Senate Republicans Unanimously Block Forced Vote on $15 Minimum Wage

UPDATE, October 13 — Minimum Wage: Senate Democrats File New Discharge Petition 

What happened:
Senate Democrats filed a new discharge petition to force a vote on HB 2189, after the June petition expired September 29. The bill would raise Pennsylvania’s $7.25 minimum wage to $11 in 2027, $13 in 2028, and $15 in 2029, with annual inflation adjustments beginning in 2030. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said Democrats are open to negotiating the timing of increases and the tipped wage. Republicans have raised concerns about effects on teenage and first-time workers.

Why it matters for Pennsylvania nonprofits:
With the session ending November 30, passage this session is unlikely without a negotiated deal. Nonprofits with large frontline workforces should keep modeling payroll impact, and providers with state rate-based contracts should consider whether current rates would cover higher labor costs.

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What happened:
On the 20th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s last minimum wage increase, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) forced a procedural floor vote on House Bill 2189 (Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Philadelphia) — the House-passed $15/hour minimum wage bill with annual cost-of-living increases. Debate on the bill’s substance was barred under Senate rules governing the procedural vote. It failed 27-23 along party lines. Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) said he remains open to compromise but accused Democrats of refusing to move off $15. 

HB 2189 remains before the Senate with no committee action scheduled. 

Why it matters for Pennsylvania nonprofits:
This doesn’t kill the bill — it remains formally before the Senate with no committee assignment. Continued opposition may leave the increase unresolved again this session. Nonprofits with large frontline workforces in human services, housing, and care work should continue modeling payroll impact – noting that providing thriving wages for our workforce may lead to the decreased ability to provide services to as many people as in the past. 

Update — May 6, 2026

In March 2026, the Pennsylvania House narrowly passed HB 1549 (Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Philadelphia), 102-101, raising the state minimum wage from $7.25 — unchanged since 2009 — to $15 by 2029 in steps. The bill moved to the Republican-controlled Senate, where similar legislation had failed in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Governor Shapiro argued a wage increase would also reduce Medicaid enrollment and save the state roughly $300 million annually, and PANO urged nonprofits with large frontline workforces to model payroll impacts and engage their senators ahead of a vote.