The bill amends Section 28-12-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-12 entitled "Minimum Wages" to incrementally increase the state minimum wage each year from 2026 through 2029. Specifically, the bill introduces new legal language that sets the minimum wage at $16.25 per hour commencing January 1, 2026, with subsequent annual increases that raise the minimum wage to $17.50 in 2027, $18.75 in 2028, and ultimately $20.00 per hour by January 1, 2029.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a mechanism for annual adjustments to the minimum wage starting January 1, 2030, based on the cost of living increases as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The adjustments will be rounded to the nearest multiple of five cents. The act is set to take effect upon passage, indicating that these changes will be implemented immediately once the bill is enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
7579: 28-12-3