(AP) — Leaders of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives opened a new session of the Legislature with a proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour. They also want to spend $600 million on housing for Native Hawaiians on the waiting list for Hawaiian homelands. The National Conference of State Legislatures says the highest state minimum wage is currently $15 in California. House Speaker Scott Saiki says the proposal would phase in the increase over several years. Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage is currently $10.10. House leaders also want to increase the food tax credit and make the earned income tax credit refundable and permanent.
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