AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES (Increases the minimum hourly wage commencing January 1, 2029, by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Northeast Region for the calendar year 2027.)

H7770

2026 -- H 7770
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LC005268
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

Introduced By:
Representatives Bennett, Edwards, Potter, Alzate, Messier, Furtado,
Corvese, McNamara, Fellela, and Shanley

Date Introduced:
February 12, 2026

Referred To:
House Labor
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 28-12-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-12 entitled "Minimum
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Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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28-12-3. Minimum wages.
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(a) Every employer shall pay to each of the employer’s employees: commencing July 1,
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1999, at least the minimum wage of five dollars and sixty-five cents ($5.65) per hour. Commencing
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September 1, 2000, the minimum wage is six dollars and fifteen cents ($6.15) per hour.
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(b) Commencing January 1, 2004, the minimum wage is six dollars and seventy-five cents
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($6.75) per hour.
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(c) Commencing March 1, 2006, the minimum wage is seven dollars and ten cents ($7.10)
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per hour.
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(d) Commencing January 1, 2007, the minimum wage is seven dollars and forty cents
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($7.40) per hour.
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(e) Commencing January 1, 2013, the minimum wage is seven dollars and seventy-five
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cents ($7.75) per hour.
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(f) Commencing January 1, 2014, the minimum wage is eight dollars ($8.00) per hour.
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(g) Commencing January 1, 2015, the minimum wage is nine dollars ($9.00) per hour.
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(h) Commencing January 1, 2016, the minimum wage is nine dollars and sixty cents ($9.60)
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per hour.
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(i) Commencing January 1, 2018, the minimum wage is ten dollars and ten cents ($10.10)

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per hour.
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(j) Commencing January 1, 2019, the minimum wage is ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50)
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per hour.
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(k) Commencing October 1, 2020, the minimum wage is eleven dollars and fifty cents
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($11.50) per hour.
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(l) Commencing January 1, 2022, the minimum wage is twelve dollars and twenty-five
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cents ($12.25) per hour.
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(m) Commencing January 1, 2023, the minimum wage is thirteen dollars ($13.00) per hour.
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(n) Commencing January 1, 2024, the minimum wage is fourteen dollars ($14.00) per hour.
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(o) Commencing January 1, 2025, the minimum wage is fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour.
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(p) Commencing January 1, 2026, the minimum wage is sixteen dollars ($16.00) per hour.
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(q) Commencing January 1, 2027, the minimum wage is seventeen dollars ($17.00) per
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hour.
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(r) Commencing January 1, 2029, the minimum wage shall be increased by an amount
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equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-
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U) published by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Northeast
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Region for the calendar year 2027, but in no event shall the minimum wage decrease to reflect any
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decrease in the CPI-U.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES
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This act would increase the minimum hourly wage commencing January 1, 2029, by an
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amount equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers
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(CPI-U) for the Northeast Region for the calendar year 2027.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005268
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LC005268 - Page 3 of 3