Pennsylvania minimum wage increase remains stalled in Senate

Pennsylvania’s $7.25 minimum wage remains unchanged as Democrats make another push to advance a bill that would raise it to $15 by 2029.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour as lawmakers remain divided over a proposal that would gradually raise the wage to $15 by 2029.

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage last increased in 2009, when it reached $7.25 an hour. The increase came as part of a federal minimum wage increase and has remained at that level since then.

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House Bill 2189 would raise the minimum wage to $11 an hour in 2027, $13 in 2028 and $15 in 2029. Beginning in 2030, the bill would tie future increases to inflation.

The bill passed the Pennsylvania House 104-95 on March 24 and was sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Labor and Industry Committee on March 30.

Since then, it has not moved.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said Democrats believe the current minimum wage is not enough for workers to afford basic necessities.

“Paying folks $7.25 in this day and age is a disgrace.”

Costa said the phased increases would give businesses time to adjust and that Democrats are willing to negotiate over the timing of the increases and the state’s tipped wage.

Republicans have raised concerns about the impact of a higher minimum wage on entry-level jobs.

Rep. Scott Barger, R-80th, explained he is particularly concerned about teenagers and other first-time workers entering the workforce.

“What does it do to first time employees like my kiddos who are going to the workplace for the very first time trying to learn valuable working skills if they cost the employer more than what they’re worth as a first-time employee.”

With HB 2189 remaining in the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, Costa filed a discharge petition June 10 in an effort to force the bill out of committee and onto the Senate calendar.

On June 30, Costa moved to force a vote on whether the Senate would take up his discharge petition. That motion failed 23-27, with Democrats voting unanimously in favor and Republicans unanimously against.

The discharge petition later reached its 10th legislative day on the Senate calendar without action and fell off the calendar Sept. 29.

Costa told FOX43 Wednesday that Democrats have re-introduced a discharge petition in an effort to move the bill forward.

The official General Assembly bill history currently lists the June 10 discharge resolution as the most recent action on HB 2189.

The bill remains in the Senate Labor and Industry Committee and has not become law.

Costa said Democrats are willing to negotiate, including over the timing of the increases and the tipped wage but that Republicans have not shown the same interest.

“We’re willing to sit down and have a conversation about how we implement it or timeliness of that and also talk about what’s called a tip wage,” Costa said. “Those are all things that we’re interested in talking about, but we have to have a conversation.”

Barger said he has not heard what concessions Republican leadership may be seeking.

“Party leadership is often having negotiations at a much kind of a larger, like a macro level, so I don’t know what they’re looking to get in terms of a policy win that would make it worth it for us.”

With the legislative session nearing its end, the two sides remain divided over whether and how Pennsylvania’s minimum wage should increase.