Missouri voters could be asked next year to raise the state's minimum wage to $8.25.
The secretary of state's office on Tuesday approved the summaries on two initiative petitions, meaning proponents can begin collecting signatures to get the measures on the 2012 ballot.
Missouri's minimum wage currently matches the federal requirement of $7.25 an hour.
The ballot measure would increase it by $1 starting in 2013 and allow it to continue rising with inflation. It also would require that workers who earn tips be paid at least 60 percent of the minimum wage instead of the current 50 percent.
Missouri voters in 2006 approved a ballot measure increasing the state's minimum wage.
According to the US Department of Labor, as of June 2011:
- 22 other states also matched the federal requirement
- 18 states had a higher wage
- 4 had a lower wage
- 5 states had no minimum wage requirement
