AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature’s labor committee is considering two bills that would raise the state’s minimum hourly wage.

One bill calls for raising the minimum wage each year at the rate of inflation. The other bill would raise the minimum wage to $7.75 an hour on Oct. 1, and to $8 an hour on Oct. 1, 2012.

Public hearings are being held Friday.

Maine’s minimum wage is now $7.50 an hour, which is 25 cents an hour higher than the federal minimum wage.