A minimum wage of $25 an hour in Maryland could be put to a vote in 2026 – WMAR 2 News Baltimore

Report on Proposed $25 Minimum Wage Initiative in Maryland and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Executive Summary

• An initiative led by the organization One Fair Wage is underway to place a proposal for a $25 per hour minimum wage on Maryland’s 2026 election ballot.
• The proposal, which includes no exceptions for different types of workers, aims to address the rising cost of living and promote economic justice, directly engaging with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• If enacted, Maryland would have the highest state-level minimum wage in the United States.
• The initiative faces significant opposition from the business community and Republican lawmakers, who cite potential negative impacts on the state’s economic stability and job market.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (Proponent Arguments)

Supporters of the initiative argue that raising the minimum wage is a critical step toward achieving key SDG targets related to poverty, equality, and decent work.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Proponents, including the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, assert that the current $15 minimum wage is insufficient to meet basic living standards, effectively trapping workers in poverty. A $25 wage is presented as a direct mechanism to provide a living wage, lift families out of poverty, and reduce the significant income inequality prevalent in the state.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The initiative is framed as a fundamental measure to ensure “decent work” for all Marylanders. Advocates believe that a higher wage floor improves job quality, worker dignity, and can stimulate local economic growth by increasing the purchasing power of low-wage earners.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG 5 (Gender Equality): A living wage is intrinsically linked to improved health outcomes by reducing financial stress and enhancing access to nutritious food, stable housing, and healthcare. Furthermore, as women are disproportionately represented in low-wage sectors, the measure is viewed as a vital tool for advancing gender economic equality.

Economic Concerns and Counterarguments

Opposition to the proposal centers on its potential to hinder economic progress, a core component of SDG 8, and create an unsustainable business environment.

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Opponents, including the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, express concern that the proposal could negatively impact the “economic growth” aspect of SDG 8. They argue that a mandated $25 wage would make it significantly harder for businesses to create and retain jobs, potentially leading to job losses and economic stagnation.
• Economic Competitiveness: Delegate Kathy Szeliga described the plan as potentially “disastrous,” warning that it would make Maryland an outlier compared to neighboring states and could drive businesses and investment elsewhere.
• Business Viability: The business community contends that such a sharp increase would place an unsustainable financial burden on employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, which are crucial for local economies.

Political Context and Voter Engagement

The turn toward a ballot initiative follows previous unsuccessful legislative efforts and highlights a strategy focused on direct democratic participation.

1. Legislative History: Multiple prior efforts to increase Maryland’s minimum wage beyond $15 per hour have failed in the state legislature in Annapolis. This includes a proposal by Governor Moore to tie the wage to inflation and a previous attempt by One Fair Wage to raise it to $20.
2. Ballot Initiative Strategy: By pursuing a ballot initiative, proponents are seeking to bypass the legislative process and appeal directly to the electorate for a decision on wage policy.
3. Voter Mobilization: One Fair Wage reports that the initiative has strong support among potential voters, particularly those who do not typically participate in elections. The organization claims that placing the $25 wage on the ballot would motivate “unlikely low propensity voters” to turn out in 2026, which aligns with the principles of fostering inclusive societies for sustainable development as outlined in SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article directly connects to SDG 1 by focusing on the inadequacy of the current minimum wage for affording a basic standard of living. The central argument for raising the wage to $25 is that the current “$15 isn’t close to enough for even a single worker… to afford a basic living standard in Maryland.” This highlights the issue of in-work poverty, where individuals are employed but their earnings are insufficient to escape poverty.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This goal is central to the article’s debate. The push for a $25 minimum wage is an effort to ensure “decent work” by providing fair remuneration. Conversely, the opposition from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, which fears the measure would make it “harder” to “create and keep jobs,” speaks to the economic growth aspect of this SDG. The entire discussion revolves around the balance between fair wages for workers and a sustainable economic environment for businesses.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  Minimum wage policies are a direct tool for addressing income inequality. By raising the wage floor, the proposed initiative aims to lift the incomes of the lowest-paid workers, thereby reducing the gap between the lowest and highest earners in the state. The article implies this by contrasting the proposed $25 wage with the current $15, a significant increase intended to improve the financial situation of those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.2: Reduce poverty in all its dimensions

  By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The article’s core argument that the current $15 minimum wage is insufficient for a “basic living standard” directly relates to this target. The proposed wage increase is a policy measure aimed at lifting low-wage workers out of poverty as defined by national or state living standards.

• Target 8.5: Full and productive employment and decent work for all

  By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. The initiative for a $25 minimum wage is a clear attempt to achieve the “decent work” component of this target by ensuring workers receive a living wage. The debate presented in the article is fundamentally about what constitutes a fair and decent wage for labor in Maryland.

• Target 10.1: Reduce income inequalities

  By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average. Raising the minimum wage directly impacts the income of the lowest earners, who are part of the bottom 40 percent of the population. The proposal to increase the wage from $15 to $25 is a direct effort to accelerate the income growth of this demographic, which is the primary goal of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 1.2: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line (Indicator 1.2.1)

  While the article does not state a specific poverty line, the concept is strongly implied through the phrase “afford a basic living standard.” The argument is that the current $15 wage leaves workers below this standard. Progress could be measured by tracking the percentage of minimum wage earners whose income rises above the officially defined poverty or living wage threshold if the initiative passes.

• Mentioned Indicator for Target 8.5: Average hourly earnings (Part of Indicator 8.5.1)

  The article explicitly mentions several figures for hourly earnings: Maryland’s current minimum wage ($15), Washington D.C.’s minimum wage ($17.95), and the proposed new minimum wage ($25). These figures are direct measures of hourly earnings for the lowest-paid workers. An increase in the statutory minimum wage would directly and measurably increase the average hourly earnings for this group, serving as a clear indicator of progress toward providing decent pay.

• Implied Indicator for Target 10.1: Growth rates of income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population (Indicator 10.1.1)

  The article’s focus on a substantial wage increase from $15 to $25 directly implies a focus on the income growth of the lowest earners. While the article doesn’t provide data on growth rates, the proposed policy is designed to cause a significant, one-time spike in the income of this group. The success of the policy in relation to this target would be measured by comparing the income growth rate of minimum wage earners to that of the general population.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wmar2news.com