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Minimum‑wage push: sponsors seek $15 by 2028; committee hears mixed economic and moral arguments
Summary
The committee heard testimony on HB 726, a bill to raise New Hampshire’s minimum wage to $15 by 2028; supporters argued for basic living standards while business witnesses warned of costs and urged employer flexibility.
House bill 726 would increase the state minimum wage in steps to $15 an hour by 2028 and set the tipped wage at half the minimum. The committee heard wide testimony from sponsors, faith and community groups, small business owners and economists.
Sponsor Representative Kathy Staub framed the bill as a modest, multi‑year adjustment to address rising housing and living costs; she noted the minimum has been $7.25 for years, while local rents and prices have climbed. Faith‑based and community witnesses urged passage as a moral and practical measure to reduce reliance on public assistance.
Business groups and other speakers warned employers need flexibility and emphasized economic tradeoffs. Deputy Commissioner Labors of the Department of Employment Security provided context showing the state’s maximum benefit and regional comparisons; the department earlier had modeled UI impacts for a related bill (HB 542) and will provide fiscal/GDP context on minimum‑wage effects if requested.
Committee recessed the bill after testimony and asked staff to bring regional comparative analysis and potential implementation language for phased increases. No vote was taken.
