RICHMOND, Va – The Virginia Senate has passed a bill that raises Virginia’s Minimum Wage from 12 dollars an hour to 13-50 an hour beginning on January 1st.

Hampton Senator Mamie Locke challenged colleges on the floor Tuesday afternoon to live for a week on $12 an hour.

Opponents of the measure argued that the hardship of the bill would be exponential.

The minimum wage would also increase to $15 an hour on January 1st, 2026.

The measure passed on a party line 21-19 vote and now goes to the House of Delegates.