UPDATE 3/3:
The House hearing for HB 1479 ($18 minimum wage + automatic annual increases) has been cancelled. If you attempted to sign up to testify today and were unable to, this is why. Thank you to everyone who engaged, contacted lawmakers and prepared to weigh in. Your involvement made a difference, and legislators took notice. We are continuing to monitor the legislation closely. Without a reason for cancellation of the hearing, we must continue our advocacy through the duration of the state assembly session in April. We are continuing to monitor to see if this legislation resurfaces and we will keep you informed.
Another proposal — SB 886 ($25 minimum wage + elimination of the tip credit) — will be heard in the Senate on Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. We’ll send an alert the day before testimony sign-ups open so you’re ready to weigh in. We’re grateful for your continued advocacy and will keep you informed every step of the way.
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Action Alert – oppose HB1479 $18 Min Wage + Auto increases
The State has heard our testimony on the proposed $25 minimum wage legislation – thank you for your advocacy!
In a rushed bill, a number of Delegates have proposed HB 1479 and scheduled a hearing for it on Thursday this week! This bill would raise Maryland’s minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2028 and then require automatic annual increases every year after that, tied to inflation and written permanently into law. For many employers, this proposal represents both a significant near-term payroll increase and mandatory ongoing cost escalation with zero flexibility.
What HB 1479 Would Do
- $18 minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2028 (most employers)
- Employers with 49 or fewer employees get a one-year delay (reach $18 in 2029) — but still face the same automatic increases after
- Starting in 2029, minimum wage increases automatically each year (inflation-based, capped at 5%)
While the bill expands the definition of “small employer,” the only difference is a one-year delay. All covered employers ultimately face the same $18 wage floor and automatic increases thereafter.
The Immediate Impact: $18 Per Hour — Statewide
An $18 minimum wage represents a substantial increase from the state’s current trajectory.
For many employers — particularly in industries with narrow margins or large hourly workforces — that increase is significant on its own. It also rarely stops at the wage floor. When entry-level wages rise, employers often must adjust wages above minimum wage to maintain pay differentials and supervisory structures. The result can be compression across payroll systems.
For businesses already managing rising insurance, utility, and compliance costs, the cumulative impact matters.
The Long-Term Impact: Permanent Automatic Increases
Beginning in 2029, the minimum wage would increase automatically each year based on inflation data. These increases:
- Require no legislative vote
- Include no hardship provision
- Cannot be paused
Wage policy would shift from legislative deliberation to a formula embedded in statute. Over time, that reduces flexibility for employers making long-term hiring, investment, and expansion decisions.
What Maryland Employers Should Do – (Thank you MD Chamber for this breakdown!)
If this proposal would affect your hiring plans, payroll structure, or ability to grow, lawmakers need to hear directly from you.
HB 1479 – Testimony Due Tuesday, March 3
- Take Action on Tuesday, March 3, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
- Sign up to testify and/or submit written testimony
- Sample letters available in our Action Toolkit
- Testimony submittal guidance available at mdchamber.org
