On Thursday, Feb. 18, the Labor Committee of the Maine legislature will hold hearings on a proposed law to tie the state’s minimum wage into the cost-of-living index. The Maine minimum wage currently rests at $7.50 an hour, 25 cents higher than the federal rate.

The indexing law was introduced in 2009 by Representative John Tuttle, D.-Sanford, who is also chair of the House Labor Committee.

Several states have similar laws on the books, but few foresaw a deflationary environment, so when consumer prices dropped in 2009, most states just left their minimum wages intact rather than decreasing them. Colorado, however, actually lowered its state minimum wage by four cents to $7.24 an hour, below the federal rate of $7.25.

Minimum wage rates must be posted in a conspicuous location in every place of work. A convenient way to maintain your minimum wage posters–and all other necessary labor posters–up to date is by taking a one-year update subscription when acquiring your Personnel Concepts Space Saver-1 All-On-One State and Federal Labor Law Poster. As changes happen, Personnel Concepts will then automatically mail you the updates.