Nebraska Legislature rejects change to citizen-backed minimum wage law

Senator Conrad, speaking on the floor during final reading, asked colleagues to recommit LB258 and argued against the bill's changes to the citizen initiative on minimum wage. "I rise in continued opposition to LB258," Senator Conrad said, urging senators to preserve the law adopted by citizen vote and cautioning that the bill would artificially restrain working families' ability to earn a decent wage.

The measure, introduced on final as a statutory amendment to the Wage and Hour Act and read into the record by the clerk, would have altered portions of section 48-1203 and related statute language that set scheduled minimum-wage increases and training rates. Supporters said the changes were intended to refine rates and carve out exceptions for younger workers; opponents said the measure would undo part of voter-approved increases that took effect after the 2014 and 2022 citizen initiatives.

Senator Conrad framed the argument in economic and social terms, saying higher minimum wages reduce reliance on public assistance and help working families pay for basic needs. "When we make work pay, it saves the state money," Conrad said. He cited recent Nebraska unemployment trends and voter outcomes in 2014 and 2022 to argue the citizen initiative had not produced the negative economic outcomes opponents forecast. Other senators debated statutory details, procedural thresholds and the standard for amending laws enacted by initiative.

Because the bill sought to amend law enacted by initiative, the clerk reminded the body that Article III, Section 2 of the Nebraska Constitution requires a two-thirds vote for final passage. The roll call on final passage produced 31 ayes and 16 nays; the clerk declared that LB258 did not pass. The measure therefore failed to change the minimum-wage schedule contained in the existing statute.