Work Hard. Save Smart. Retire Secure.

Looking Ahead to 2027

The 2027 Legislative Session represents an opportunity to build on the progress made in 2026.

Our goal is to support legislation that creates a Florida Retirement Readiness Program that helps more workers save for retirement through convenient payroll deduction while minimizing administrative responsibilities for employers.

Together, we can help more Floridians Work Hard. Save Smart. Retire Secure.

Join businesses and organizations across Florida in supporting this practical retirement savings solution. Sign the Business Letter of Support today and add your organization's voice to this important effort.

Access to an employer-based retirement plan is critical for building financial security later in life. Yet, about 59 percent of Florida’s private sector employees—nearly 5 million individuals—work for an employer that does not offer either a traditional pension or a retirement savings plan. That 59 percent includes workers at all levels of earnings, education, and backgrounds. All of them would benefit from the ability to use payroll deduction to save for retirement.

AARP Florida is championing an innovative solution that provides a no-cost, plug-and-play retirement savings option for businesses and helps workers to grow the retirement savings they need to take control of the future.

As of 2025, a total of 16 states have launched successful retirement savings programs for workers, with 9 additional states currently rolling out similar initiatives.

What Florida Small Businesses Are Saying

Florida small business owners recognize the importance of helping workers prepare for retirement. A recent AARP survey found that nearly 8 in 10 (79%) Florida small businesses believe more should be done to encourage residents to save for retirement.

The survey also found: 

• 87% of Florida small businesses agree lawmakers should support legislation that makes it easier for employers to offer retirement savings options.  
• 82% support a ready-to-go retirement savings option that would help them offer their employees a way to save for the future 
• 84% say offering a retirement savings option would help small businesses attract and retain quality employees and remain competitive.  
• 74% of businesses that do not currently offer a retirement plan would be likely to provide access to a privately managed retirement savings option. 

These findings highlight growing support among employers for practical, low-burden solutions that can help workers save through their workplace while remaining simple for businesses to facilitate.

Read the full survey results:
Small Businesses in Florida Want to Help Employees Save for Retirement

Resources:

• 2026 Florida Small Business Survey
• AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet
• Pew Research Center: State Information & Interactive Map
• Georgetown Center for Retirement Initiatives: Policy Report

Progress in 2026. Opportunity in 2027.

A Strong First Step

During the 2026 Legislative Session, lawmakers introduced legislation to establish a Florida Retirement Savings Task Force. While the bill did not become law this session, it represented meaningful progress by bringing policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates together to begin examining practical solutions to Florida's retirement savings access gap.

Building on the Momentum

Over the coming months, AARP Florida and its partners will continue working with lawmakers, business leaders, community organizations, and other stakeholders to advance a practical, bipartisan solution. 

Our efforts will focus on:

• Educating policymakers about Florida's retirement savings challenge
• Sharing research and data on the economic benefits of increased retirement savings
• Engaging employers and community partners across the state
• Highlighting successful retirement savings programs implemented in other states
• Ensuring any proposed solution is simple for employers, voluntary for workers, and professionally managed through the private sector

Want to Take Action?