The bill H.347 proposes significant changes to Vermont's labor laws, primarily focusing on increasing the minimum wage to $20.00 per hour and eliminating the exemption for agricultural workers from minimum wage laws. It aims to phase in overtime pay for agricultural workers, with specific thresholds for overtime hours set to be implemented gradually from 2026 to 2036. Additionally, the bill seeks to eliminate the tipped minimum wage and establish a minimum salary threshold of $1,128.00 per week for employees to qualify as exempt from minimum wage and overtime laws. The bill also removes the authority of the Commissioner of Labor to recommend a subminimum wage for individuals with disabilities and maintains the Attorney General's authority to investigate and enforce complaints of employee misclassification without a prospective repeal.

Key amendments in the bill include the insertion of new definitions and salary thresholds, as well as the repeal of certain existing provisions related to exemptions and subminimum wages. Specifically, the bill introduces a phased approach to overtime pay for agricultural workers and sets a clear minimum wage that must be adhered to by employers in the service industry. The effective date of the act is set to be upon passage, indicating an immediate implementation of these changes once the bill is enacted.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 21-383, 21-384, 21-385, 3-222d