Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2123

Introduced
1/28/25  

Caption

Increasing the minimum wage for employees that receive tips and gratuities.

Impact

If passed, HB2123 would significantly impact the wages of tipped employees in Kansas, ensuring that these individuals earn a guaranteed minimum rate that is higher than what is currently legislated. This change would require employers in the service industry, such as restaurants and bars where tipping is common, to adjust their payroll practices to comply with the new wage requirements. Proponents of the bill argue that it will lift many workers out of poverty and provide them with a more stable income.

Summary

House Bill 2123 aims to increase the minimum wage for employees who receive tips and gratuities. The bill amends K.S.A. 44-1203, revising the minimum wage rates applicable to these employees. Currently, employers can count tips towards the minimum wage calculation, which can leave some employees earning less than the required minimum when tips fall short. By increasing the tipped employees' minimum wage from $2.13 to $6.15, the bill seeks to ensure fair compensation that aligns more closely with standard minimum wage requirements for all employees.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, there is likely to be contention surrounding the bill among various stakeholders. Supporters in the labor union sector and advocacy groups for workers' rights may push for its adoption, highlighting concerns that the current system inadequately supports employees reliant on tips. Conversely, some business owners may argue that raising the minimum wage for tipped workers could lead to increased operational costs, which might result in changes such as higher menu prices or reduced hiring. Therefore, the discussion around HB2123 is expected to encompass broader themes of economic impact, worker rights, and the sustainability of tipping culture.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2368

Enacting the making work pay act to increase the Kansas minimum wage.

KS SB70

Enacting the making work pay act to increase the Kansas minimum wage.

KS HB2570

Substitute for HB 2570 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Defining benefit year, temporary unemployment, wages and other terms in the employment security law, requiring electronic filing for certain employers, establishing qualifications for employment security board of review candidates, extending the deadline for new accounts following business acquisitions, making certain changes to the employer rate schedules and lowering rates for new employers, enabling employers to report claimant work search issues, confirming legislative coordinating council oversight for the new unemployment insurance information technology system implementation, authorizing the secretary to grant additional temporary unemployment in certain circumstances, requiring the secretary to publish certain information, abolishing the employment security interest assessment fund and providing relief for negative account balance employers.

KS HB2275

Increasing the maximum amount of yearly income tax credits available for purchases under the disability employment act from qualified vendors, continuing in existence such credits beyond tax year 2023 of eligible purchases available for such credit and further defining qualifying vendors and employees eligible for the credit, establishing a grant program to facilitate transitions by employers to minimum wage employment for persons with disabilities and creating the Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund.

KS HB2140

Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.

KS SB15

Increasing the maximum amount of yearly income tax credits available for purchases under the disability employment act from qualified vendors, continuing in existence such credits beyond tax year 2023 of eligible purchases available for such credit and further defining qualifying vendors and employees eligible for the credit, establishing a grant program to facilitate transitions by employers to minimum wage employment for persons with disabilities and creating the Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund.

KS SB478

Defining benefit year, temporary unemployment and other terms in the employment security law, requiring electronic filing for certain employers, establishing qualifications for employment security board of review candidates, extending the deadline for new accounts following business acquisitions, making certain changes to the employer rate schedules, enabling employers to report claimant work search issues, confirming legislative coordinating council oversight for the new unemployment insurance information technology system implementation, authorizing the secretary to grant temporary unemployment, requiring the secretary to annually publish certain data and abolishing the employment security interest assessment fund.

KS HB2401

Defining "benefit year" and "temporary unemployment" in the employment security law, allowing the extension of temporary unemployment; requiring electronic report filing by certain employers, permitting discretion in appointments and terms for the temporary employment security board of review, delaying new account formation after certain business acquisitions, requiring the new unemployment insurance system to allow employer reports regarding claimant compliance and authorizing the legislative coordinating council to extend new system implementation deadlines.

KS HB2776

Providing workers compensation act coverage for the Kansas national guard, limiting benefit reductions for retirement benefits, increasing dependents death benefits, reducing certain functional impairment requirements, increasing compensation for certain disability categories and for treatment without authorization, raising the evidentiary standard for future medical treatment, limiting certain procedures for post-award medical benefit claims, allowing benefit payment by funds transfer or payment cards, establishing procedures for neutral healthcare examinations, exchanges and admission of medical reports, extending employee injury notification deadlines, eliminating the deadline for motions to avoid dismissal for lack of prosecution, providing for expedited settlement and digital recording of hearings and other changes to the workers compensation act.

KS SB430

Providing workers compensation act coverage for the Kansas national guard, limiting benefit reductions for retirement benefits, increasing dependents death benefits, reducing certain functional impairment requirements, increasing compensation for certain disability categories and for treatment without authorization, raising the evidentiary standard for future medical treatment, limiting certain procedures for post-award medical benefit claims, allowing benefit payment by funds transfer or payment cards, establishing procedures for neutral healthcare examinations, exchanges and admission of medical reports, extending employee injury notification deadlines, eliminating the deadline for motions to avoid dismissal for lack of prosecution, providing for expedited settlement and digital recording of hearings and other changes to the workers compensation act.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.