Ohio Democrats propose bill to gradually increase minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2030
Ohio lawmakers are once again trying to increase the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour.
State Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, recently introduced House Bill 34, which would increase the minimum wage by a dollar per hour each year for workers until reaching $15 per hour in 2030. The bill is in the Ohio House Labor and Commerce Committee.
Ohio's minimum wage went up to $10.70 per hour for non-tipped employees on Jan. 1. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
'At $10.45 per hour, Ohio's minimum wage is not enough for working families to stay afloat,' Jarrells said in a statement. 'No one should have to work multiple jobs just to survive. Raising wages means strengthening families, stabilizing communities, and growing our economy.'
Under H.B. 34, the state's minimum wage would increase to $11 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026, $12 per hour in 2027, $13 per hour in 2028, $14 per hour in 2029 and $15 per hour in 2030. The bill also raises the tipped minimum wage by $0.50 per year for five years.
The director of Commerce would then adjust the state's wage on Sept. 30 of every year, starting in 2030, and the new wage would take effect on Jan. 1, according to the bill.
Ohioans passed a constitutional amendment in 2006 that has increased the state minimum wage every year based on the consumer price index.
One Fair Wage, a national organization, tried unsuccessfully to get minimum wage on the Ohio ballot last fall. The organization failed to submit the necessary signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State to get their initiative on the ballot, which would have increased minimum wage up to $15 per hour in 2026.
Increasing Ohio's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026 would have aided nearly 1 million Ohioans — about a fifth of Ohio's workforce, according to Policy Matters Ohio.
Upping Ohio's minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2025 would have saved 4,000 lives and created a $25 billion benefit to the state economy by 2036, according to the Scioto Analysis.
One Fair Wage said they plan on trying to get on Ohio's ballot again, but 'can't disclose more at this point,' the organization said in an email.
One Fair Wage encountered lots of opposition from the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance who said restaurant operators would have to raise their menu prices by about 20-30% if the minimum wage jumped to $15 per hour.
There were a couple of bills related to increasing Ohio's minimum wage during the last General Assembly, but neither of them made it out of committee.
Two democrat state senators — Kent Smith and Hearcel Craig — introduced a bill that would have gradually raised the state's minimum wage one dollar each year until it was up to $15 an hour in 2027.
In an effort to stop the constitutional amendment, Republican state Sen. Bill Blessing put forth a bill that would have increased the wage to $15 by 2028.
Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Why Your Electricity Bill May Be Skyrocketing
PHOENIX: The Palo Verde Nuclear generating plant, until recently the nation's largest nuclear power plant, is seen between two Saguaro cactus in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) Getty Images Over the past month, friends, family, and acquaintances have asked why their electricity bills have skyrocketed. One friend wrote, 'I am curious if you have any thoughts about why electric bills are doubling and, in some cases, tripling? People in my area are in shock. In two months, my bill doubled.' I live in Phoenix, and we actually have reasonable electric bills because we are served by the Palo Verde Generating Station. Despite the intense heat here, my electric bill never rises above $300 except in July. More on that later. That's not the case everywhere. From the Midwest to the Southeast, people are seeing bills that are several times higher than that. What's driving these sudden spikes isn't just 'using more power' or 'a hot summer.' The reality is more complex, and it won't be easy to solve. Here are the five biggest forces reshaping your electric bill. The surge in artificial intelligence has unleashed a gold rush in data center construction, and it's quickly becoming one of the most powerful forces driving electricity demand. These facilities are energy-intensive, often consuming 30 times more electricity than traditional data centers. A single AI center can draw as much power as 80,000 homes, and by 2030, data centers are projected to require 30 GW of new capacity—the equivalent of 30 nuclear reactors. To meet this demand, utilities are scrambling to add transmission lines and upgrade grid infrastructure, with those costs inevitably showing up on customer bills. At the same time, utilities that sell power into competitive markets—rather than operating under regulated rate caps—are seeing a windfall. Texas-based NRG Energy, for example, has seen its stock price triple in just two years, as soaring wholesale prices boosted profits. Natural gas powers about 40% of U.S. electricity generation, and U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports have risen by nearly a factor of seven in the past seven years to over 13 billion cubic feet per day. That means when Asian or European buyers bid up LNG cargoes, U.S. households indirectly feel it in their electricity bills. Put simply, you're now competing with the world for the same fuel—and global demand is strong. A year ago, at this time, the spot price of natural gas in the U.S. was about $1.00 per Million Btu cheaper than it is this year. That translates directly into higher electricity bills this year. July 2025 saw record-breaking temperatures across much of the country, with a 'heat dome' trapping high humidity and driving peak demand to 758,149 MWh in a single hour—a national record. Air conditioning loads surged, and in many regions, utilities had to buy expensive spot-market electricity to meet demand. That cost gets socialized across monthly bills. The U.S. grid is old and straining under new loads. More than 70% of transmission lines and transformers are over 30 years old. Replacing and upgrading them is both essential and expensive. Delivery charges—the part of your bill that covers the poles, wires, and transformers needed to move electricity—have climbed sharply in recent years. For households, that means even if fuel costs ease or demand moderates, the higher cost of maintaining and upgrading the grid will likely keep electricity prices from returning to the levels we saw just a few years ago. Finally, policy isn't keeping up. The repeal of clean energy tax credits under the so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' slowed renewable deployment. At the same time, permitting bottlenecks have delayed new transmission and generation. Layer on top of that the electrification push—EVs, heat pumps, electric appliances—and electricity demand is rising faster than utilities can build capacity. The mismatch creates structural upward pressure on rates, regardless of short-term market moves. While millions of Americans are grappling with sticker shock, there are notable exceptions—regions that enjoy stable or even declining electricity prices, thanks to their unique energy mix. Phoenix is one of them. As previously noted, despite triple-digit temperatures, my own bill rarely exceeds $300, largely because the Palo Verde Generating Station provides stable, low-cost nuclear power. Nuclear plants offer a huge advantage: their fuel (uranium) isn't tied to volatile global gas markets, and their reactors run around the clock at high capacity factors. It also doesn't hurt that Arizona has seen a 187% increase in wind and solar power over the past decade, and the state ranks 3rd nationally in installed battery storage capacity. Other regions also benefit from abundant local resources: Idaho: The lowest average rates in the nation at just 11.9 cents per kWh, thanks to hydroelectric power (which can be impacted by droughts). Pacific Northwest (WA, OR): Wholesale prices are falling in 2025 due to strong hydropower and growing solar generation. Texas (ERCOT): Despite surging demand, competitive market dynamics and solar buildout are keeping wholesale prices flat or slightly lower. By contrast, states heavily reliant on natural gas—California, New Jersey, Ohio—are seeing double-digit rate hikes as LNG exports and peak demand drive up costs. It's worth pausing on nuclear. Yes, the upfront capital costs are high, but once plants are built, their operating costs are remarkably stable—about 9.3 cents per kWh, compared to 7 cents for gas and 9.5 cents for coal. Nuclear also avoids carbon pricing and doesn't need backup generation like intermittent renewables. In a grid increasingly stressed by AI demand, climate extremes, and geopolitical risks, nuclear's ability to provide price stability, energy security, and reliability is hard to match. So, why did your bill suddenly double? It's not just about running your air conditioner a little harder. It's about structural shifts in the energy system: AI data centers reshaping demand LNG exports reshaping fuel markets Heat waves stressing supply Aging infrastructure raising delivery costs Policy bottlenecks slowing new capacity At the same time, regions anchored by nuclear or hydro have been shielded from the worst price spikes. That contrast underscores an important truth: the U.S. doesn't face a single energy reality—it faces many, depending on local resources and policy choices. Unless utilities, regulators, and policymakers find smarter ways to expand capacity and modernize the grid, the broader trend is clear: for many households, higher electricity bills aren't just a fluke—they're the new normal.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Powerball Jackpot Reaches $605 Million—Here's What the Winner Could Take Home After Taxes
The Powerball jackpot reached a new high for the year, rising to $605 million after Saturday's drawing produced no winners—but a lucky winner would take home much less after accounting for taxes. The next Powerball drawing will take place Monday night. AFP via Getty Images No tickets were sold matching all of Saturday's winning numbers (23, 40, 49, 65, 69 and Powerball number 23), meaning the jackpot is growing again before the next drawing, which is Monday night. If a ticket is sold matching all of Monday's numbers, the winner will have the option of either receiving a full jackpot of $605 million spread out over 30 annualized payments over 29 years, or a lump cash sum of $273.4 million all at once. If the winner chooses the lump sum, the more popular option, they would face an automatic 24% federal withholding tax, bringing the winnings down to $207.8 million. The winner is then likely to face the highest federal marginal tax rate of 37%, bringing the jackpot down to $172.2 million. If the winner chooses the annuity, their average annual payment would drop from more than $20 million down to $12.7 million after applying taxes. States and territories tax lottery winnings further, including New York (at a 10.9% rate), Washington, D.C. (at an 8.5% rate), and Maryland (at an 8.75% rate), while others like California, Texas and Delaware apply no further taxes. The next drawing is scheduled for Monday at 10:59 p.m. EDT. If a winner isn't selected Monday, the jackpot will grow larger before the next drawing Wednesday night. Key Background The Powerball jackpot has steadily risen in recent weeks—it previously rose as high as $526.5 million in March before a lucky winner in California claimed the jackpot. The jackpot surpassed $1 billion in 2024, rising as high as $1.3 billion before a player claimed the prize last April. Big Number 1 in 292.2 million. Those are the odds for winning the Powerball jackpot, according to the lottery organizers. A jackpot winner must purchase a ticket with numbers matching all five white balls drawn (between 1 and 69), as well as matching the red Powerball (between 1 and 26). Players receive a $1 million prize if they purchase a ticket matching all five numbers without the Powerball number—organizers put odds of winning this prize at 1 in 11.6 million.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Blame Canada: How Trump can help us from being smoked out of our summer
DETROIT — Smokey Bear famously said, 'Only you can prevent forest fires.' But because Canada has not put in an ounce of prevention — the smoke from its wildfires has invaded Michigan and other American skies for three straight summers — it will take a pound of cure to Make Michigan Summer Again. So it falls on the best dealmaker the White House has ever seen to make our northern neighbor an offer it can't refuse: Either Canada puts out the wildfires ASAP. Or the US military will, perhaps en route to Canada's annexation as the 51st state. Since the time of James Monroe, America has been jealous of the events within its hemisphere. Usually any problems emanate from parts south, whether it's fentanyl in Mexico or nuclear weapons in Cuba — not Canada. 4 With Canada not working to prevent wildfires, America's friend to the north has become a bad neighbor. AFP via Getty Images Any one summer of smoke can be understood, even excused. Things happen. Perhaps the second was a coincidence. But the third, as Ian Fleming would say, feels like enemy action. In just three years, America's friend to the north has become a bad neighbor. The Canadian Wildfire Information System shows moderate-to-high threats of fire danger in Ottawa, north of Michigan. In eastern Canada, above New England, the threats range from high to extreme. Esri Canada's map of active wildfires shows a problem from sea to smoke-covered sea. BBC calls 2025 Canada's second-worst wildfire season on record. Conservative member of Canadian Parliament Michelle Rempel Garner has joined the blame game, declaring an 'utter lack of action from the federal government' created the problem. 4 A haze of Canadian wildfire smoke blankets Detroit and creates poor air quality this month. AP Smoky summers were not a fixture of my childhood and cannot become a new normal for Michigan's children. Nobody in Lansing has any answers. I asked a friend at Michigan's environmental department what was being done about the wildfire smoke. I was told it had issued air-quality alerts. That's not exactly the proactive response we're looking for. 'In recent years, Michigan has seen unprecedented levels of wildfire smoke drifting across its communities and much of the rest of the country,' reads the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy website. 'In addition to pollutants like fine particulate matter carried in the smoke, there are gasses containing the chemicals that — when combined with sunlight — form ground-level ozone. These chemical reactions contribute to elevated ozone levels seen in areas across Michigan.' 4 Canadian wildfire smoke practically erases Detroit's skyline this month. UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has thoughts on everything from tariffs to the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill to the price of back-to-school gear. But she's been oddly silent on the smoke that falls on the Traverse City Democrat and the Midland-area Republican alike. Whitmer spent one-fourth of last year traveling abroad, and she is keeping a similar pace in 2025, according to her public calendar. Perhaps too many of her travels this year are to foreign lands and too few within Michigan, to take up the plight of the pleasant peninsulas. Whitmer met with President Trump this month at the White House. She apparently left her folder at home this time rather than hiding behind it. Reports say Whitmer spoke about the $50 million in disaster relief Trump already granted for a northern Michigan ice storm — from months ago. There is no evidence Whitmer spoke a word about the current problem. The Michigan and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources have sent waves of firefighters to Canada, but it's not enough. Whitmer doesn't want the smoke with Canada. And why would she? She's just a governor. She's not looking for an international incident, especially when playing on the perception that Trump and Canada are at odds due to tariffs. 4 There's no evidence Whitmer even mentioned the Canadian problem to Trump when they met recently. AFP via Getty Images Michigan Republicans haven't done much better. Rep. John James, who's running in the 2026 governor's race to replace Whitmer, sent Canada a strongly worded letter. Then he got the other six Republicans in Michigan's congressional delegation to join him in a second letter. But Canada is the wrong target. James doesn't need to send a letter up north. He needs to call his friend the president. Trump has an affinity for Michigan and finished all three presidential campaigns there. It would break the man's heart to know we are being smoked out of our summer. Canada can't be trusted to put out the wildfires. The provinces Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have banned camping and hiking rather than fight fire with water. Canada has taken an active disinterest in managing its problem. And now its problem has become our problem. When Trump gets involved, there won't be a problem. The wildfire smoke Canada treats as a gateway to authoritarian rule, offering another chance to order people to 'stay home and stay safe,' is a threat to our lives and livelihoods in Michigan. This aggression cannot stand. President Trump, it's time to make Canada an offer it can't refuse. James David Dickson is a podcaster and independent journalist in Michigan.
