PA Governor seeks to hike minimum wage and legalize marijuana

As the General Assembly convenes for a new legislative session, Governor Tom Wolf Thursday outlined his agenda, in which he continues to prioritize ensuring that Pennsylvania businesses and workers have a path toward recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Wolf is once again calling on the General Assembly to appropriate $145 million in reserves from the Workers Compensation Security Fund to immediately allocate to businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor is proposing to increase the state minimum wage to $12 per hour effective July 1, 2021, with annual increases of $0.50 until the minimum wage reaches $15 per hour on July 1, 2027. Wolf says Pennsylvania’s minimum wage of $7.25, has not increased in more than 10 years and is keeping Pennsylvania families living in poverty. The governor is also proposing bail reform and wants to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.