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Kansas lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 471, a proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage to $16 per hour for workers covered under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill, sponsored by Senator Cindy Holscher, would replace existing wage provisions and amend state labor law to reflect the higher rate, affecting both employers and employees in Kansas.

Under the current measure, the minimum wage would rise from the federal baseline to the new state standard of $16 an hour. The legislation also maintains provisions on how tips and gratuities factor into wage calculations but aligns state labor definitions with the federal law.

SB 471 was introduced in the Senate earlier this month and referred to the Commerce Committee for further consideration. If approved, it would be a significant increase from current minimums and could impact wages for thousands of workers across the state.