Lawmaker says increase to minimum wage ‘definitely’ happening this year
A bill that would increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour received wide support after passing first reading last month.
If passed, House Bill 1191 would incrementally raise the minimum wage for employees not receiving health insurance through their employers by $1 a year for five years, capping out at $15 in 2024.
Employees who do receive health insurance through their employers would see their wages increase by 50 cents each year until 2024, with a cap at $12.50.
The minimum wage in Hawaiʻi was established by a 2015 bill that also incrementally raised the minimum wage each year from $7.25 in 2015 to the current wage of $10.10, which was reached in 2018 as that bill’s final stage.
“There will definitely be a minimum wage increase this year,” said Rep. Richard Creagan, who co-introduced HB 1911. “The only question is how much.”
During a hearing regarding HB 1191 on Jan. 31, public testimony was widely in favor of the measure, with most of the dissent coming from business owners and associations.