The bill amends K.S.A. 44-1202 and 44-1203 to increase the minimum wage for employees in Kansas. It establishes a new minimum wage structure, setting the minimum wage at $15 per hour starting January 1, 2026, and stipulating that from January 1, 2027, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually based on the cost of living, specifically tied to the percentage increase in the consumer price index for urban consumers in the Midwest. The bill also modifies the provisions regarding tips and gratuities, allowing employers to include these in the calculation of minimum wage, with specific requirements for payment based on the amount of tips received.

Additionally, the bill repeals the existing sections of K.S.A. 44-1202 and 44-1203, which previously outlined lower minimum wage rates, including $2.65 per hour prior to January 1, 2010, and $7.25 per hour from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2026. The new legal language clarifies the definitions of "employer," "employee," and "wage," while also removing references to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act in relation to the applicability of these state provisions. The act will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 44-1202, 44-1203