Bill > HB2455

This bill establishes a new requirement for businesses seeking certain economic development incentives in Tennessee, such as job training or capital grants, by mandating that employers certify they pay employees working on the incentivized project a minimum wage of $21.99 per hour starting July 1, 2026. This hourly rate will be adjusted annually by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, using the MIT living wage calculator for the county where the project is located, to reflect the cost of living for a specific household size, ensuring that the incentives are tied to a wage that supports workers. The bill also includes provisions for the Commissioner to establish an alternative calculation method if the MIT calculator becomes unavailable and specifies that employers found to be violating these wage requirements will be required to repay any economic development incentives they have already received, with enforcement tied to existing agreements.