Updated Mar 28, 2019 - Economy

Wave of states look to pass $15 minimum wage laws in 2019

Minimum wage protestors. Photo: Pacific Press/Getty Images

A federally mandated minimum-wage increase seems like a long-shot with the GOP-held Senate, so a collection of states are stepping up to help spearhead the "Fight for $15" movement.

Why it matters: Years-long strikes and rallies across the country have paid off, and several states with Democratically-controlled legislatures and governorships have made it easier to institute such policies with the goal of lifting people out of poverty.

Driving the news:

Maryland's state legislators overrode Republican Governor Larry Hogan's veto of the minimum wage bill on Thursday. The policy is going to slowly raise the minimum wage from $10.10 to $15 by 2025, reports Vox.
New Jersey's Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law earlier this month gradually raising the minimum wage for most workers from $8.85 an hour to $15 by 2024. The state joins California, Massachusetts, New York and the District of Columbia in incrementally increasing the minimum wage to $15.
Illinois already fast-tracked its $15 minimum wage bill and will send it to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk on Tuesday.

Connecticut's party leadership has indicated they will send legislation to Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont's desk this year.

What's next: Delaware, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Hawaii have also signaled that they will boost their hourly minimum wages later this year. On the national stage, Democrats in Congress introduced a bill on Jan. 16 to increase the federal minimum wage to $15.

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Wave of states look to pass $15 minimum wage laws in 2019

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