for the next meeting and you can pre-register for the event by clicking the button below. We will announce topics and guest speakers in the coming weeks. |
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| Toplines from Tallahassee & Beyond |
- Beginning September 30, 2026, Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour. This is due to a constitutional amendment that voters approved in 2020 that increased Florida’s minimum wage by $1 a year until it reaches $15 an hour. For more information or to find required posters, click here.
- The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Business Alliance for Early Learning released the 2026 State of 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency in Florida report, which identifies the gap we need to close to ensure that 100% of 3rd-graders are on track and offers an actionable framework for how Florida’s business leaders can help. This year, 60% of Florida’s third graders are reading at or above grade level. To learn more, click here.
- The Florida Department of Revenue has a new eFile and Pay system for purposes of reemployment taxes, or unemployment compensation. Most employers will need to use the new system to file their electronic Employer’s Quarterly Report, due October 31, 2026. Click here for details on the new system.
- Want to meet your lawmakers? Registration is now open for the 2027 Florida Chamber Legislative Fly-In, February 9-10 in Tallahassee. Join other business leaders as we unite the business community around the 2027 Florida Business Agenda and hear the priorities of session. Click here for more information.
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| Small Business Administration Considers Changes to Small Business Thresholds - What This Means for Small Business |
The U.S. Small Business Administration has proposed a major overhaul of how it decides which businesses count as "small" for federal programs. Right now, there are nearly 1,000 different size standards, based on narrow 6-digit industry codes, which can make it confusing for a business to know exactly where it stands. The new rule would simplify that down to 338 standards using broader industry groupings, switch more industries from revenue-based thresholds to employee-count thresholds, and — for the first time — adjust dollar-based thresholds not just for inflation but also for productivity growth in the economy. SBA is not proposing to lower any existing thresholds, even in industries where its own data suggested a decrease might be warranted. The public comment period on this proposal closed September 21, 2026, and here is the full text of the proposed rule.
For most small businesses, this is good news: SBA estimates roughly 114,500 more firms nationwide will now qualify as "small," which opens the door to government contract set-asides, SBA-backed loans (like 7(a) and 504 loans), and lighter regulatory and reporting requirements. It also raises the ceiling businesses can grow to before losing their small-business status, helping avoid the so-called "benefit cliff" that can discourage expansion. The tradeoff is there could be a larger, more competitive pool of "small" businesses, meaning there could be more companies chasing the same contracts and loan dollars. A small number of industries could also see standards shift in ways that cause a handful of businesses to lose small-business status, so business owners should check how their specific industry is affected. The proposed rule includes a full list of industry changes by NAICS code. |
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The Federal Corner is intended to provide details of what is happening in Washington, D.C., that may impact your business. It’s important that if these federal provisions apply or potentially apply that you are aware so you can take advantage or take the proper steps accordingly.
This month, President Trump took further action on his previous efforts to tamp down on H-1B visas for specialty-occupation workers. First, Trump extended the September 2025 Executive Order that requires a $100,000 payment for H-1B visas or the worker will be denied entry. He also signed a new executive order that directs the Department of State, Labor and Homeland Security to factor in whether an employer has conducted layoffs or plans to layoff similarly situated U.S. workers when evaluating H-1B visa applications.
It also sounds like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) workplace heat safety rule might be re-released earlier than the previously announced December timeline, based on comments made by a high-ranking OSHA official at the National Safety Council’s conference. To learn more about OSHA’s heat rule, click the link below. |
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For more information on what is happening at the federal level on labor and other regulatory issues, click the link above. If you would like to engage in our federal legislative or regulatory advocacy efforts, please contact Florida Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs, Carolyn Johnson, at cjohnson@flchamber.com. |
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Federal Reserve Raises Fed Fund Rate as Florida's Labor Market Shows Continued Signs of Strength
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The September 2026 edition of Florida By The Numbers is now available. Florida's latest economic data shows continued job growth, while also highlighting important trends in unemployment, housing, inflation, and interest rates.
Florida Chamber Foundation Senior Director of Economic Research, Sheridan Morby, breaks down what the latest numbers mean for Florida and why these economic trends matter to businesses, communities, and policymakers across the state.
This month's updates include:
- Labor Market Trends:
- Florida added 59,000 jobs in August, marking the fifth consecutive month of annual job gains and outpacing national job growth.
- Florida’s unemployment rate declined to 4.5%, with unemployment among younger workers remaining an important part of the state’s overall labor market story.
- Housing Trends:
- Florida’s single-family home sales declined year over year in August after 11 consecutive months of annual gains, while home prices remained relatively steady.
- Inflation and Interest Rates:
- National inflation remained at 3.4%, keeping affordability and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions in focus.
- The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points this month, with future decisions expected to depend on inflation and labor market conditions.
Additional metrics and more are found on TheFloridaScorecard.org. |
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| Upcoming Events and Announcements |
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Florida has grown to the #10 state in America for manufacturing jobs, and our Florida 2030 Blueprint goal is clear: make Florida a Top 5 state for manufacturing jobs by 2030. Our Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition is helping shine a spotlight on the manufacturers, products, innovation and career opportunities moving us toward that goal.
- St. Johns County | Northrop Grumman: E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
- Pinellas County | Koozie Group: Garyline® Cubbie RPET Bottle with Straw Lid
- Alachua County | Sandvik Mining: Electric Rotary Blasthole Drills
- Collier County | Arthrex, Inc.: TightRope® PRO
From advanced materials and aerospace components to energy systems, construction technologies, and infrastructure-supporting equipment, this competition highlights the essential role manufacturing plays in supporting Florida’s long-term infrastructure and economic resilience.
Top 4 voting closes today at midnight. Vote for your product today. |
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Under the strategic direction of the Florida 2030 Blueprint, Florida is well on its way to becoming at top 10 global economy by 2030, poised for its businesses, residents, and communities to thrive along the way.
Register for the 2026 Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber Annual Meeting, held October 27-28 in Orlando, where Florida’s leaders will discuss what the future of Florida looks like, what’s working, what’s not, and how we’re doing on our progress towards achieving the 39 goals of the Florida 2030 Blueprint. This is an opportunity to align and network with your industry peers and policymakers that your leadership team won’t want to miss! |
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| The affordability of insurance remains a top issue for Floridians and new state leaders mean new ideas on how to reform Florida’s insurance marketplace. We invite you to join business leaders, lawmakers, insurance professionals, regulators, and other stakeholders at the 2026 Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit, December 10–11, at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, for interactive and important discussions on where the Florida insurance market is today and what’s on the horizon as we continue progress toward a more affordable, stable and competitive insurance market. |
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Florida is at a crossroads and in order to achieve the Florida 2030 Blueprint mission of making Florida a top 10 global economy by 2030, it will take a united business community laser-focused on driving Florida’s economy forward.
Join us for the Florida Chamber Foundation’s virtual 2027 Florida Economic Outlook & Jobs Solution Summit, January 28, 2027 from 1:00pm-4:00pm ET, as the Florida Chamber Foundation team, leading economists, and industry experts glimpse into the opportunities and challenges Florida’s economy is facing on the road to 2030 and beyond. Attendees will receive an exclusive 2027 Florida economic forecast, a national economic outlook, and invaluable insight into Florida’s evolving workforce needs, population growth, housing trends, potential election impacts, and more. |
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Attended by CEOs, senior executives, government affairs professionals, local chambers, association leaders, and decision-makers from across Florida, the Florida Chamber’s 2027 Legislative Fly-In provides a high-value opportunity to connect Florida’s business community with state leaders and the policy conversations that matter most.
February 9-10 in Tallahassee, attendees will gain timely insight into Florida’s political, economic, legislative, and regulatory landscape; hear perspectives on issues affecting employers and communities across the state; and strengthen relationships with business and policy leaders from throughout Florida. |
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If your company has an update to feature in the Small Business Insider, please share with Carolyn Johnson, Vice President of Government Affairs, at cjohnson@flchamber.com. |
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