HB1484

House · 2026 sessionDemocraticDied in House

Raising the state minimum wage

Establishes a state minimum hourly wage above the federal rate, rising incrementally from $12.00 in September 2026 to $17.00 by January 2029.

establishing a state minimum wage and providing for incremental increases.

EmploymentBusiness and Industry

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 5, 2026

✓Introduced
✕House
Senate
Governor
Law

Division of testimony

424 submissions

Support 407Oppose 17Neutral 0

Argument digest · AI-generated

from 119 of 119 written submissions

HB1484 would establish a state minimum wage with scheduled incremental increases, moving New Hampshire off its current reliance on the $7.25 federal minimum. The large majority of submitters support the bill, arguing the current wage cannot cover basic living costs and that New Hampshire lags far behind every neighboring New England state, while a small number of opponents argue that government-mandated wage increases are bad economics and that market forces, not the legislature, should set wages.

Current wage is not enough to live onSupport55 of 119 reviewed
Submitters argue that $7.25 an hour cannot cover basic necessities such as rent, food, and utilities, making it impossible for full-time workers to support themselves or their families.
- “So 15,080 in wages BEFORE TAXES minus $14,400 leaves $680.00. Have you grocery shopped lately? HOW do you EXPECT anyone to survive on $7.25 per hour.?”
  — Patricia Thomas, Sandown · #600679 — read full submission →
- “$7.25 an hour works out to barely over $15,000 annually. No one can survive in NH making that little.”
  — Audrey Holst, Nashua · #608614 — read full submission →
NH lags behind every neighboring stateSupport30 of 119 reviewed
Submitters point out that New Hampshire is the only New England state without a state-set minimum wage, and that its rate is far below Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
- “Connecticut $16.94, Maine $15.10, Massachusetts $15.00, Rhode Island $16.00, Vermont, yes, read that again..... VERMONT.. $14.42, New Hampshire, $7.25.”
  — Patricia Thomas, Sandown · #600679 — read full submission →
- “The fact that we are the only New England state without a minimum wage is one of the reasons behind the labor shortage. Who would want to work here, when they can get twice as much in Mass, Vt or Maine or Canada?”
  — Robert Sanders, Concord · #599846 — read full submission →
Fair pay is a matter of dignity and decencySupport20 of 119 reviewed
Submitters frame raising the minimum wage as a moral and dignity issue, arguing that workers deserve fair compensation for their labor regardless of the economic case.
- “The minimum wage in this state is LAUGHABLY low and well beyond what it takes to house, clothe, and feed oneself in this state. This is a MUST pass.”
  — Nicole Gugliucci, Manchester · #593121 — read full submission →
Low wages worsen workforce shortages and out-migrationSupport15 of 119 reviewed
Submitters argue that New Hampshire's low minimum wage pushes workers and young people to leave for higher-paying neighboring states, worsening labor shortages, especially in care and service fields.
- “our state has been losing our direct health care and rehabilitative services workforce for decades. A big part of the reason for this is that the lack of a reasonable state minimum wage, which drives workers out of state”
  — Jean Lewandowski, Nashua, NH · #599330 — read full submission →
Bill is an insufficient but necessary first stepSupport8 of 119 reviewed
Some submitters acknowledge the proposed wage still falls short of a true living wage but support the bill as a needed initial step in the right direction.
- “I believe it's still not enough - it's not a living wage - however, we MUST raise the minimum wage. It's been far too long.”
  — Karen Bemis, Bristol · #594948 — read full submission →
Low wages shift costs onto taxpayers via public assistanceSupport8 of 119 reviewed
Submitters argue that when employers pay below a living wage, workers must rely on food stamps, Medicaid, and other public assistance, effectively making taxpayers subsidize low-wage employers.
- “Low wages allow employers to depend on safety net programs such as food stamps and Medicaid to supplement the wages they provide-this means taxpayers subsidize low wage employers.”
  — Janet Schaffer, Warner · #594305 — read full submission →
Raising wages benefits the economy without costing jobsSupport6 of 119 reviewed
Some submitters cite economic research and business experience to argue that minimum wage increases boost consumer spending and reduce turnover costs without measurably reducing employment.
- “Leading economists have found that increases in the minimum wage have no discernible effect on employment, including employment in high-impactsectors like restaurants and retail.”
  — Walter King, Dover · #598626 — read full submission →
Business owners themselves back a higher minimum wageSupport2 of 119 reviewed
A few submitters, identifying as current or former business owners, state that they personally believe employees should be paid a living wage regardless of the legal minimum.
- “As a former business owner, now retired, I always felt my employees should receive a living wage.”
  — Rose Lanier, Concord · #602224 — read full submission →
Minimum wage interacts poorly with disability benefit thresholdsSupport1 of 119 reviewed
One submission argues that the current minimum wage is so low it falls under the Social Security disability earnings threshold, creating a disincentive to work and leaving workers unable to qualify for housing.
- “This means that someone with a disabling condition who only earns minimum wage would qualify for disability. They may want to work but if they would earn almost as much or more on disability why would they work for minimum wage”
  — Margaret Konze, Pembroke · #591381 — read full submission →
Government wage mandates are bad economicsOppose3 of 119 reviewed
Opponents argue that a state-mandated minimum wage would raise costs of living further, that few employers actually hire at minimum wage, and that the labor market should set wages without government intervention.
- “Cost of living here is already high enough. Creating a minimum wage versus defaulting to the federal minimum would simply raise our costs even more.”
  — Simon Berrio, Dalton · #593626 — read full submission →
Ideological opposition to wage regulationOppose1 of 119 reviewed
One submission frames the bill in explicitly ideological terms, rejecting government regulation of wages outright.
- “Please send the communists back to mother russia. Or NYC. I would prefer to eliminate the legislatures regulatory authority entirely.”
  — tom luther, claremont · #593972 — read full submission →

Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.

Catharine FarkasSupportSanbornton, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

This is LONG overdue!!! Itis common sense to attract a strong workforce that can afford to live here.

Audrey HolstSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

The minimum wage's goal is to prevent exploitation and ensure a basic standard of living. $7.25 an hour works out to barely over $15,000 annually. No one can survive in NH making that little. It's time to raise the minimum wage to keep up with the cost of living.

William ThomasSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

It is way past time for the NH State Legislature to raise NH's minimum wage. $7.25 is really obscene. Even if the minimum wage is raised and it impacts only between 15 and 20 families, then it should be done. Please Support HB1484. Thank you.

Ian RogersSupportWarner, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Fair minimum wages are just plain common sense, and one of the best tools we have to address the growing affordability gap in New Hampshire. Let's help working-class people pay for their basic needs on their own, and in the process, reduce their reliance on government assistance, lowering costs for everyone.

Chris AndrewsSupportLisbon, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

It's time for NH to live in reality. My daughter has worked for years as a single mother making less than $17hr. the less she makes the more money tax payers must be taxed to provide for welfare benefits.

Ashley LambSupportDurham, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

There is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting in New Hampshire. HB 1062 fuels misinformation and undermines trust instead of improving election security.

Jon BlanchetteSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

This is a long time overdue.

Penny ReynoldsSupportPortsmouth, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

It is long past due to raise the minimum wage. When business owners pay the current minimum wage, it isn't enough for people to live on in our current economy. Our welfare system supports the difference, but some members of our legislature, rather than acknowledging that we are supporting the business community, would prefer to refer to these underpaid workers as being lazy. Why don't we just pay workers enough to pay their way, after all they are working in jobs that benefit us all.

Diana McNabbSupportPortsmouth, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I support this bill that establishes a state minimum wage and provides for incremental increases to get to $17/hour.

cristine traynerSupportdover, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

It's time to move out of the 1980s and pay people closer to a living wage than $7,25/hr.

Jeffrey DicklerSupportRindge, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

We are desperately in need of a livable minimum wage. The current minimum encourage poverty and crime.

Derek Michael AvilaSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Forward progress to uplift Granite Staters out of poverty, supports minimum wage increases, closes wage gaps like other New England States have done. (21st Century livability)

Anna MeigsSupportLyndeborough, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I believe the current minimum wage in NH is $7.25 per hour. I ask all legislators to consider what their lives would be like if they too were attempting to survive, especially if they had kids ,on $7.25 an hour. That would be $290.00 a week.

Mary F. FloccoSupportNewfields, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

We. Need to work towards giving workers a LIVING WAGE for work done. This bill just begins to address this.

Richard RaffSupportBedford, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I am in favor of raising the minimum wage, to help workers make enough money to pay their bills.

lucy wymanSupportlancaster, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Min wage now 7.25$. ARE YOU SERIOUS? It is years past the time this was changed.

Candace GibbonsSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

We need a higher minimum wage, for sure. If “everyone’s paying higher than minimum wage anyway” then there’s no reason why not to pass this bill.

Maryi LannonOpposeHenniker, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I do agree with this at all.

Faith ScofieldSupportconcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

If people are earning a better wage, they could spend more time with their family instead of working two-three jobs. Better wages would support more dignity for people who are working so hard to pay bills.

Raye Ellen DouvilleSupportGilford, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

The rate has not been increased in almost two decades. We've done things to help business and nothing to help struggling workers. Increase the minimum wage.

John WalshSupportNew London, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I strongly urge you to support HB 1484 which would incrementally increase NH's paltry minimum wage over several years. Thank you for your consideration, John Walsh

Elizabeth MellerSupportNew london, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I wish to support passing this bill

Bill PowerSupportLee, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Nobody can live on the current minimum wage, it’s shameful.

Rebecca McEwanSupportMadbury, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

We need a state minimum wage competitive with our neighboring states.

Melanie LeathersSupportBradford, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I would strongly urge all lawmakers to support HB 1884. It is important that all NH workers are given a living wage that allows them and their families to thrive in NH. With the cost of living going up from housing to food to utilities and transportation, our residents need to feel that they can stay in NH and create a decent life for themselves. Thank you for your consideration. Melanie Leathers, Bradford