$18-an-Hour Proposal Heads to House

By a vote of 24 – 1, the Hawaiʻi State Senate passed a measure that would incrementally increase the minimum wage to $18 by 2026, the Senate stated on Friday, Jan. 28.

It was introduced by the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts last week by Sen. Brian Taniguchi and is co-sponsored by 19 Senate members. SB 2018 would raise the minimum wage to $12 on Oct. 1, 2022, $15 on Jan. 1, 2024 and $18 on Jan. 1, 2026.

“The Senate identified raising the minimum wage as one of our top priorities for the 2022 session and I am delighted that we were able to swiftly deliver this important policy action for the working people of Hawiaʻi,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi. “I want to thank Senate Labor Committee Chair Brian Taniguchi for his work in shepherding this bill and I hope our House colleagues will follow suit and pass this critical piece of legislation.”

SB2018 now heads to the State House of Representatives for consideration.