North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 29 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 353 — Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 30 sponsors

    3 primary, 27 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (29 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

46 added · 45 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of House Bill 353, a key change is the removal of a provision that allowed the Commissioner to take legal action on behalf of employees. This means that now, only employees themselves can pursue claims for unpaid wages and damages. This shift is significant because it places the responsibility on individual workers to seek justice, which may make it harder for some employees to recover what they are owed if they don't have the means to take legal action on their own.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 353 Short Title:
353 Mar 10, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH40224-LR-34C Short Title:
Representative Morey.
Representatives Morey, Cohn, Dew, and Dahle (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT RAISING THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE AND INDEXING FOR AUTOMATIC INCREASES AND REQUIRING PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS IN ACTIONS FOR UNPAID WAGES.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House March 11, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT RAISING THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE AND INDEXING FOR AUTOMATIC INCREASES AND REQUIRING PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS IN ACTIONS FOR UNPAID WAGES.
(a1) Beginning September 30, 2030, and on each September 30 thereafter, the CommissionerofLaborshall calculatean adjusted minimum wagerate indexedto thepercentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All 29 Urban Consumers, U.S.
(a1) Beginning September 30, 2030, and on each September 30 thereafter, the Commissionerof Laborshall calculatean adjusted minimum wage rate indexedto thepercentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All 29 Urban Consumers, U.S.
95-25.12, as the case may be, plus interest at the legal rate set forth in G.S.
95-25.12, as the case maybe, plus interest at the legal rate set forth in G.S.
(a1) In addition to theamounts awardedpursuant to subsection(a) ofthis section, thecourt shall award liquidated damages in an amount equal to the amount found to be due as provided in *DRH40224-LR-34C* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 subsection (a) of this section, provided that if the employer shows to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission constituting the violation was in good faith and that the employer had reasonable grounds for believing that the act or omission was not a violation of this Article, the court may, in its discretion, award no liquidated damages or may award any amount of liquidated damages not exceeding the amount found due as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
*H353-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a1) In addition to theamounts awardedpursuant to subsection(a) ofthis section, thecourt shall award liquidated damages in an amount equal to the amount found to be due as provided in subsection (a) of this section, provided that if the employer shows to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission constituting the violation was in good faith and that the employer had reasonable grounds for believing that the act or omission was not a violation of this Article, the court may, in its discretion, award no liquidated damages or may award any amount of liquidated damages not exceeding the amount found due as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
(a2) Any employer who violates the provisions of G.S.
(a2) Anyemployer who violates the provisions of G.S.
95-25.13 or any rule adopted under that section shall be liable to the employee or employees affected in the amount of their actual damages, including, but not limited to, lost wages and benefits plus interest and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
95-25.13 or anyrule adopted under that section shall be liable to the employee or employees affected in the amount of their actual damages, including, but not limited to, lost wages and benefits plus interest and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
(c) Action to recoversuch liabilitymayalsobemaintainedin theGeneral CourtofJustice by the Commissioner at the request of the employees affected.
(c) Action to recoversuch liabilitymayalso bemaintained in theGeneral CourtofJustice by the Commissioner at the request of the employees affected.
Page 2 DRH40224-LR-34C
Page 2 House Bill 353-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 27 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (27)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 353?
HB 353 is sponsored by Phil Rubin (Democratic), James Roberson (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Rodney D. Pierce (Democratic), Nasif Majeed (U), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Tim Longest (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Sarah Crawford (Democratic), Mike Colvin (Democratic), Tracy Clark (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Allen Buansi (Democratic), Terry M. Brown Jr. (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Vernetta Alston (Democratic), Eric Ager (Democratic), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), Bryan Cohn (Democratic), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Cecil Brockman (Democratic), and Julie von Haefen (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 353?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 353?
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