Bills to raise the state minimum wage are no stranger to the Mississippi Legislature. Over the past several years, at least one member of the House or Senate has attempted to pass a bill that will raise the state’s minimum wage. This year, one of those bills was filed in the House by Rep. Mickens.
HB 5 is pushing to raise the state’s minimum wage, currently set at $7.25 to $10.00.
“Every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) per hour, except as otherwise provided in this section.”
It also stipulates that any worker being paid through tips is required to earn $3.62/ hour from their employer.
“(3) Every employer shall pay each of his or her tipped 27 employees wages at the rate of not less than Three Dollars 28 Sixty-two cents ($3.62) per hour.”
The bill is to be known as the Mississippi Minimum Wage Act and also dives into how overtime workers are to be compensated. It sets a legal standard for one and one half times what their typical pay would be.
Another somewhat companion bill in the Senate was filed by Rep. Jackson of the 11th. SB 2047 would allow for an increase over time, eventually reaching a $10 minimum wage by July 1, 2023.
“The state minimum wage shall be as follows: (a) Beginning July 1, 2020, the rate of not less than Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($7.50) per hour; (b) Beginning July 1, 2021, the rate of not less than Seven Dollars and Seventy-five Cents ($7.75) per hour; (c) Beginning July 1, 2022, the rate of not less than Eight Dollars ($8.00) per hour; and (d) Beginning July 1, 2023, the rate of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) per hour.”
Other minimum wage increase bills so far include HB 171, and HB 368.
Sarah Ulmer
