H 743

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.743
 2026  Page 1 of 3
1H.743
2 Introduced by Representatives Satcowitz of Randolph, Cina of Burlington,
3Eastes of Guilford, Howard of Rutland City, Logan of
4Burlington, McCann of Montpelier, McGill of Bridport, Morris
5of Springfield, Pezzo of Colchester, Pouech of Hinesburg, and
6Waszazak of Barre City
7 Referred to Committee on
8 Date:
9 Subject: Labor; employment practices; minimum wages
10 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to increase the
11 minimum wage to the livable wage as established by the basic needs budget.
12    An act relating to increasing the State minimum wage based on the livable
13    wage
14 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
15 Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT
16    Consistent with the declaration of policy on minimum wages, set forth in
17 21 V.S.A. § 381, and to address ongoing concerns about affordability, it is the
18 General Assembly’s intent to raise the State minimum wage to the livable
19 wage as reported by the Joint Fiscal Office in January 2025. Future increases
                                                                  VT LEG #386023 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.743
 2026  Page 2 of 3
1 to the minimum wage will continue to be determined as established by current
2 law.
3 Sec. 2. 21 V.S.A. § 383 is amended to read:
4 § 383. DEFINITIONS
5    As used in this subchapter:
6***
7(5) “Livable wage” means the average of the urban and rural hourly
8 wage required for a full-time worker who lives in shared housing and has
9 employer-assisted health insurance to pay for the basic needs budget.
10 Sec. 3. 21 V.S.A. § 384 is amended to read:
11 § 384. EMPLOYMENT; WAGES
12    (a)(1) Beginning on January 1, 2022 2027, an employer shall not employ
13 any employee at a rate of less than $12.55, and on the livable wage of $18.60.
14 On each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased by
15 five percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, CPI-U,
16 U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted, or successor index, as calculated by
17 the U.S. Department of Labor or successor agency, rounded to one decimal
18 point, for the 12 months preceding the previous September 1, whichever is
19 smaller, but in no event shall the minimum wage be decreased. The minimum
20 wage shall be rounded off to the nearest $0.01.
21***
                                                                   VT LEG #386023 v.1
BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.743
2026  Page 3 of 3
1 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
2   This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
                                                VT LEG #386023 v.1