Bill > HB5297

This bill proposes to increase the minimum wage in Texas by amending Section 62.051 of the Labor Code to require employers to pay workers not less than $15 per hour, or the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. Currently, the state's minimum wage is tied solely to the federal minimum wage established by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill would establish a new baseline wage of $15 an hour, which would provide a significant increase for workers earning the current federal minimum wage. Additionally, the bill repeals Section 62.151 of the Labor Code, which likely relates to the previous minimum wage provisions, and sets the effective date of the new wage requirement as September 1, 2025. This gives employers and businesses several years to prepare for and adjust to the new minimum wage standard, potentially allowing time for gradual implementation and economic planning.