12-03-2025
NC minimum wage bill faces difficulty becoming law without GOP support
NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A group of North Carolina Democrats want to increase the state's minimum wage from $7.25 to $18 within five years. A bill filed Monday would increase the minimum wage in increments through 2030.
Rising costs were on the mind of people walking through Charlotte's South End neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon. Those that spoke with Queen City News seemed in favor of the proposal.
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'I definitely think it needs to be higher; again, that's over the course of years though, you can't just raise it immediately and make everyone happy but I think it, with how the world is going right now, a little bit higher,' said Baylee Blankenbaker.
House Bill 353 would start with a bump to $10 in 2026, then increase annually by two dollars until it reaches $18. The bill also allows for state officials to continue increasing the minimum wage depending on the cost of living.
'It's equity and fairness for workers. I mean, we have one of the lowest minimum wages in the country,' said State Rep Marcia Morey.
Morey, who represents Durham County, is the bill's author. With only Democratic support, Morey acknowledged she will need Republicans to sign on for the bill to have a chance at becoming law, 'Oh, I'm sure they're thrilled with it…we will do our best to show this is what their constituents need, as much as ours, it shouldn't be a partisan issue.'
The North Carolina Chamber told Queen City News they oppose the proposal through a provided statement.
'Due to the intense competition for talent in our state, most NC Chamber members do not pay minimum wage. However, the NC Chamber opposes burdensome mandates on North Carolina employers that restrict their ability to predictably manage their operations. We believe the best way to ensure North Carolina remains a leading state to live, work, and raise a family is not by imposing mandates on employers, but by better aligning our talent development systems with the needs of our modern workforce to connect more North Carolinians with high-paying jobs.'
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