On Thursday, February 5^th, the Legislature passed LB 258, a bill that will cap the minimum wage increase at 1.75% and establish a youth wage for 14 and 15-year-olds and a 90-day training wage for 16-to 19-year-olds (unless they are emancipated). This will also lower their minimum wage to $13.50 per hour.

This is a win for Nebraska small businesses! The cap will provide businesses with much-needed certainty and help control inflationary effects by avoiding huge annual swings.

This bill was in response to Initiative 433 that was passed in the 2022 election. It increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour on January 1, 2026.

Federal and state regulations restrict what young workers can do and when they can work. A youth and training wage would minimize training costs being passed onto consumers or, in the case of childcare, families.