Governor Hassan Urges Senate Finance Committee to Support Restoring and Increasing New Hampshire's Minimum Wage

Press Release

Continuing efforts to strengthen the financial security of hard-working Granite Staters and expand middle class opportunity, Governor Maggie Hassan today submitted a letter to the Senate Finance Committee in support of SB 261, a bill that would restore and increase New Hampshire's minimum wage.

"Individuals working full-time in New Hampshire should be able to earn enough to pull themselves above the federal-poverty threshold and support their families, but for too long, wages have failed to grow with the cost of our families' needs," Governor Hassan wrote. "By restoring and increasing New Hampshire's minimum wage, we can improve the economic security of thousands of Granite Staters."

In 2011, the Legislature passed legislation repealing New Hampshire's minimum wage law. Every other state in New England has its own minimum wage that is higher than the federal rate that governs New Hampshire.

"In order to truly accelerate our economic growth, working families and individuals must be confident in their own financial circumstances and able to purchase more goods and services," Governor Hassan concluded. "Increasing New Hampshire's minimum wage will strengthen the financial security of working families and wages up and down the pay scale, and by restoring this important protection, we can take a critical step forward for our economy and for hard-working Granite Staters."

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