Bill > HB625

This bill modifies Missouri's minimum wage law by introducing a new provision that exempts employees under 20 years of age from future minimum wage increases. Specifically, the bill raises the minimum wage to $13.75 per hour starting January 1, 2025, with a further increase to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2026, and subsequent annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). However, employees under 20 years old will continue to be paid at the minimum wage rate in effect on December 31, 2024, regardless of subsequent increases. This means younger workers will not benefit from the planned minimum wage hikes. The bill allows the state Department of Labor to create rules and regulations to implement this exemption, which applies only to compensation paid on or after the bill's effective date. The goal appears to be protecting small businesses and entry-level job opportunities for younger workers by maintaining a lower wage rate for this age group while still increasing the minimum wage for workers 20 and older.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB625&year=2025&code=R