Following a contentious run, Washington will keep an amended Initiative 82, meant to appease both restaurant owners and tipped employees.

Last week, the D.C. Council voted for a “compromised” version of the controversial I-82, which raises the minimum wage for tipped workers in D.C. The new version of I-82 is an attempt by the Council to increase tipped wages at a reasonable rate that can allow smaller, independent restaurants to keep up.

The first implementation of the initiative had the tipped minimum wage rising to $6 in May 2023, $8 in July 2023, and then $10 in July 2024. Another $2 increase was scheduled for this past July, but on June 3, the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation to pause the increase.

The way that I-82 is now structured will keep the tipped minimum wage at $1

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