Missouri lawmaker wants small, seasonal businesses to be exempt from new minimum wage, paid sick leave requirements
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Missouri’s new paid sick leave plan is set to go into effect this May, but some lawmakers are trying to exempt certain businesses from participating.
Two bills that could delay or deny some people the benefits promised in Proposition A are being considered by a Missouri House Committee this week. They could be voted out of that committee as soon as next week. House leadership said the bills have their and could come up for a vote in the next few weeks.
Prop A, ed by voters in November, promised one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers are required to send out written notice to their employees about that paid sick time by April 15.
In addition, a new minimum wage went into effect at the beginning of this year. Effective New Year’s Day, Missouri’s new minimum wage is $13.75 cents per hour. In 2026, it will rise to $15 an hour, and then raise each year based on the Consumer Price Index.
Lake of the Ozarks business owner and Republican Rep. Jeff Vernetti introduced the “Entrepreneur Rights Act.” This bill, heard in committee this week, would exempt businesses with less than 50 employees or are open less than 26 weeks a year from the in Prop A. Vernetti has the of business groups such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber filed a lawsuit in the Missouri Supreme Court to strike down Prop A. The Chamber was ed by the Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Forest Products Association, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in filing the petition.
Since Prop A deals with minimum wage and paid sick leave, the lawsuit claims it violates the single-subject rule, which says Missouri laws should only cover one subject. The lawsuit is awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court, but the new minimum wage is going into effect in the meantime.
“When we start chipping away at that, it’s really going to put a lot of people out of business, or it’s going to again, create additional prices,” Vernetti said.
Alejandra Gallardo ed the dozens gathered in Missouri’s capitol, angry at lawmakers who are considering bills that would overturn Proposition A. Gallardo makes minimum wage at a restaurant in Columbia, Missouri. He said he often has to choose between his health and making rent because he can’t miss a day of work.
“I have never had paid sick leave that entire time,” Gallardo said. “I have never made $15 an hour. Most of the people I work with don’t have any benefits either. That all changed because of Prop A.”
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