Sen. Dan Laughlin, a Republican from Erie county, wants to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $11 an hour.

In a press release sent out this morning, Laughlin lined out a proposal to change the wage over the next three years. Assuming a bill passes this year, wages could raise to $9 on Jan. 1, 2026, $10 in 2027, and $11 in 2028.

Laughlin described the raise as “modest”, but has previously said a lower number could inspire more legitimate conversations about adopting the policy.

The Pennsylvania House passed a minimum wage bill earlier this summer, that would have raised the wage to $12 or $15— the cheaper rate for less populated counties. The bill also would have linked future minimum wage changes to a cost-of-living adjustment each year.

HB1549 has not been brought for a vote in the Senate.

Minimum wage could be a policy traded in state budget negotiations... which are still ongoing.