Bill > HB546

This bill establishes the "Entrepreneur Rights Act", which creates exemptions for small businesses and seasonal businesses from certain minimum wage increases and paid sick leave provisions. Specifically, the bill defines a "small business" as an independently owned and operated business with 50 or fewer employees that is headquartered in Missouri, and a "seasonal business" as an employer that operates primarily during a specific seasonal period of 26 weeks or less per year. Beginning January 1, 2025, small businesses and seasonal businesses will be exempt from the new minimum wage increases (which would otherwise raise the minimum wage to $13.75 in 2025 and $15.00 in 2026) and paid sick leave requirements. Instead, these businesses will continue to use the minimum wage rate in effect on December 31, 2024. The exemption applies only to future compensation and is not retroactive. The Missouri Department of Labor is authorized to create rules and regulations to implement these provisions, with the bill emphasizing that the exemptions are designed to protect smaller and seasonal entrepreneurs from potentially burdensome wage and benefits mandates.

Business and Industry

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB546&year=2025&code=R