Since January of this year, the New Jersey legislature has been considering a bill to raise the state minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $8.50 per hour. Last May, the State Assembly passed the bill. Next, it’s the State Senate’s turn weigh in and it may make a decision as early as next week.
The bill would increase New Jersey’s hourly minimum wage rate to $8.50 and then, starting July 1, 2013, the minimum wage rate would be adjusted each year based on inflation. Any increases would take effect on July 1 of each year. New Jersey hasn’t raised its minimum wage since 2005, but the federal minimum wage was raised in 2009. Still, there has been resistance to the proposal. If the bill passes the legislature, it will need the Governor’s approval to become law.