SB 39 died in committee during the 2015 session, but NFIB members should expect this bill to reappear next session. SB 39 would raise Delaware’s minimum wage to $10.25 by June 2019, and index future wage hikes to cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increases. The Delaware General Assembly already voted to increase the minimum wage last year to $7.75 on June 1, 2014 and to $8.25 on June 1, 2015. Last year’s legislation passed after bill sponsor, Sen. Robert Marshall, removed the cost-of-living indexing provision.
Small business owners and NFIB believe that it is premature to mandate additional wage increases on Delaware small businesses in the mist of the current implementation of higher labor costs. It is also concerning that the message of ever-increasing wages sends to job creators – that Delaware is not business friendly.
SB 39 would establish the following phase in schedule for raising Delaware’s minimum wage:
- $8.75 on June 1, 2016
- $9.25 on June 1, 2017
- $9.75 on June 1, 2018
- $10.25 on June 1, 2019