Pennsylvania House lawmakers are set to vote this week on a proposal to gradually raise the commonwealth’s minimum wage to at least $15 in 2029.Vote expected on Tuesday The legislation would raise the hourly minimum wage to $11 in 2027, $13 in 2028, and $15 in 2029. Additional cost-of-living increases would take place after that, starting in 2030. The bill is expected for a vote on Tuesday after being amended Monday to allow counties to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour earlier than the current timeline.Democrats support wage hike Democrats have said Pennsylvania must raise its minimum wage to allow the commonwealth’s lowest earners to be able to afford higher costs of living.Rep. Nikki Rivera, a Democrat from Manheim Township, emphasized the importance of raising the minimum wage, noting that all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have higher rates.”It shows value in the people we employ and that life is not just worth an hourly wage,” Rivera said. “If there’s somebody that you value in hiring, then you value in paying them an affordable living wage — $15 gets us closer to that number. It doesn’t reach it, but it gets us closer than $7.25.”Republicans and business leaders concernedBut Republicans and some business leaders had said they are concerned that small businesses are vulnerable to increases in the hourly minimum wage, and argue that employees at most companies and nonprofits are already making at least $15 an hour.House Appropriations Republican Chairman Jim Struzzi argued that the market should dictate wages.”Really, the market should dictate what salaries are, what wages are. We even heard that from the Department of Human Services secretary in our most recent budget hearings,” Struzzi said.He also pointed out that many employers are already paying above $15 an hour and warned of possible price increases.”If you’re paying your employees $15 as required by government, someone’s going to pay for that. So chances are, what you’re paying for a hamburger right now is going to double if the minimum wage goes to $15 an hour,” Struzzi said.Now, after reaching $15 an hour, this proposal would bring cost-of-living increases essentially every year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Pennsylvania House lawmakers are set to vote this week on a proposal to gradually raise the commonwealth’s minimum wage to at least $15 in 2029.

Vote expected on Tuesday

The legislation would raise the hourly minimum wage to $11 in 2027, $13 in 2028, and $15 in 2029. Additional cost-of-living increases would take place after that, starting in 2030.

The bill is expected for a vote on Tuesday after being amended Monday to allow counties to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour earlier than the current timeline.

Democrats support wage hike

Democrats have said Pennsylvania must raise its minimum wage to allow the commonwealth’s lowest earners to be able to afford higher costs of living.

Rep. Nikki Rivera, a Democrat from Manheim Township, emphasized the importance of raising the minimum wage, noting that all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have higher rates.

“It shows value in the people we employ and that life is not just worth an hourly wage,” Rivera said. “If there’s somebody that you value in hiring, then you value in paying them an affordable living wage — $15 gets us closer to that number. It doesn’t reach it, but it gets us closer than $7.25.”

Republicans and business leaders concerned

But Republicans and some business leaders had said they are concerned that small businesses are vulnerable to increases in the hourly minimum wage, and argue that employees at most companies and nonprofits are already making at least $15 an hour.

House Appropriations Republican Chairman Jim Struzzi argued that the market should dictate wages.

“Really, the market should dictate what salaries are, what wages are. We even heard that from the Department of Human Services secretary in our most recent budget hearings,” Struzzi said.

He also pointed out that many employers are already paying above $15 an hour and warned of possible price increases.

“If you’re paying your employees $15 as required by government, someone’s going to pay for that. So chances are, what you’re paying for a hamburger right now is going to double if the minimum wage goes to $15 an hour,” Struzzi said.

Now, after reaching $15 an hour, this proposal would bring cost-of-living increases essentially every year.