Mississippi Minimum Wage Law (HB 1261)

• Establishes a state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, with scheduled increases to $8.75 (July 1, 2019), $10.25 (July 1, 2020), and $11.75 (July 1, 2021).

• Exempts tipped employees from minimum wage requirements; requires employers to pay tipped employees at least $3.62 per hour, increasing by $1.50 at each wage increase date.

• Requires overtime compensation at 1.5 times the regular rate for employees earning $455 or less per week, including manual laborers, police, firefighters, and most non-management employees regardless of salary.

• Prohibits counties and municipalities from establishing their own minimum wage or mandatory leave policies; reserves wage and benefits decisions for the Mississippi Legislature to ensure economic consistency statewide.

• Takes effect July 1, 2018; brings forward nine existing Mississippi Code sections for possible amendment related to wages, election compensation, school employee leave, and other employment matters.