By Mitch Perry Florida SHARE Among the most controversial bills filed in advance of the 2021 Florida legislative session is a proposal by state Sen. Jeff Brandes that would amend the constitutional amendment passed last November that raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2026. What You Need To Know Socially distanced caravan protest was held Tuesday in St. Pete Minimum wage amendment proposal by Sen. Jeff Brandes at center of protest Pinellas County commissioner calls the proposal unfair The St. Petersburg Republican’s measure would allow the Legislature to exempt convicted felons, people under 21 and other “hard to hire” workers from receiving that higher wage – but it would only go into effect if passed by the voters as a constitutional amendment. The proposal prompted a socially distanced caravan protest that ended in the parking lot of Brandes district office in north St. Petersburg on Tuesday (before an official with the building informed the motorist/activists that they had to park their cars elsewhere).