3 Rhode Island State Senators Push For CPI Minimum Wage Increases

PROVIDENCE, RI — Three Rhode Island state senators plan to introduce a bill that would increase the state’s minimum wage.

Sens. Brian J. Thompson, Leonidas P. Raptakis and John P. Burke will introduce the legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage by having Rhode Island join with 21 other states that tie increases to the minimum wage with the Consumer Price Index, according to a media release from the Rhode Island legislature.

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"Under the provisions of the legislation, the annual CPI adjustment would commence the year following the currently scheduled increase of the minimum wage to $17 an hour" starting New Year's Day 2027, the release said.

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"Linking minimum wage increases to CPI, which is released by the U.S. Department of Labor each March, would give businesses and employees nine months to prepare for any new minimum wage that would take effect in January," according to the release.

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“People are struggling, particularly those in minimum wage jobs and at the lower end of the economic spectrum, because prices are still high and rising for everyday essentials," Thompson, D-Woonsocket, Cumberland, said in the release.

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"While minimum wage residents absolutely need more money in their pockets to make ends meet, we also must recognize the needs of small businesses," Thompson said. "If businesses are forced to cut jobs or hours to absorb minimum wage increases, that does nothing to help the business or its employees. Tying the state’s minimum wage to the CPI would allow small businesses to anticipate and prepare for wage increases while also supporting our state’s employees who need the most help.”

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