NC S525

Raises North Carolina's minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026, for employers with 10 or more employees

Small businesses with fewer than 10 employees receive a phased implementation: $12.00/hour in 2026, $13.50/hour in 2027, and $15.00/hour in 2028

Beginning October 1, 2028, the Commissioner of Labor must annually adjust the minimum wage based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for inflation

Employers violating wage requirements face liability for actual damages including back pay, benefits, interest, and attorneys' fees, plus Department of Labor fines; retaliation against employees filing complaints is prohibited

Appropriates $10 million effective July 1, 2025 to establish a Small Business Assistance Program providing financial support for up to two years to businesses with 20 or fewer employees transitioning to the new wage requirements