Employment & Worker Protection · Texas
Texas Minimum Wage Act
Texas Lab. Code 62.051 - enacted in Texas.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2009
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 69/100
- Texas strictness
The bottom line
Texas Minimum Wage Act is an enacted law in Texas, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2009-07-24
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 69/100
- Texas strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Texas legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Texas Minimum Wage Act
Texas Minimum Wage Act (Texas Lab. Code 62.051) is an enacted law in Texas under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2009-07-24 and becomes effective on 2009-07-24. Texas currently reports 5 tracked regulations with 5 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 69/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Texas within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in Texas Lab. Code 62.051 itself.
Applicability under Texas Minimum Wage Act: All Texas employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Texas Workforce Commission enforcement. Notable exemptions: Domestic service, agriculture, outside salespeople..
Summary
Texas minimum wage equals federal: $7.25/hr. State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances.
Key Requirements
$7.25/hr. Tipped: $2.13/hr + tips. Preemption: no local ordinances permitted.
Penalties
Texas Workforce Commission enforcement.
Applicability
All Texas employers.
Exemptions
Domestic service, agriculture, outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/texas-minimum-wage-lawHow Texas compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Texas ranks #3 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas (this state) | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Texas is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Texas Minimum Wage Act enacted?
Texas Minimum Wage Act was enacted on 2009-07-24 and became effective on 2009-07-24. It was introduced as Texas Lab. Code 62.051.
What are the penalties for violating Texas Minimum Wage Act?
Texas Workforce Commission enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Texas Minimum Wage Act apply to small businesses?
All Texas employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Texas compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Texas has a regulatory strictness score of 69/100, based on 5 enacted regulations out of 5 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Texas Minimum Wage Act?
The official text of Texas Minimum Wage Act (Texas Lab. Code 62.051) is available from the Texas legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Texas Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Texas Minimum Wage Act is enacted in Texas, effective 2009-07-24. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Texas ranks #3 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Texas tracks across all five policy areas. Texas profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Texas source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.