This bill proposes an amendment to the Code of West Virginia to increase the state minimum wage from the current rate of $8.25 per hour to $11.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2027. The new legal language inserted into the current law specifies that after December 31, 2026, every employer shall pay their employees a minimum wage of not less than $11.00 per hour. Additionally, the bill renumbers the existing subsections to accommodate this change, with the previous subsection (6) being deleted and the new minimum wage provision being designated as subsection (6).

The bill also maintains the existing provisions regarding the training wage, which allows employers to pay a subminimum training wage to newly hired employees under certain conditions. It ensures that the wages established under this section apply to all individuals employed by the State of West Virginia and its agencies, while also stipulating that the minimum wage cannot fall below the federal minimum wage. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the financial well-being of workers in West Virginia by raising the minimum wage significantly.

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