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

HB 543 establishes Mississippi's minimum wage at $10.00 per hour for most workers, including manual laborers and service employees. Tipped employees who regularly earn over $30 monthly in tips must receive at least $3.62 per hour, while employers must pay overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for employees earning $455 or less weekly. The bill explicitly prohibits exempting manual laborers, police, firefighters, emergency responders, and similar workers from overtime requirements, ensuring these groups receive overtime pay regardless of salary. Employees not covered by these rules remain subject to federal minimum wage and overtime standards.