A bill that would now increase Wyoming's minimum wage to match the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is headed to the Wyoming House of Representatives.

Originally, House Bill 140 would have raised the state minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, with a $5.15 minimum wage for tipped employees. The bill was put forward by Rep. James Byrd (D-Cheyenne), who has authored similar minimum wage bills over the last few years.

But the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee on Friday scaled back the proposal to match the federal wage guidelines, which mandates a wage of at least $7.25 per hour.

That would still be an increase over the current state minimum wage of $5.15 per hour.

But the change would only affect a small number of Wyoming employees because most businesses in the state are already covered by the federal law.

The bill as it is now written would not affect tipped employees at all. Both state and Wyoming law mandates a $2.13 minimum wage for tipped employees.

The committee vote Friday was 5-4. It now moves on to the full house for consideration.

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