Minimum wage increase, protections for orcas among new laws taking effect in 2021 (File, Associated Press) With 2021 now upon us, a handful of new laws either already have or will soon take effect in the months to come. Minimum wage set to rise Beginning on Jan, 1., Washington’s minimum wage increased by 19 cents, now sitting at $13.69. That increase also saw Seattle’s minimum wage increase to $16.69 hour, while SeaTac’s raised to $16.57. Meanwhile, companies like Uber are warning that rides could be 25% more expensive to account for a separate new wage law passed by Seattle City Council in 2020. The law passed at the city level guarantees minimum wage for rideshare drivers, starting at the $16.69 baseline and paying out at $0.56 per minute and $1.33 per mile driven while transporting passengers.