Harrisburg, PA – April 22, 2025 – Senator of State (*19*) Tartaglione (D – 2, Philadelphia) formally introduced the Senate Act 19, legislation aimed at raising the minimum wage of Pennsylvania to USD 15 on $ 2026 and binding future increases in the costs of maintenance. The Act also strengthens the protection of employee wages and modernizes the enforcement tools to prevent wage theft and provide fair remuneration throughout the community.
“19 years have passed since Pennsylvania recently raised a minimum wage,” said Senator Tartaglione. “At this time, the cost of rent, food, childcare, transport and healthcare is constantly growing, while wages downstairs remained in stagnation. Senate Bill 19 is an attempt to correct almost two decades of inaction and provide employees maintaining remuneration that reflects today’s economic reality.”
At 7.25 USD per hour, the minimum wage Pennsylvania remains on the federal floor, unchanged since 2006. Every neighboring state, including people with lower maintenance costs, has increased the minimum wage in recent years. In fact, 30 states across the country took action to augment wages, leaving the pension for economically and competitively.
The Senate Act 19 would raise a nationwide minimum wage to USD 15 per hour, starting from 2026, and the corrections of the costs of life launching each year, ensuring that you can pay with inflation in the coming years. Legislation also sets a tip remuneration for 70 percent of the minimum wage, confirms that tips are the property of the employee and provides municipalities with the right to determine the higher local minimum.
“We cannot ignore the impact of rising prices, especially in the light of new federal tariffs, which should increase the costs of everyday goods, such as food, medicine, clothing and necessary households,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The burden of these increases will fall the heaviest on people who earn the least and we have a duty to act.”
According to estimates with the Keystone Research Center, over 1.3 million Pennsylvania will see that their wages will augment directly or indirectly in accordance with this proposal. These employees are a predominantly adult, many of whom play necessary roles, such as home health helpers, childcare providers, food officials and restaurant servers.
“Increasing the minimum wage is not only a matter of economic policy, but is a moral and practical necessity,” said Senator Tartaglione. “When people are paid honestly, families are more stable, the communities are stronger, and companies bloom. It is the regulations that are to restore dignity to work and ensuring that no one who works full hours is forced to live in poverty.”
Legislation was assigned Act number 19 on the occasion of 19 years of Pennsylvania left without increasing the minimum wage. Senator Tartaglione noticed that her desire to work in the transition to the development of the Act and emphasized that securing a long -term augment in wage should not be seen as a bias.
“We have the opportunity and duty to do this,” she concluded. “It’s not about politics – it’s about people. It’s time for excuses. Now it’s time to raise the wage.”
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The senator of Tartaglion’s post introduces the Senate 19 Act in order to augment the minimum wage of Pennsylvania, the first Democrats in the Senate of Pennsylvania appeared.
