PA House passes Dawkins’ minimum wage bill
Bill would increase wages based on local cost-of-living
Rep. Jason Dawkins June 11, 2025 | 4:01 PM
HARRISBURG, June 11 – Today the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass a historic bill which would raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania for the first time in more than a decade, designed to give every worker a base level pay of $12 an hour by 2028.
Unlike previous proposals to raise the minimum wage, HB 1549, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila. and chairman of the Labor and Industry Committee, takes a regional approach to raising the wage, tying it the local cost-of-living and similar to successful models implemented in Oregon and New York.
“Using a tiered approach will allow us to tailor the minimum wage to reflect the cost-of-living in a local area. It’s no secret that a $12 wage in Philadelphia is different than a $12 wage in Altoona. This bill reflects that reality and creates a framework to raise the wage for all workers – and ensure they can afford to live in their communities,” Dawkins said. “Our workers deserve a fair wage for a hard day’s work, and this bill gets them there. I am urging my Senate colleagues to take this bill up and get this done for the working people of Pennsylvania.”
While 30 other states have increased their minimum wage – including every state neighboring Pennsylvania – the minimum wage in Pennsylvania has remained flat since 2009. As of last year, roughly 47,000 working Pennsylvanians were earning minimum wage or less and approximately 255,000 working Pennsylvanians were earning near the minimum wage, ranging from $7.26 to $12.00 per hour.
“Raising the minimum wage in Pennsylvania will most certainly improve the lives of many people with a fair and livable income,” said state Rep. Roni Green, D-Phila., who has been fighting for a minimum wage increase for PA workers since taking office. "Increasing the minimum wage will reduce poverty, promote economic growth and provide a financial sense of security for people who work hard and want a decent shot in life. Our workers have watched neighboring states do exactly what they've been hoping for from their Pennsylvania government. It’s unacceptable that we haven’t raised this wage in 17 years. And it is time to make it right.”
Increasing the minimum wage would give these workers – and others – a much-needed lift at a time when inflation and the cost-of-living continues to increase and put pressure on families.
“People working hard should be able to afford the necessities of life,” Dawkins said. “This bill helps workers, it helps businesses, and it will help the economies of communities across our commonwealth. Every state around us has figured this out, and yet here we remain. It’s time to get this done and time to raise the wage in PA.”