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Committee debates extending minimum wage to agricultural workers, raises questions about evidence and enforcement
Summary
Members discussed draft 652, which would extend minimum wage protections to agricultural workers and amend overtime rules; lawmakers cited limited testimony from workers and industry and asked for more data before moving forward.
The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee examined sections of draft bill 652 that would (1) extend Vermont’s minimum wage to agricultural workers and (2) create new overtime coverage for some agricultural employees.
Senators described mixed testimony. Committee members said advocates, including Migrant Justice, filed survey responses indicating wage concerns; members recalled that roughly 304 survey respondents participated and that about one quarter reported earning less than the minimum wage. Industry testimony from dairy representatives reported higher pay levels for many dairy employers, with some dairy employers saying they pay above minimum wage and others citing participation in voluntary programs such as Milk with Dignity.
Some committee members said testimony was uneven and that migrant workers are often the least able to file formal complaints, which complicates the committee’s fact base. Questions included how many agricultural workers actually earn below the statutory minimum and whether housing and other in‑kind benefits provided to workers should be counted as compensation. Lawmakers also discussed how recent federal immigration enforcement activity might affect worker willingness to come forward.
On overtime, the committee heard it is a newer policy option for agriculture in many states and that additional testimony is needed on how overtime pay for agricultural employees who work more than 60 hours weekly would affect farm operations and costs. Members suggested splitting the package: advance the minimum wage extension piece for further committee consideration while taking overtime proposals to a workforce bill or studying them further.
No formal vote was taken on bill 652 during this session. Committee leadership and staff said they will solicit additional testimony from agricultural stakeholders, migrant worker advocates and economists to produce more evidence about wages, benefits (including employer‑provided housing), and the likely economic effects of overtime rules before the committee considers moving sections forward.
