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Maryland General Assembly Approves Minimum Wage Increase

News

Maryland General Assembly Approves Minimum Wage Increase

March 26, 2019

The minimum wage in Maryland is increasing from $10.10 to $15 per hour. The Maryland General Assembly approved legislation for the raise.

Under the compromised legislation passed by the House and Senate, minimum wage will increase incrementally over five years. The first increase to $11 will take effect in January of 2020, followed by four subsequent annual increases of $0.75 per year with a final $1.00 increase in 2025.

There are two notable exceptions to this legislation. First, the new law allows small businesses with fewer than 15 employees a smaller and prolonged increase schedule, in which they will have $0.60 annual increments with a final increase of $0.40 midway through 2026. Second, the new law lowers the age exemption of the acceptable 85 percent sub-minimum rate from 20 years of age to 18.

While Governor Larry Hogan indicated he is opposed to a statewide increase, the Maryland General Assembly has the requisite amount of votes to override any potential veto, thus making the new law inevitable.

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