Omaha council hears hours of testimony on restoring $15 minimum wage, delays vote to July 14

The Omaha City Council held a marathon public hearing on an ordinance to restore a $15 minimum wage for all workers in the city and to preserve annual cost-of-living adjustments, taking testimony from youth activists, labor groups, nonprofits and state officials before voting to delay a final vote until July 14.

Proponents said the ordinance would restore the intent of 2022’s Initiative 433 after the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 258, which supporters say created a subminimum wage for 14- and 15-year-olds and capped annual increases at 1.75 percent. “If young people are doing the same work, they deserve to be paid fairly for that work,” said Owen Fusel of New Voices, who urged the council to honor the ballot measure and the contributions of young workers.

Youth speakers and advocates described students and young workers using wages to cover transportation, school costs and family needs. Joseph Prim, who said he is 16 and works two jobs, told the council he expects to be treated the same as older coworkers: “I don’t think there’s any reason to give lower wages to someone based solely on their age,” he said.

Labor and civic groups including Nebraska Appleseed, AFSCME Local 251, the ACLU of Nebraska and the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha spoke in support. Testimony cited voter turnout and county-level support for the 2022 initiative and warned that capping automatic adjustments risks eroding purchasing power as consumer prices rise.

Opponents and several council members raised questions about economic effects and legal authority. Andrew Sullivan said reduced hiring opportunities for teenagers could follow tighter wage floors for employers. State Senator Kristi Armendariz, who represented her votes in the recent legislature, told the council that mandated wage increases can prompt employers to reduce staff or adopt automation and that certain public employers are exempt under state law.

Council members also questioned implementation logistics if the city moved forward: how tipped wages would be reconciled, how training and apprenticeship exceptions would be verified, and how the Human Rights and Relations Department would staff outreach and enforcement. Caitlin De Leo, director of the department, said the office expects initial outreach and a single additional staff position (estimated roughly $36,000–$50,000 pro-rated in the current year, and about $110,000–$135,000 ongoing, depending on staffing level) to administer education and enforcement.

Council member Danny Begley, who introduced the ordinance, framed the measure as honoring the will of Omaha voters and shared personal recollections of youthful entry-level work to underline his point that younger workers perform the same tasks as older colleagues. After extended public testimony and council discussion, Council member Festersen moved to lay the item over and set a vote for July 14; the motion passed 7–0.

Next steps: the council will return to formal consideration and a possible vote on July 14, 2026. Between now and then, members said they will continue legal review, refine implementing rules and consider public outreach and enforcement logistics.