In 2024, 22 U.S. states have raised their minimum wage to support lower-income workers amidst high inflation, with increases ranging from $0.23 to $2 per hour. This change is expected to provide an additional $7 billion in wages to nearly 10 million workers. Three more states will raise their wages later in the year. The federal minimum wage remains unchanged at $7.25 per hour, while states like Washington have set the bar at $16.28, the highest in the nation.
Newly inaugurated Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato has raised the minimum wage for county employees, with full-time workers now earning at least $18 an hour, set to increase to $22 by 2027, and part-time workers getting a minimum of $15 an hour. This move, effective immediately, impacts dozens of part-time and fewer than 500 full-time employees. The policy, which does not apply to unionized positions, is part of broader changes including overhauling vacation policy and lifting certain pre-employment requirements. Innamorato's administration aims to improve workforce conditions and competitiveness in the job market.
As of January 1, 2024, New Jersey has increased its minimum wage to $15.13 per hour, and Delaware has raised its minimum wage to $13.25 per hour, with a planned increase to $15 in 2025. However, Pennsylvania's minimum wage remains unchanged at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.
Starting January 1st, Arizona's minimum wage has risen from $13.85 to $14.35, with a plan to reach $15 by 2025. La Indita's manager, Josue Rivera, supports the increase despite the challenges it poses to his business, acknowledging the need due to rising living costs. To cope with the wage hike and increased food prices, La Indita has slightly raised its prices. Arizona joins 23 other states in raising the minimum wage in 2024.
As the new year begins, Vermonters are seeing changes in laws that impact their finances. DMV service fees have increased by approximately 19%, raising costs for vehicle registration and license renewal by $10-$15. The state's minimum wage has risen by 49 cents to $13.67 per hour, along with an increase in the minimum tipped wage to $6.84. New York has also seen a minimum wage increase, with rates now at $16 in New York City and its suburbs, and $15 in the rest of the state. Additionally, Vermont is set to launch online sports betting on January 11.
New York celebrated the new year with an increase in the minimum wage to $16 in New York City and some suburbs, and $15 in the rest of the state, as part of a series of annual increases that will continue until 2026. This increase is in line with a broader trend across 22 states raising their minimum wages, with future hikes in New York to be tied to inflation. The move, resulting from an agreement between Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature, aims to adjust wages in response to cost of living changes, despite some opposition.
As the new year kicks off, several states in the New York area are implementing new laws. New Jersey's "Seinfeld Bill" now requires telemarketers to disclose their company's contact information quickly to combat scams, especially those targeting seniors. Minimum wage workers in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut will see an increase in their hourly pay. Pennsylvania introduces harsher penalties for "porch pirating," while Massachusetts residents will benefit from a tax cut and an extended hunting season for deer and wild turkey.
As the new year begins, New York's minimum-wage workers are receiving a pay increase, with the wage rising to $16 in New York City and its suburbs, and to $15 in the rest of the state. This is part of a series of annual increases that will continue until 2026, when the minimum wage will reach $17 in the city and its suburbs, and $16 elsewhere in the state. The increases are part of an agreement made by Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature, despite some opposition. New York joins 21 other states in raising the minimum wage as of 2024, with future increases to be tied to inflation.
Maryland is introducing several new laws in 2024, including a plastic bag ban in Anne Arundel County, with a transition period until February 1st, after which stores will charge for paper bags. Energy bill assistance programs will expand to support more low-income households with heating and electric bills. Health insurance coverage will now include biomarker testing and certain cancer screenings. House Bill 235 extends the foreclosure complaint filing period from six to nine months for unpaid property taxes. The state is also cracking down on spam telemarketing calls, requiring prior express written consent for automated calls. Additionally, Maryland's minimum wage is increasing to $15, impacting around 163,000 employees, a change that was expedited from the originally planned date in 2025.
Starting January 1, 2024, several new laws take effect in the D.C. area, including a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour in Maryland, expanded infertility health insurance coverage in D.C., and plastic bag bans in various jurisdictions. Virginia will see a 2% pay raise for public school teachers, tax exemptions for military retirees, and changes in health care policies, among other updates. These laws aim to improve economic fairness, environmental sustainability, and access to health care.
New York has enacted a series of laws set to take effect in 2024, including a minimum wage increase to $16 in select areas, the establishment of a "bill of rights" for LGBTQ nursing home residents, the requirement for private schools to provide free menstrual products, and the mandate for schools to offer voter registration forms to eligible students. Additionally, inmates will be informed of their restored voting rights upon release. These laws aim to address various social issues and promote equality and civic engagement across the state.
As of January 1, 2024, New York's minimum wage rose to $16 in New York City and select suburbs, and to $15 in the rest of the state, marking the first in a series of planned annual increases. These increases are part of a strategy to eventually reach a $17 minimum wage in NYC and its suburbs, and $16 elsewhere in New York by 2026, with future adjustments linked to inflation. This change reflects a broader trend across 22 states, with New York's decision stemming from an agreement between Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature, despite some opposition.
Illinois is enacting 320 new laws in 2024, including a ban on semi-automatic weapons, a prohibition on library book bans to maintain state funding, a requirement for employers to offer paid time off, and an increase in the minimum wage to $14 per hour. Other notable laws include restrictions on police traffic stops for air fresheners, a ban on videoconferencing while driving, a prohibition on indoor vaping, and the option for businesses to install all-gender multi-occupancy restrooms. Teenagers will also be able to pre-register to vote when obtaining a driver's license or state ID.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted a series of laws that will take effect in 2024, including a minimum wage increase to $16 per hour, enhanced protections for freelance workers, expanded victim compensation fund eligibility, the introduction of 'Matthew's Law' for public drug testing resources, and the protection of job seekers' online privacy from potential employers.
Hawaii's minimum wage is set to increase to $14 an hour on New Year's Day, which will result in higher annual earnings for workers but also higher costs for business owners. Coffee Talk owner Liz Schwartz and other business leaders are trying to balance the wage increase with the high cost of living and worker shortages in the state. The increase may lead to higher prices for customers, reduced operating hours, or the adoption of artificial intelligence in restaurants. Health insurance costs for employers are also expected to rise, adding to the financial pressures faced by businesses still recovering from the pandemic.
