A bill that would increase the hourly minimum wage to $18 by 2026 passed the state Senate Friday.
Senate Bill 2018 was introduced to the state Legislature Jan. 19, and quickly cleared two Senate committee hearings and three readings in the full Senate, the last of which was Friday.
The bill now goes before the state House of Representatives.
The two Senate committees — the Ways and Means Committee and the Labor, Culture and the Arts Committee — both voted unanimously to pass the bill earlier this week.
Should the bill become law, the minimum wage in Hawaii would increase to $12 an hour beginning Oct. 1, and then to $15 an hour at the start of 2024. The final increase to $18 an hour would take place at the beginning of 2026.
“The Senate identified raising the minimum wage as one of our top priorities for the 2022 session, and I am delighted that we were able to swiftly deliver this important policy action for the working people of Hawaii,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, D-Kauai, in a statement Friday. “I want to thank Senate Labor Committee Chair Brian Taniguchi for his work in shepherding this bill and I hope our House colleagues will follow suit and pass this critical piece of legislation.”
House Bill 2510, which would increase the hourly minimum wage to $18 by 2030, was introduced in the House Wednesday, but has seen no further movement yet.