Back to Blog

Apr 22, 2026 Legislature & Policy

Minimum Wage Ballot Petition Cleared for Signature Collection

The Texas Secretary of State approved a ballot initiative petition that would allow voters to raise the state minimum wage to $15 per hour, overriding the current $7.25 federal floor.

Minimum Wage Ballot Petition Cleared for Signature Collection

Organizers of the Raise the Wage Texas campaign received approval from the Secretary of State's office to begin collecting the 177,161 valid signatures needed to place a constitutional amendment before voters in November 2026.

Legal Hurdles

Texas does not allow citizens' initiatives under its constitution; the campaign is structured as a petition to the Legislature to place the question on the ballot under Article XVII. Legal experts are divided on whether the mechanism will survive a court challenge from business groups.