Tucson’s minimum wage is increasing 85 cents to $13 on April 1, en route to a $15 minimum in 2025, after voters approved a change last November.

Johanna Hernandez is the deputy director of Business Services for the city of Tucson. She says the city is working to inform businesses of upcoming changes, which are more than just increased wages.

“Right now, we’re focusing on educating employers about their responsibilities and obligations in relation to Proposition 206. Part of that is the increase of the minimum wage. There are also other components that we want to make sure employers understand,” said Hernandez.

She says the minimum wage portion of the changes is straightforward, but her department has been receiving questions about other changes.

“We’ve just gotten questions more about the other components of the preposition that employers felt may be a little bit broad, the language in the proposition, because the proposition is really focused on the rights of employees,” said Hernandez.

Changes include a $3 cap on tip credit, meaning tipped employees cannot be paid less than $10 per hour starting next month.

Hernandez says the law also requires an employee to be paid for a minimum of three hours if an employer sends them home earlier than scheduled.

The definition of “work hours,” has also changed, allowing employees to be paid for required security screenings, and other activities taking place on employer premises.

The statewide minimum wage increased to $12.80 at the start of 2022, with future changes dependent upon inflation increases in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index.