Senate: Hike Minimum Wage, Decriminalize Pot, Develop School Lands

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Bills to decriminalize marijuana, increase the minimum wage and develop school lands sailed through the Senate today.

Lawmakers left the $1,000 fine for small amounts of pot, saying the House can work on that aspect.

The minimum wage would increase from $7.25 to $9.25 by 2016 under a bill the Senate approved. 

And a proposal to develop school lands to help fund new educational facilities and repair existing ones passed despite concerns stemming from the PLDC.

Sen. Jill Tokuda called the school lands bill a “prudent, cautious approach.”

— Nathan Eagle

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