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5/18/2021
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Media Advisory: General Assembly to take final votes on minimum wage bill today
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 STATE HOUSE – Both chambers of the General Assembly have scheduled final votes today on legislation to increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage from $11.50 to $15 over a four-year period. If passed, the legislation will be sent to the governor.
The bill (2021-H 5130A, 2021-S 0001aa) sponsored by Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston) and Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence), would increase the minimum wage to $12.25 on Jan. 1, 2022; raise it to $13 on Jan. 1, 2023; raise it to $14 on Jan. 1, 2024; and finally to $15 on Jan. 1, 2025.
Both chambers’ sessions start at 4 p.m. today. The House meets at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. The Senate meets at Sapinsley Hall at Rhode Island College in Providence.
Both sessions will be live streamed at http://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx and televised by Capitol Television, which can be seen on Channel 61 by Cox Communications, Channel 1061 by Cox HD customers, Channel 34 by Verizon viewers and Channel 15 for Full Channel subscribers. The House airs live, followed by the Senate.
The Senate is also expected to vote on legislation to make changes to the state unemployment insurance program to ensure an incentivized workforce that can help Rhode Island’s economic recovery while also using available federal funding to help Rhode Islanders support themselves and stimulate the economy. The Senate plans to vote in concurrence on the House bill (2021-H 6249A) sponsored by Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett). The House Finance Committee is scheduled today at 3:30 p.m. to vote on the identical Senate measure (2021-S 0858aa) sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence). The Finance Committee meeting will also be televised live and live streamed at the same address.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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