Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pushed lawmakers on Monday to increase the minimum wage to $15 this year — instead of waiting until 2025 — and allow annual increases that are tied to the cost of living.
Part of the measure that would tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index beginning in 2025 is coming under particular scrutiny. During a panel discussion with some business leaders who support the Democratic governor’s proposal, Moore acknowledged the challenge of persuading lawmakers to support it.
“Now, we know this is going to be a fight. We know this is not going to be simple. We know that this is going to take some convincing," Moore, a Democrat, said. He noted some other states, including ones controlled by Republicans, already have moved to add automatic cost of living adjustments to minimum wage increases.
Eighteen states have approved automatic increases tied to some type of index, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“They’ve adopted indexing already because their household income will keep pace with inflation and, importantly, businesses will get predictability,” Moore told the House Economic Matters Committee. "Index increases in wages are smaller. Business owners know when they are coming, and they can plan around them.”
The bill would increase the minimum wage to $15 in October, instead of Jan. 1, 2025, for businesses with 15 or more employees.
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