SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, Representative Alicia ‘Liish’ Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth) presented HF 4050, a bill to make changes to the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act, in the Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee. The bill simplifies the minimum wage across all employers by establishing an even floor for minimum wage and boosting the minimum wage from $8.85 to $10.85 for small employers, and employers who utilize youth wage and J-1 visa wage. Additionally, the bill increases the inflation cap from 2.5% to 5%, which will help hard-working Minnesotans afford their lives and bolster their economic security.
Representative Alicia ‘Liish’ Kozlowski released the following statement:
“A thriving economy is built on a foundation of shared prosperity. It is essential for our state to update our laws to ensure they dignify and compensate hardworking Minnesotans equitably for their labor. Increasing minimum wages and indexing wages to inflation is a proven tool to increase earnings without disemployment effects, but also generates other positive co-benefits, such as reducing racial wealth gaps, improving adult mental and physical health that lowers employee turnover, and increasing consumer spending that boosts the economy.”
“By ensuring a minimum wage that better reflects the cost of living, we can promote equity for workers and strengthen the overall economic engine of our state. If the minimum wage inflator was capped at 5% over the last 5 years instead of 2.5%, the minimum wage would have increased to $11.43 over those five years – that’s a difference of 58 cents. This change will benefit working Minnesotans earning the minimum wage—those who most need to keep up with increases in the cost of living in groceries, housing, and beyond. This is not just about fairness; it's about fostering a culture of economic justice in Minnesota where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, succeed, and thrive. When Minnesotans have the chance to contribute their skills and reach their full potential, we all win. Better wages mean a stronger, more successful economy and future for our state.”
The bill was referred to the General Register to proceed to the House floor for a vote.
Additional information and documents from the hearings are available on the Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee webpage.
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