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One to Keep An Eye On: H.B. 731-FN (New Hampshire)


As with many employment and labor law related cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.  This is one to keep an eye on.


Last Thursday, the New Hampshire House voted 212 - 155 to increase the hourly minimum wage rate in the state from $7.25/hour up to $15/hour by January 1, 2025.  In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Democratic members of the House overruled House leadership by supporting $2 more per hour in a pay hike than had been recommended by a House policy committee.  The legislation now moves over to the New Hampshire Senate for further deliberation and vote.  Should the Senate approve the bill, it would then head to Republican Governor Chris Sununu's desk for signature.

Readers might recall that the New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire's Congress) had approved a bill last year that would have raised the state's hourly minimum wage rate to $10/hour in 2020 and $12/hour in 2022.  However, Governor Sununu vetoed that bill.  At this time, New Hampshire is the lone state in the New England region that remains at the federal minimum wage rate.  (Connecticut is currently at $10.10/hour; Rhode Island is currently at $10.50/hour; Vermont is currently at $10.78/hour; Maine is currently at $11/hour; New York State is currently at $11.80/hour, although some industries and regions in the state vary; and Massachusetts is currently at $12/hour.)

Will things turn out differently this year?  Perhaps.  There is at least one reason to think H.B. 731-FN will become law (or a compromise could be reached):  Governor Sununu is up for reelection this year in what many expect could be a highly contested race.  With minimum wage being a popular issue among Democrats and some Independents/swing voters in the state, might Governor Sununu feel pressure to sign off on a minimum wage hike to help his reelection chances in November?  Stay tuned.



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