AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature Tuesday night gave final approval to a bill to increase Maine’s minimum wage by 50 cents.

State Sen. Ethan Strimling, D-Portland, said that the amended version of the bill he proposed would increase the minimum wage from its current rate of $7 to $7.50 over a two-year period.

An estimated 26,000 workers in Maine are earning the minimum wage in Maine right now, Strimling said. He said women comprise 63 percent of those earning at or below the minimum wage, and three-quarters of those earning the minimum wage are over the age of 19.

The bill now goes to Gov. John Baldacci for consideration.