Senate Bill 2590 Summary

• Establishes a state minimum wage of $12.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2025, increasing to $15.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2027.

• Requires the minimum wage to automatically increase to the federal minimum wage plus 0.5% whenever the federal minimum wage increases.

• Applies to employers with 5 or more employees; excludes agricultural workers, students, government employees, certain family members, and independent contractors from coverage.

• Authorizes the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to enforce the law through inspections, record-keeping requirements, and permits civil lawsuits by employees; violations constitute felonies with fines ranging from $400 to $10,000 and potential imprisonment.

• Allows municipal and county governments to set minimum wages higher than the state rate, while prohibiting rates lower than the state minimum established in the bill.