Reps. Kelly and Jarrells renew calls for $15 per hour minimum wage to better support working people and families

In February 2021, Reps. Kelly and Jarrells introduced House Bill (HB) 69, which would raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027. Proponents say that the passage of HB 69 would better support working people and grow the economy, especially as Ohioans continue to build back from the pandemic.

“Raising minimum wage is good for workers, good for businesses and good for communities. It means families are better able to provide for themselves and more people have money to spend at businesses in our community,” said Rep. Kelly. “However, even with this $.50 increase, many Ohioans will still struggle to make ends meet. That’s why we need to pass HB 69 and raise minimum wage to $15 an hour.”

“As a kid who watched my mom juggle multiple jobs, raising the minimum wage is a personal journey for me. Everyone deserves a wage that dignifies their contribution to our communities and covers basic living expenses,” said Rep. Jarrells.

A 2019 Policy Matters Ohio report found that increasing Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 would lift wages for some 2 million Ohio workers, nearly 37 percent of the wage-earning workforce, with the average affected worker taking home an additional $4,252 annually. Proponents of the wage increase say it better aligns wages to increased productivity, which, since 1979, has risen six times faster than hourly compensation for the typical U.S. worker.

HB 69 still awaits its first hearing in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.