JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri voters said yes to raising the minimum wage across the state and to establishment mandatory paid sick leave requirements, according to preliminary results from the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.
Proposition A will take a gradual approach to wage increases, with the minimum wage first rising to $13.75 per hour on January 1, 2025, and then to $15 per hour in 2026. To maintain the wage’s purchasing power, the rate would automatically adjust annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Prop A also introduces new paid sick leave standards for private sector employers. Businesses with 15 or more employees will be required to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
Notably, government entities, including school districts and other public institutions, will be exempt from both the minimum wage increases and the sick leave requirements. State officials estimate the implementation costs at $0 to $53,000 initially, with ongoing annual costs potentially reaching $256,000 or more by 2027.
Missouri voters previously rejected a minimum wage increase in 1996. Between 1996 and 2022, voters in 26 states approved minimum wage increases.