RICHMOND — Virginia has finalized a legislative framework to raise the state hourly minimum wage incrementally over the next two years, culminating in a fifteen dollar per hour baseline by January 1, 2028.

The newly approved legislation, Senate Bill 1, officially structures the wage progression starting from the 12.77 dollar rate that took effect at the beginning of 2026. Under the approved timeline, the state minimum wage will rise to 13.75 dollars per hour on January 1, 2027, followed by the final step to 15.00 dollars per hour on January 1, 2028.

To prevent future wage stagnation, the law introduces an inflation indexing mechanism. Beginning January 1, 2029, and continuing on an annual basis, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry will adjust the hourly wage to reflect cost of living changes based on the Consumer Price Index.

The identical companion bill, House Bill 1, moved parallel through the General Assembly. Both measures successfully passed the legislative chambers earlier this year and were signed into law by the Governor on April 8, 2026, officially recorded as Chapter 351 of the Acts of Assembly.