Bill > HB84

This bill proposes changes to Hawaii's minimum wage law by reducing the planned minimum wage increase scheduled for January 1, 2026, from $16.00 to $15.00 per hour and repealing further planned increases to $18.00 per hour in 2028. The legislation aims to address economic challenges facing small businesses by slowing down wage increases that could potentially burden employers, particularly in Hawaii's tourism and service-based industries. The bill also modifies tip credit provisions, reducing the planned increases for tipped employees from $1.50 to $1.25 per hour and removing the projected 2028 increase. The legislators argue that while minimum wage increases are intended to provide workers with greater financial stability, such rapid increases could unintentionally harm small businesses with slim profit margins, potentially leading to reduced staff hours, job cuts, or business closures. By tempering the planned wage increases, the bill seeks to balance worker compensation with economic sustainability, acknowledging Hawaii's high cost of living while protecting small businesses from potentially unsustainable labor cost increases.

Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=84&year=2026