SB 2150 - Mississippi Minimum Wage Act

• Establishes a state minimum wage beginning July 1, 2019, with incremental increases: $7.50 (2019), $7.75 (2020), $8.00 (2021), and $10.00 (2022), with future increases tied to federal minimum wage plus 0.5%.

• Exempts employers with fewer than 5 employees, workers subject to federal Fair Labor Standards Act, agricultural workers, independent contractors, students, and certain other categories from minimum wage requirements.

• Allows reduced minimum wage of 85% for learners, beginners, and workers under 18 for first 200 hours of employment, and permits tip credits up to 50% of minimum wage for tipped employees.

• Creates criminal penalties including fines of $100-$10,000 and imprisonment up to one year for violations, with severity based on unpaid wage amounts; establishes civil liability allowing employees to sue for unpaid wages plus attorney fees and costs.

• Authorizes Mississippi Department of Employment Security to enforce the law through workplace inspections, record reviews, and regulatory authority; amends state law to allow local governments to mandate wages higher than state minimum but prohibits wages lower than state minimum.