Provides that commencing January 1, 2027, the minimum wage shall be twenty-four dollars ($24.00) per hour.

Rhode Island Minimum Wage Increase Bill

This bill would raise Rhode Island's minimum wage to $24.00 per hour, starting on January 1, 2027. Under current state law, the minimum wage is set to gradually increase over the next few years, but this bill would establish a specific new floor of $24.00 per hour by that date. The bill has been introduced in the Senate and sent to the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee for review.

The people most directly affected by this change would be workers currently earning at or near the minimum wage — including many employees in restaurants, retail stores, childcare, cleaning services, and other service industries. For these workers, the increase would mean higher take-home pay. Employers, particularly small business owners, would need to budget for higher labor costs, which could affect hiring decisions, employee hours, or the prices they charge customers.

It's worth noting that this bill is still in an early stage of the legislative process. It has only been introduced and referred to committee, meaning it has not yet been debated, amended, or voted on. Many bills introduced in committee do not move forward to become law. If it does advance, there would likely be further discussion about how the change might affect both workers and businesses across Rhode Island.