La. Senate panel moves minimum wage and equal pay bills forward

A Louisiana Senate panel moved forward two bills regarding pay for employees Thursday, one aimed at increasing the minimum wage in Louisiana (SB 269) and one aimed at equal pay (SB 254), The Advocate reports.

The Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations supported an $8 minimum wage to begin in January 2017, with an increase to $8.50 in 2018, according to The Advocate.

The panel also supported expanding an equal pay law to cover private businesses.