Issue Position: Consumer/Quality of Life

Issue Position

The General Assembly voted to raise the state's minimum wage to $9 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2015. That's a $1 per hour increase over the current minimum wage of $8, which went into effect at the beginning of this year.

Lawmakers approved legislation that will aid in preventing foreclosing owners from evicting tenants in one- to four-family dwellings without "just cause." The bills spell out the circumstances under which an eviction may take place and require notices to tenants 30 days prior to any foreclosure sale.

Passed by the legislature and signed into law was legislation to permit the use of electronic proof of auto insurance coverage, in any format that can be displayed on any mobile electronic device.

Lawmakers approved bills to increase the penalties for companies violating the state's wage law, increasing not only the monetary fines but also the amount of potential jail time.

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