Sen. Fontana Statement on Minimum Wage Bill Passing the PA House

Pittsburgh, March 25, 2026 - Today, state Senator Wayne Fontana issued the following statement on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voting to increase the commonwealth's $7.25/hr minimum wage:

"I am pleased to see the PA House, once again, pass legislation to raise the minimum wage, as Pennsylvania has had the lowest minimum wage in the nation for far too long.

Working Pennsylvanians earning minimum wage have not seen an increase in 17 years, even though every state around us increased their minimum wages multiple times.

It is time for Senate Republicans to stop the petty politics and actually do something to help working people by allowing a vote to raise the minimum wage as soon as possible."

House Bill 2189 increases the state minimum wage to $11/hr in 2027, to $13/hr in 2028, and to $15/hr in 2029. Starting in 2030, the wage would be indexed to inflation.

Nearly 600,000 working Pennsylvanians currently earn less than $15/hr. Making Pennsylvania's minimum wage competitive with our neighboring states would also save taxpayers an estimated $300 million annually in reduced reliance on food stamps, Medicaid, and other welfare programs.

The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 104-95 on March 24, and now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. This is the third consecutive year the House has passed legislation to increase the state's minimum wage. Republican leaders in the Senate have refused to allow a vote.

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