Minimum wage; establish at $10.00 and set requirements for exemptions and overtime.

HB 266 establishes Mississippi’s minimum wage at $10.00 per hour for most workers, with a separate $3.62 base wage for tipped employees (who must earn at least $10.00 total when tips are added). It requires overtime pay at 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 per week, specifically protecting manual laborers, first responders (like police and firefighters), and other workers who earn $455 or less weekly from being exempt. The bill directly affects all Mississippi employers and employees, ensuring baseline pay and overtime rights while exempting tipped employees from the $10.00 hourly requirement. It also aligns with federal Fair Labor Standards Act provisions for non-exempt workers.