MD HB1479

Increases Maryland's minimum wage from $15.00 to $18.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2028 for most employers, and January 1, 2029 for small employers

Redefines "small employer" from businesses with 14 or fewer employees to those with 49 or fewer employees

Establishes automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments beginning January 1, 2029 (or 2030 for small employers), based on the Consumer Price Index for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area

Caps annual CPI-based increases at 5% of the prior year's minimum wage rate and prohibits decreases even if inflation is negative

Takes effect October 1, 2026, while retaining the existing 85% subminimum wage allowance for workers under age 18