A state representative has proposed a new bill that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in the state of Texas.
House Bill 194, filed by State Rep. Ron Reynolds, would raise the minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $15.
$7.25 is the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act in 2009.
“Raising the minimum wage in Texas to $15 an hour will put more money into the pockets of hard-working Texans,” said Reynolds. “We need to close the economic gap here in Texas, working full time and trying to support a family on less than $15,000 a year is impossible.”
A 40-hour work week at $7.25 an hour equates to $15,080 per year, however, a 40-hour work week at $15 per hour would equate to $31,200 per year.
Reynolds introduced the bill back in November 2018, at the same time Sen. Jose Menendez introduced SB 113 proposing minimum wage be $10.10 an hour.
The bill has only been filed at this point and has more stages to go through before reaching the desk of the governor.
If approved, the legislation would take effect on Sept. 1, 2019. Reynolds represents Texas House District 27 in Fort Bend County.
