House Democrats passed a bill raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage for the first time since 2007. House Bill 1500 raises the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour in three stages by Jan. 1, 2026 and then adjusts it to inflation beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Pennsylvania House Democrats advanced a bill out of the House Labor and Industry Committee to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. The bill raises the tipped minimum wage and sets the minimum wage to inflation.
Pennsylvania’s paltry minimum wage celebrated its 13th anniversary this year. Democratic state lawmakers have tried to increase it, but their efforts were blocked by the GOP majorities in Harrisburg.
Republicans have said they want to extend the Trump tax cuts, which mostly benefited billionaires and corporations; cut spending on Social Security and Medicare; and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered the cost of prescription drugs and raised taxes on corporations.
While the gubernatorial candidates are miles apart on many issues relevant to Pennsylvania voters, they are perhaps farthest apart on the economic issues that working families are struggling with now more than at any time in the last decade.
A new regulation that will raise the base pay of tipped workers, limit tip pooling, and prevent employers from subtracting credit card transaction fees from workers’ tips was approved in March and goes into effect Friday.
Typically working 12-hour shifts, Pennsylvania National Guard members are deployed every year to assist with domestic missions and emergencies, and are only paid $100 per day for their important work.