North Carolina H1059: Fair Minimum Wage Act.

What the bill says

An act establishing state minimum wages that adjust upward automatically for inflation, creating the north carolina wage board, establishing the short-time compensation program, repealing the restriction on local minimum wages, and appropriating funds for implementation of this act.

From the introduced text:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ESTABLISHING STATE MINIMUM WAGES THAT ADJUST UPWARD AUTOMATICALLY FOR INFLATION, CREATING THE NORTH CAROLINA WAGE BOARD, ESTABLISHING THE SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION PROGRAM, REPEALING THE RESTRICTION ON LOCAL MINIMUM WAGES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. Whereas, the wages paid to working North Carolinians should be sufficient to better reflect the rising cost of basic necessities, including housing, food, transportation, and health care; and Whereas, indexing the State minimum wage for inflation will help preserve workers' purchasing power over time and reduce the need for repeated legislative intervention; and Whereas, allowing local governments to adopt higher minimum wages, where appropriate, gives communities greater flexibility to respond to local labor market conditions and cost pressures; and Whereas, a Wage Board and a short-time compensation program can help the State promote fair wages, reduce avoidable layoffs, and support workforce stability during economic downturns; and Whereas, improving wage standards and employment stability advances the general welfare of the people of North Carolina; Now, therefore, The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1.1. G.S. 95-25.3 reads as rewritten: "§ 95-25.3. Minimum wage. (a) Every Except as provided by subsection (a1) of this section, every employer shall pay to each employee who in any workweek performs any work, wages of at least six dollars and fifteen cents …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Prather, Lindsey (D, 115) · primary sponsor
• Longest, Tim (D, 34) · primary sponsor
• Buansi, Allen (D, 56) · primary sponsor
• Brown, Kanika (D, 71) · primary sponsor
• Ager, Eric (D, 114)
• Alston, Vernetta (D, 29)
• Baker, Amber M. (D, 72)
• Ball, Cynthia (D, 49)
• Belk, Mary (D, 88)
• Brown, Gloristine (D, 8)
• Brown, Terry M. (D, 92)
• Butler, Deb (D, 18)

Latest actions

1. April 28, 2026: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
2. April 28, 2026: Passed 1st Reading
3. April 27, 2026: Filed

Common questions

What is H1059?

H1059 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Fair Minimum Wage Act.

What does H1059 do?

In its own words: An act establishing state minimum wages that adjust upward automatically for inflation, creating the north carolina wage board, establishing the short-time compensation program, repealing the restriction on local minimum wages, and appropriating funds for implementation of this act.

What is the status of H1059?

In committee as of April 28, 2026. Latest action: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (April 28, 2026).

Who sponsored H1059?

Prather, Lindsey (D, 115), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H1059?

On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H1059