Bill > SB455

This bill aims to automatically adjust Hawaii's minimum wage annually based on the Urban Hawaii Consumer Price Index (CPI), starting in January 2029. Currently, Hawaii's minimum wage is set to increase to $18 per hour by 2028, and this legislation would then implement an annual adjustment mechanism to help wages keep pace with inflation. Specifically, beginning September 30, 2028, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations will calculate a new minimum wage rate rounded to the nearest twenty-five cents using the Urban Hawaii CPI for the previous twelve months. The bill includes a protective clause that prevents the minimum wage from decreasing if the CPI calculation would result in a lower rate, essentially ensuring that the minimum wage can only remain the same or increase. The legislative findings highlight Hawaii's high cost of living, noting that a minimum wage worker currently needs to work 98 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom rental at fair market prices, and that tying minimum wage to cost of living increases can prevent wage stagnation by ensuring wages grow alongside the cost of basic necessities. The bill is part of a broader effort to provide financial security for low-wage workers in the state.

Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=455&year=2026