HB 2189 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, further providing for definitions, for minimum wages and for exemptions.

HB 2189 amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act of 1968 to increase the state's minimum wage to $11 per hour starting January 1, 2027, $13 per hour on January 1, 2028, and $15 per hour on January 1, 2029. After 2029, the minimum wage will automatically adjust annually based on inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for the Pennsylvania-New Jersey- Delaware-Maryland area. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania employers and workers covered under the Minimum Wage Act, including tipped employees who retain their tips. The changes apply to all non-exempt workers in the state, with no new exemptions or special rules added beyond the wage schedule and adjustment mechanism.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Jun 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2845 → Printer's No. PN3059 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill version adds two new sponsors and updates the bill's status to reflect it has been re-reported from the Appropriations Committee. The most significant policy change is the addition of a new provision allowing Pennsylvania counties to independently set their own minimum wage rates, starting in 2027, provided the local rate is at least $15 per hour and includes annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new mechanism for local governments (counties) to establish higher minimum wages than the state standard, while the state baseline wage schedule remains unchanged.

ELIGIBILITY

Added two new sponsors, Warren and Khan, to the list of bill authors.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill header to reflect that it was re-reported from the Committee on Appropriations on March 23, 2026, rather than just the original introduction date.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection allowing counties to pass ordinances to set a minimum wage greater than the state rate but not exceeding $15 per hour, effective after December 31, 2026.

Mandated that counties must notify the Department of the passage of such ordinances at least 30 days before the effective date.

Established a requirement for annual cost-of-living adjustments to county minimum wages, calculated using the Consumer Price Index for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland area.

Added a safeguard ensuring that county minimum wages can never be lower than the state minimum wage.

Floor votes · House Mar 24, 2026

How they voted

104–95

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 200

Mar 24, 2026

D Democratic102

100 Yea 2 Nay

98% Yea

R Republican98

4 Yea 93 Nay 1

94% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Resolution to discharge committee from further consideration of this bill presented

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to Labor & Industry

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as amended

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amended in House Committee on Appropriations

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Labor & Industry

lower

1 primary · 12 co-sponsors