Increases the minimum wage rate to $15 per hour by 2026

HB 2745 establishes a new minimum wage schedule for Missouri that raises the hourly rate to $15 by January 1, 2026. The bill mandates that employers pay at least $8.60 per hour starting in 2019, with fixed annual increases of $0.85 until reaching $12.00 in 2023, followed by a jump to $13.75 in 2025 and the final target of $15.00 in 2026. This law applies to private employers across the state, while public employers such as government agencies and school districts are exempt from these specific wage increases. Additionally, the legislation ensures that if the federal minimum wage ever exceeds the state rate, the higher federal standard will automatically apply.