State/Bill #

Summary

Last Action/Status

Arizona

HB 2638

Among other proposals, raises AZ minimum wage to $7.10/hr.

February 16, 2004 Second read

California

AB 2832

Sets minimum wage at $7.25 as of Jan. 1, 2005 and $7.75 Jan. 1, 2006  

May 27, 2004 In Senate. Read first time. Referred to Rules Committee for assignment.

SB 57

This bill would adjust the hourly minimum wage on January 1, 2004, and annually thereafter, to maintain employee purchasing power.  The automatically adjusted minimum wage would be calculated using the California Consumer Price Index, as specified.

February 2, 2004 Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule

Colorado

SB 155

Prohibits a unit of local government from enacting any jurisdiction-wide law or ordinance with respect to minimum wages, including those that refer to a "living wage" or "prevailing wage."  Exempts minimum wages imposed by a municipality on itself and pertaining to full-time, permanent employees on the municipality's payroll.

February 16, 2003 Second Reading loses in Senate

Connecticut

HB 5394

To make permanent a sunset provision that gives employers a larger tip credit toward the minimum wage for persons employed in the hotel and restaurant industry and bartenders who customarily and regularly receive gratuities.

May 10, 2004 Signed by governor, Public Act 04-68

SB 322

To provide for a standard annual cost of living increase to the minimum wage, based on the National Consumer Price Index.

May 10, 2004 Signed by governor, Public Act 04-90

Georgia

HB 1258

To amend Chapter 4 of Titile 34 of  the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Minimum Wage Law," so as to preempt certain wage and employment benefit mandates by local government entities.

May 13, 2004 Signed by governor, Act 481

Hawaii

HB 1881

Provides for an annual adjustment to the state minimum wage based upon federal cost of living allowance increases, beginning January 1, 2005.

January 26, 2004 Referred to House Labor and Public Employment Committee

SB 2145

Provides for an annual adjustment to the state minimum wage based upon Hawaii cost-of-living allowance increases, beginning January 1, 2005.

February 19, 2004 Passed Second Reading, referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee

Illinois

HB 3976

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Provides that every employer shall pay to each employee in every occupation wages that are not less than the federal minimum hourly wage prescribed by specified federal minimum wage provisions.

February 26, 2004 Tabled by Sponsor

HB 4462

Requires the Department of Labor to adopt rules defining and delimiting the exemption of administrative and professional employees from the general requirement that employment in excess of 40 hours per week be compensated at a rate not less than 1.5 times the regular rate.  However, this bill has been amended so that it provides that the requirements concerning compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per week do not apply to executive, administrative, or professional employees as defined by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

April 4, 2004 Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

HB 4730

Amended to read: provides that the State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, shall be used to calculate the required number of hours of participation required in any earnfare or pay after performance activity.

May 13, 2004 In Senate, Third Reading Deadline Extended - Rule 2-10, extended to January 11, 2005

HB 5133

Provides that a joint labor-management committee established pursuant to the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against an employer that fails to pay the prevailing wage to its employees.

February 5, 2004 Referred to Rules Committee

HB 5466

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes a stylistic change in provisions concerning overtime.

April 4, 2004 Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

HB 5468

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

April 4, 2004 Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

HB 6114

Amends the Minimum Wage Law.  Makes a stylistic change in provisions concerning the Director of Labor

April 4, 2004 Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

SB 2582

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes a stylistic change in provisions concerning violations of the Act.

February 4, 2004 Referred to Rules Committee

SB 3088

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes a stylistic change in provisions concerning overtime.

February 6, 2004 Referred to Rules Committee

Iowa

HB 2163

A bill for an act to increase the state minimum hourly wage rate to $5.15 on Jan. 1, 2005 and $5.65 on Jan. 1, 2006

February 4, 2004 Referred to Commerce, Regulations and Labor Committee

Kansas

HB 2526

Concerns the minimum wage and maximum hours law; increases the hourly minimum wage to $5.50 on Jan. 1, 2005, $6.50 by Jan. 1, 2006, and $7.50 by Jan. 1, 2007

January 28, 2004  Hearing: Wed., 2/4/2004

Kentucky

HB 186

Increases the state minimum wage to $5.65 an hour effective January 1, 2005, and to $6.15 an hour effective January 1, 2006; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2005.

January 12, 2004 Referred to Labor and Industry Committee

SB 45

Exempts from minimum wage and overtime provisions, individuals engaged in providing companionship services who are employed by a third party employer or agency.

April 9, 2004 Signed by governor, Act 122

SB 231

Relating to minimum wage requirements established for companies which seek rural economic development incentives, to exempt nonprofit corporations which employ handicapped and sheltered workshop employees at federally established subminimal wages

April 7, 2004 Signed by governor, Act 84

Louisiana

HB 195

Repeals prohibition of establishing local minimum wage.

March 29, 2004  Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations

SB 32

Provides that the minimum wage in Louisiana be equal to the federal minimum wage plus one dollar.

June 1, 2004  Read by title, committee amendments read and adopted.

Ordered reengrossed and passed to a third reading.

Maryland

HB 1111

Increasing the liquidated damages for which a contractor may be liable for paying less than the prevailing wage rate for specified laborers and employees under a public work contract to 16 times the hourly prevailing wage rate.

March 30, 2004 Withdrawn

HB 1192

Requiring specified contractors and subcontractors to pay specified employees a specified minimum wage level under specified State procurement contracts; providing specified exemptions and reductions in a specified wage level; requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to prescribe a living wage level based on a specified Consumer Price Index and to administer and enforce requirements with regard to employees.

April 11, 2004 In Senate, Re-referred to Finance Committee

SB 621

Same bill as HB 1192

April 8, 2004 In House, Third Reading Passed with Amendments 

Massachusetts

HB 1045

Increases the hourly minimum wage to $7.25 by Jan. 1, 2005, $7.75 by Jan. 1, 2006 and stipulates annual increases every year to follow. 

February 5, 2004 From Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor: Accompanied Study Order H 4493

HB 4493

Order relative to authorizing the committee on Commerce and Labor to make an investigation and study of certain Senate and House documents concerning minimum wage.

March 18, 2004  Discharged, in part, by H2385 -HJ 1443

SB 80

Maintains the value of the minimum wage.

February 5, 2004  From Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor: Accompanied Study Order H 4493

SB 771

Provides for reimbursement of human service providers for increases in minimum wage rates.

February 2, 2004 Reported favorably and passed to Ways and Means Committee

Minnesota

HB 2320

(Constitutional Amendment) Proposes an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XIII; provides for a constitutional minimum wage that will be adjusted annually.

February 23, 2004 Referred to Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Committee

Mississippi

HB 180

Relates to wages; requires state employers to pay wages of no less that 15% above federal minimum wage

March 9, 2004 Died in Committee

Missouri

HB 1478

Specifies things that can be submitted in bids by employers under the prevailing wage law, and requires employers to certify they are paying the specified wage.

March 3, 2004 Passed by Workforce Development and Workforce Safety Committee

HB 1496

Allows local school boards to exempt themselves from prevailing wage law by majority vote of the board.

March 10, 2004 Passed by Workforce Development and Safety Committee

New Hampshire

HB 1278

Raises hourly minimum wage to $5.65 by July 1, 2004; $6.15 on July 1, 2005; and $6.65 on July 1, 2006

March 3, 2004 Postponed Indefinitely by Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee

New Jersey

AB 823

Establishes criminal penalties for failure to pay the minimum wage.

January 13, 2004 Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

SB 584

Senate version of AB 823

January 13, 2004 Referred to Senate Labor Committee

AB 1183

"The New Jersey Living Wage Act"; sets minimum wage and benefit standards for businesses contracting with or assisted by public bodies.

January 13, 2004 Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

AB 1252

Raises minimum wage to equal 30% of the average hourly wage for all workers in the state annually every July 1.

January 13, 2004 Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

AB 1884

Identical to AB 1252

January 22, 2004 Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

AB 2435

February 24, 2004 Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

SB 1000

Increases minimum wage to $.25 higher than the federal minimum wage on July 1, 2004 and to $.50 higher by July 1, 2005

February 9, 2004 Referred to Senate Labor Committee

New Mexico

HB 210

Any employee who receives more than $30/month in tips can be paid a minimum wage of $2.13 but the combined wages must equal at least $5.15/hr overall

February 18, 2004 Passed from Senate Committee on Public Affairs

HB 471

Relates to public works; requires registration of certain contractors and subcontractors; imposes a fee; creates a fund for the Public Works Minimum Wage Act.

March 8, 2004 Passed into Law by House concurrence

New York

AB 1499

Defines lowest responsible bidder for purposes of the prevailing wage law to  

include only those who have not been found guilty of an unfair labor practice within a three year period preceding the award of a public works project in order to disqualify as the lowest responsible bidder on a public works contract those bidders who have violated certain federal or state labor laws; permits       

challenges to the determination of the lowest possible bidder.

May 20, 2004 Reported referred to code

AB 9710

This bill increases the minimum wage incrementally to $7.10; authorizes the commissioner to access wage reporting data when a complaint has been received and other information; and clarifies existing law requiring the commissioner to provide wage         

and hour records to local governments.  Includes farm workers in laws.

March 1, 2004 Passed Assembly, referred to Senate Labor Committee

SB 376

Increases the minimum wage to $6.75 on and after January 1, 2005, provided that, on or before January first, 2006, and annually thereafter, such statutory wage shall be increased based on the increase in the state average weekly wage

for covered employment.

January 14, 2004 Amended in Senate Committee on Labor

SB 3291

Enacts the empire state wage act of 2004; establishes a statutory minimum wage;

provides for biennial reports and the establishment of a special task force on

indexing.

March 1, 2004 Amended in Senate Committee on Labor

SB 5949

Increases minimum wage incrementally to $7.00 on and after January 1, 2006.  Also, adds additional complaint procedures regarding the payment of wages and local laws to enforce them.    

January 20, 2004 Referred to Labor Committee

SB 5986

Identical to SB 5949

April 1, 2004 Motion to petition-lost

Oklahoma

HB 1859

Raises minimum wage to $6.15 incrementally ($.25 per year) from current federal minimum wage by Jan. 1, 2008

February 3, 2004 Referred to House Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Labor

Rhode Island

HB 7308

Would require contractors awarded a contract for public works to post the rights and remedies of employees not paid in compliance with the law.  This act would also confer a private right of action of violation of the prevailing wage law.

June 2, 2004 Placed on Senate calendar

HB 7910

Increases penalties for violations of the payment of wages laws.

May 27, 2004  Senate passed Sub A in concurrence

HB 8077

Provides that Jan. 1, 2005 and annually thereafter, the minimum wage would be adjusted by a cost-of -living index calculated for the northeast region of the US.

March 9, 2004 Scheduled for hearing

SB 2777

Clarifies which call for bids would contain provisions stating minimum wages to be paid to various types of employees.

April 7, 2004  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

SB 2809

Regards minimum wages for school bus drivers

April 29, 2004  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

SB 2889

Identical text to HB 8077

February 11, 2004 Referred to Labor Committee

South Dakota

SB 94

Increases minimum wage incrementally to $6.25 by April 1, 2005

January 28, 2004  Scheduled for committee hearing on this date

Virginia

SB 22

Establishes the state minimum wage at $6.50 per hour.

February 9, 2004 Postponed Indefinitely by Commerce and Labor Committee

SB 290

Provides that no local governing body may establish "living wage" provisions without approval of the General Assembly. Any "living wage" ordinance previously adopted by a local governing body that did not receive the approval of the General Assembly shall be considered void.

February 13, 2004 Continued to 2005 by Rules Committee

SB 428

Provides that no public body may require the payment of a minimum wage that exceeds the federal minimum wage to the employees of an employer, or his subcontractor, contracting to provide goods or services to the public body.

February 17, 2004 Voted down in Senate

Washington

HB 2981

Declaring the exclusive authority of the state to establish minimum wage and hour standards.

January 26, 2004 Referred to Commerce and Labor Committee

SB 5462

Relating to the provision of greater predictability and consistency

in the state wage and hour laws, adopts federal guidelines.

March 1, 2004 Referred to Rules Committee "X" file.

SB 5697

Modifies the inflationary adjustment to the minimum wage.

March 11, 2004 After passing Senate and being referred to House Commerce and Labor, re-referred to Senate Rules Committee

SB 6605

Identical to HB 2981

February 6, 2004 Passes out of committee, referred to Rules Committee for Second Reading

West Virginia

HB 4699

exempts public works projects receiving federal assistance and subject to federal labor standards from the state prevailing wage laws.

February 27, 2004 Referred to Judiciary Committee

Wisconsin

AB 903

Provides minimum wage and overtime pay exemptions for providers of

companionship services.

March 31, 2004  Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

SB 508

Identical to AB 903

May 26, 2004  Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the

                Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82