Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 726 · 2025 · House · Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee

Raising the state minimum wage

AI-generated

relative to the state minimum hourly rate.

Raises the state minimum hourly wage in steps from $10.00 to $15.00 between September 2025 and January 2028 and increases the base rate employers must pay tipped employees to 50 percent of the applicable minimum.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 20, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill increases the minimum hourly rate and increases the base rate for tipped employees.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Unless otherwise provided by statute, no person, firm, or corporation shall employ any employee at an hourly rate lower than that set forth in the federal minimum wage law, as amended, or the following minimum hourly rate, whichever is higher: $10.00 per hour effective September 1, 2025. $12.50 per hour effective January 1, 2026. $14.00 per hour effective January 1, 2027. $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2028.”
RSA 279:21
“If an employee shows to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the actual amount of wages received at the end of each pay period did not equal the minimum hourly rate for all hours worked, the employer shall pay the employee the difference to guarantee the applicable minimum hourly rate.”
RSA 279:21
“If an employee shows to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the actual amount of wages received at the end of each pay period did not equal the minimum [wage] hourly rate for all hours worked, the employer shall pay the employee the difference to guarantee the applicable minimum [wage] hourly rate.”
RSA 279:21

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kathy StaubDPrime
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs

Also: Rep. Donald BouchardD, Rep. Kris SchultzD

Public testimony

291 signed in online · 56 wrote testimony

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

ForCurrent minimum wage is not a living wage

AgainstMarket wages have already risen; mandates risk job losses

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The New Hampshire State Commission on Aging supports raising New Hampshire's minimum wage out of respect for the direct care workforce and ancillary support workers who support long term services and supports in our communities and in other long term care settings.”
— Rebecca Sky, Concord · New Hampshire State Commission on Agingsupports
“Raising the minimum wage is a good thing to help encourage spending in the community. Lifting up the lower income demographics will help people be more comfortable with day-to-day spending and long term future planning.…”
— Ryan Sheppard, Manchestersupports
“I think we all know $7.25 isn't livable - this modest increase would help.”
— Corinne Gordon, Salemsupports
“No. Keep the federal minimum wage. Having a low state minimum wage benefits employers in my county under RSA 162-Q.”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonopposes
“My name is Peter de Bruyn Kops and I am a resident of Amherst, NH. I own and operate two businesses in New Hampshire and I am a board member of Granite State Taxpayers. Thank you for reading my testimony.…”
— Peter de Bruyn Kops, Amherstopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–9
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseRoll callLay HB726 on Table (Rep. Creighton)Adopted197–159How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    196–398% yea
    Democrats
    1–1561% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services4:38:56–4:44:265m 30slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services29:49–31:391m 50slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor6:38:20–6:43:054m 45slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB726 on Table (Rep. Creighton) — adopted, roll call 197-159
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 3 P. 24
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 02:00 pm LOB 210-211
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 307
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2025 (Vote 11-9; RC)
  5. Feb 21, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseLay HB726 on Table (Rep. Creighton): MA RC 197-159 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 80
  7. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.