Each year as July rolls around, and with it the start of state and municipal fiscal years, we also see many minimum wage hikes taking effect. In the interest of keeping our readers informed of these changes, we believe that the following minimum wages increases take effect Sunday: Washington DC from $12.50 to $13.25; Chicago Illinois increases from $11 to $12 and in Cook County but outside Chicago, the wage goes from $10 to $11; the wage in Portland Maine increases from $10.68 to $10.90; the wage in Maryland goes from $9.25 to $10.10, while the local multi-tiered minimum in Minneapolis also increases. For employers with 100 or fewer workers, the wage goes from $7.87 to $10.25 and for those with 101 or more employees the current $10 minimum increases to $11.25. The Nevada minimum increases by the 2017 CPI effective July 1 and in Oregon, their three-tiered system for standard, urban and non-urban increases to $10.75, $12.00 and $10.50 respectively. As you would expect, California is the most confusing and expansive with many of its towns and cities having separate minimums.  In the city of Los Angeles, employers with 25 or fewer employees see the minimum rise from $10.50 to $12.00 while those with more than 25 workers will have the minimum wage increase from the current $12 to $13.25 per hour. We believe these amounts to all be correct, but would encourage our readers to check with counsel to ensure they are in compliance. Unrelated to minimum wage, the Rhode Island sick leave law (The Healthy and Safe Families and Workplace Act) also takes effect on Sunday in the Ocean State. Under its provisions, employers with 18 or more employees will be required to allow all employees to accrue and use paid leave up to 24 hours in 2018. Employees will accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 35 hours worked. And, remember that the new Massachusetts pay equity provisions take effect on July 1 as well!