SB 16 — AN ACT relating to wages.

Summary

Amend KRS 337.010 to increase the applicable threshold of employees of retail stores and service industries from $95,000 to $500,000 average annual gross volume of sales for the employer; amend KRS 337.275 to incrementally raise minimum wage for employers to $15.00 an hour; include anti-preemption language permitting local governments to establish minimum wage ordinances in excess of the state minimum wage.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill increases the minimum wage and adjusts various definitions related to wages and employment.

• KRS 337.275

  five dollars and eighty-five cents ($5.85) an hour beginning on June 26, 2007, not less than six dollars and fifty-five cents ($6.55) an hour beginning July 1, 2008, and not less than seven dollars and twenty-five cents ($7.25) an hour beginning July 1, 2009 → Ten dollars ($10) an hour beginning on the effective date of this Act; Eleven dollars and fifty cents ($11.50) an hour beginning on July 1, 2027; Twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50) an hour beginning on July 1, 2028; Fourteen dollars ($14) an hour beginning on July 1, 2029; and Fifteen dollars ($15) an hour beginning on July 1, 2030

  This change sets a new minimum wage schedule with higher rates starting from July 2027 to July 2030.

• KRS 337.275

  for any employee engaged in an occupation in which he or she customarily and regularly receives more than thirty dollars ($30) per month in tips from patrons or others, the employer may pay as a minimum not less than the hourly wage rate required to be paid a tipped employee under the federal minimum hourly wage law as prescribed by 29 U.S.C. sec. 203.

  This update maintains the tipping provision while allowing for a shift to federal guidance for tipped employees.

• KRS 337.010(1)(c)(2)

  not include the distribution to qualified professional firefighters by local governments of supplements received from the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund. → shall not include the distribution to qualified professional firefighters by local governments of supplements received from the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund.

  Clarifies the exclusion of certain supplements from wage calculations for scheduled overtime for professional firefighters.

Action History

1. January 06, 2026

   to Committee on Committees (S)

2. January 06, 2026

   introduced in Senate

Sponsors

• Gerald A. Neal · Primary
• Gary Clemons · Primary
• Karen Berg · Primary
• Cassie Chambers Armstrong · Primary
• Keturah J. Herron · Primary
• Reginald L. Thomas · Primary

Subjects