A new bill filed by State Rep. Bryan Cohn in the North Carolina House seeks to increase the state minimum wage gradually to improve wage standards, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 353 on March 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Fair Minimum Wage Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill, titled the Fair Minimum Wage Act, mandates a scheduled increase in the state minimum wage starting at $10 per hour from Jan. 1, 2026, escalating to $18 per hour by Jan. 1, 2030, with subsequent annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. Employers found violating minimum wage, overtime, or wage payment statutes must compensate affected employees for unpaid wages plus interest. Additionally, courts can award liquidated damages unless the employer acted in good faith. Attorneys’ fees and costs are mandated for successful actions, with a $300 fee stipulated in default judgments. The Commissioner of Labor is empowered to oversee wage recovery, and legal actions must be initiated within two years. The bill takes effect upon becoming law unless otherwise specified.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Marcia Morey proposed the most bills (20) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Cohn, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 32nd House district, replacing previous state representative Frank Sossamon.
| Legislative Session | Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn, Aisha O. Dew, Allison A. Dahle, and Marcia Morey | HB 353 | 03/10/2025 | Fair Minimum Wage Act. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn, Frances Jackson, PhD, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 267 | 03/03/2025 | Expunging Certain Eviction Records. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn, Carolyn G. Logan, Kanika Brown, and Sarah Crawford | HB 269 | 03/03/2025 | Workforce Freedom and Protection Act. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn | HB 255 | 02/27/2025 | SchCalFlex/Granville,Vance/Open Cal. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn, Kanika Brown, Sarah Crawford, and Tracy Clark | HB 115 | 02/12/2025 | Child Care Facility Tax Exemption. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn | HB 101 | 02/11/2025 | Prop. Tax Appeal Process Transparency. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn | HB 102 | 02/11/2025 | Real Property Appraisal – Owner Notification. |
| 2025 | Bryan Cohn | HB 68 | 02/05/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Granville & Vance. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 1073 | 05/23/2024 | Constitutional Amendment/Citizens-Only Voting. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon and Ken Fontenot | HB 982 | 05/02/2024 | Faith In Mental Health Pilot Program. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 903 | 04/24/2024 | Add Tianeptine to Controlled Substance List. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 765 | 04/18/2023 | Public School Medical Assistants. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 633 | 04/17/2023 | Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 528 | 03/29/2023 | Butner Transportation Study Funds. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon, George G. Cleveland, and Kevin Crutchfield | HB 365 | 03/14/2023 | Require That Jurors Be US Citizens. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 348 | 03/13/2023 | Vance-Granville CC Manufacturing Center. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 306 | 03/08/2023 | School Calendar Flexibility/Granville & Vance. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 215 | 02/28/2023 | General Assembly/”In God We Trust” Display. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 155 | 02/21/2023 | Titles for Off-Road Veh./Low Speed Veh. Insp. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon and George G. Cleveland | HB 63 | 02/07/2023 | Verification of Immigration Status – SAVE. |
| 2023 | Frank Sossamon | HB 30 | 01/30/2023 | Reduce Length of Granville Bd. of Ed. Terms. |
