Hey Neighbor,
My first job as a teenager was waitressing at Tharp’s Restaurant in Rising Sun. I made $2 an hour plus tips. I still remember walking in for that first shift, nervous and grateful Mr. Tharp gave a teenager with no experience a chance.
There is a major wage proposal moving through Annapolis that could appear on the 2026 ballot. SB 886 and HB 1229 would eliminate Maryland’s tipped wage system and raise the state minimum wage to $25 per hour by 2030. It would also place this policy directly into the Maryland Constitution.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate on March 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Here is what that means.
Today, restaurants can count a portion of tips toward minimum wage requirements. Under this proposal, that system would be phased out. Employers would eventually have to pay the full minimum wage directly, with tips on top.
It is worth saying clearly: many tipped workers experience income swings and uncertainty. Stability matters. Dignity in work matters. That frustration is real and should not be dismissed.
And, I think about what that first opportunity meant for me. If a similar law had been in place then, it may have been much harder for a teenager with no experience to get that first chance.
Our economy looks different than larger urban counties. We have family-owned restaurants, diners, and seasonal establishments operating on narrow margins. Rapid wage increases and the elimination of the tip credit could mean:
• Higher menu prices
• Reduced hiring of teenagers
• Fewer first-job opportunities
• Reduced hours or leaner staffing
• Greater strain on small businesses
When wage floors rise rapidly, wage compression happens. Supervisors and skilled workers expect increases as well, compounding payroll costs. What begins as one mandated increase often ripples across an entire pay scale.
This proposal also embeds wage policy into the Maryland Constitution, limiting future flexibility if economic conditions change. The fiscal note projects significant cost increases for state and local governments, not just private employers.
That raises important questions:
Is a one-size-fits-all constitutional mandate the best way to address wage stability across very different local economies?
Or should wage policy remain adaptable, allowing legislators to respond to changing economic conditions and regional differences?
We can care about workers and also consider long-term effects on small businesses and entry-level opportunities. Those goals do not have to be in conflict. We can strengthen enforcement against wage abuse, improve transparency, and encourage fair practices without locking economic policy into constitutional law.
Policy decisions made in Annapolis do not stay in Annapolis. They show up in menu prices, hiring decisions, and the vitality of Main Street businesses across Cecil County.
If District 35B chooses me as its representative on June 23rd, I will always evaluate policy by asking: Does this strengthen opportunity in Cecil County, or does it make that first step harder for families, small businesses, and the next generation?
I welcome your thoughts at [email protected].
Together for Cecil County,
Erica Berge