On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate overwhelmingly passed SB 79, a bill that will gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $9.50 per hour over the next two years.

The bill will now be taken up by the House of Representatives. The bill will be placed into a House committee when the Chamber returns in December. The bill has to be reported by the committee before the issue is taken up on the House floor.

Under the terms of the Bill, sponsored by Senator Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), Pennsylvania’s minimum wage would move from $7.25 to $8 per hour on July 1, 2020. It would rise to $8.50 on Jan. 1, 2021; $9 on July 1, 2021; and then take the final step to $9.50 on Jan. 1, 2022.

The Bill was reported from two Republican-controlled committees of the Senate, Labor and Industry by 11-0 and Appropriations 22-2, after being negotiated between Senate leaders and the Wolf administration.

We will keep all members apprised to any additional movements of this bill.