Sets the minimum wage for 2027 at twenty dollars ($20) per hour.

Rhode Island Minimum Wage Bill Summary

This bill would set Rhode Island's minimum wage at $20 per hour starting in 2027. Currently, Rhode Island's minimum wage is on a scheduled increase path, and this proposal would establish $20 per hour as the specific rate for that year. The change would apply to most workers covered under the state's existing minimum wage law.

The bill would directly affect workers earning at or near the minimum wage, such as those in retail, food service, hospitality, and other industries that commonly employ hourly workers. For those employees, the increase could mean higher take-home pay. It would also affect employers — particularly small businesses — who would need to adjust their payroll budgets to meet the new wage floor.

As of the most recent update, the bill was introduced in the House Labor Committee and has been recommended to be held for further study, meaning lawmakers have not yet moved it forward for a full vote. A hearing was scheduled for March 2026. This "held for further study" status is common and means the committee is still evaluating the proposal rather than advancing or rejecting it outright.

It's worth noting that this bill focuses specifically on the 2027 wage rate and does not address what happens to the minimum wage in years beyond that. Whether and how this proposal moves forward will depend on ongoing legislative debate in Rhode Island.