This bill proposes an increase in the state minimum hourly wage, amending RSA 279:21 to establish a new minimum wage structure. The bill stipulates that, unless otherwise provided by statute, no employee shall be paid less than the federal minimum wage or the following rates: $12 per hour from September 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and $15 per hour from July 1, 2026, onward. Additionally, it specifies that tipped employees in certain establishments, such as restaurants and cigar bars, must receive a base rate of at least 45% of the applicable minimum wage. If an employee's total wages do not meet the $15 per hour threshold, the employer is required to compensate the difference.

The bill also includes a contingency clause stating that the new minimum wage provisions will take effect when the federal minimum wage reaches $15 per hour or when New Hampshire's minimum wage is increased to that level, whichever occurs first. The fiscal impact of the bill is projected to be indeterminable for local and county expenditures, with an estimated cost of approximately $373,000 for the state in FY 2026 due to the wage increase for state employees. The bill does not provide funding or authorize new positions, and it is expected to apply to both full-time and part-time employees working for the State of New Hampshire.