Senate President Donna Soucy Applauds Adoption of SB 410, Raising the Minimum Wage

January 30, 2020

Contact Name: Sara Persechino

Phone: (603) 271-3479

Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us

CONCORD - Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in favor of SB 410, to reestablish and raise New Hampshire’s minimum wage. SB 410 raises the minimum wage to $10 per hour in 2021 and $12 per hour in 2023 - a similar measure vetoed was by Governor Sununu in 2019. This legislation is increasingly important as New Hampshire continues to fall behind our New England neighbors on wages; on January 1st, 2020, neighboring states Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts all raised their minimum wage yet again. At this time, New Hampshire is the only New England state with a minimum wage below $10 an hour.

After the vote, prime sponsor Senate President Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) released the following statement:

“As a state, New Hampshire is constantly striving towards an economy that attracts and retains hard workers. We know that more money in the pockets of our employees means more money flowing back into our economy. We know that higher wages lead to greater employee retention. We know that New Hampshire should make decisions based on the economic needs of our state, not based on what comes out of Washington D.C.

And yet, year after year we continue to allow New Hampshire wages to fall farther behind our neighboring states. Right now New Hampshire is an island--the fact that we are the only state in New England that does not set our own minimum wage is a blight on our economy and a disservice to hardworking Granite Staters. It is far past time to reestablish and raise New Hampshire’s minimum wage. I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for once again standing up for Granite Staters’ best economic interests and look forward to our continued work on this critical issue.”

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