Senate Bill 2714 - Mississippi Minimum Wage Act

• Establishes a state minimum wage beginning July 1, 2018, with incremental increases: $7.50/hour (2018), $7.75/hour (2019), $8.00/hour (2020), and $10.00/hour (2021).

• Applies to employers with five or more employees; exempts agricultural workers, independent contractors, students, and certain other categories of workers.

• Provides that if federal minimum wage exceeds the state minimum, the state minimum automatically increases to the federal rate plus 0.5%, with enforcement by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

• Establishes criminal penalties including fines from $400 to $10,000 and up to one year imprisonment for wage violations, depending on amount owed; also provides civil liability for unpaid wages plus attorney's fees.

• Permits municipal and county governments to establish minimum wages higher than the state minimum, while amending Section 17-1-51 to prevent local governments from setting wages lower than state minimum.