Workers and advocates who urged Gov. Ralph Northam to sign a bill that would have raised the minimum wage at the start of next year were disappointed when instead a delay was proposed until May 2021. Democrats in the General Assembly passed HB395 and SB7 to increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2023, beginning with a raise to $9.50 on Jan. 1, 2021. Northam caved to pressure from wealthy corporate lobbyists and amended HB395 to delay the first minimum wage increase for 5 months, until May 1, 2021, noted advocates from Progress Virginia.