MS HB343

Establishes the "Mississippi Minimum Wage Act" with tiered rates based on employer size: employers with 30 or fewer employees start at $8.00/hour on July 1, 2021, increasing to $10.50/hour by July 1, 2026; employers with more than 30 employees start at $8.50/hour, increasing to $15.00/hour by July 1, 2026

Sets tipped employee minimum wage at $3.62/hour with $1.50/hour increases corresponding to the general minimum wage schedule

Requires overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for employees earning $455 or less per week, with no overtime exemptions for manual laborers, blue collar workers, first responders, or employees whose primary duties do not involve management or specialized professional knowledge

Defines "tipped employee" as one who customarily receives more than $30/month in tips, and "manual laborers/blue collar workers" as those performing repetitive operations with hands, physical skill, and energy

Employers and employees not specifically covered by the new state law remain subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act