Bill That Would Gradually Raise Virginia Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour Passes House, Senate Likely to Pass Similar Bill

A bill that would gradually raise Virginia's minimum hourly wage to $15.00 per hour, is one step closer to becoming state law. The Virginia House has passedHB 395along a party line vote, 55-45. The bill would increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $9.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2020. The wage would then gradually increase to $11.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2021; to $13 per hour, effective July 1, 2022; and to $15.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2023. A similar bill is expected to be passed in the Virginia Senate: SB 7 would increase the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2020; it would then be raised $1.00 per year until it reaches $15.00 per hour in 2025. Virginia's governor is expected to sign what the Virginia Senate passes. Virginia’s minimum wage is currently the same at the federal standard of $7.25 per hour.