The bill S.67, introduced by Senators Clarkson, Gulick, Watson, and White, aims to increase the minimum wage in Vermont to a livable wage as defined by the Joint Fiscal Office. The legislative intent emphasizes the need to address affordability concerns by raising the minimum wage to $18.60 per hour starting January 1, 2026. Future adjustments to the minimum wage will be determined based on existing laws, with annual increases set at either five percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, whichever is smaller.

Key amendments include the definition of "livable wage," which is established as the average hourly wage necessary for a full-time worker living in shared housing with employer-assisted health insurance to meet basic needs. The bill also specifies that the act will take effect on July 1, 2025. The previous minimum wage of $12.55, which was set to begin in 2022, will be replaced by the new livable wage standard.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 21-383, 21-384