Small Businesses Urge Legislators to Support Youth & Training Wage Bill

January 30, 2023

LB 15 softens the blow of minimum wage hike, creates more opportunities for young Nebraskans and those just entering the workforce

Small Businesses Urge Legislators to Support Youth & Training Wage Bill

LINCOLN (Jan. 30, 2023) – Small business owners are urging lawmakers to support LB 15, a bill to establish a youth and training wage across the state of Nebraska. This comes after voters passed Nebraska Initiative 433 in November, a mandate hiking the minimum wage. The initiative disproportionately hurts small and independent businesses, which make up 99 percent of the employers in Nebraska. Ahead of his testimony before the Business and Labor Committee, NFIB State Director Bob Hallstrom issued the following statement: “On top of a worker shortage, supply chain disruptions, and a looming recession, Main Street continues to battle skyrocketing inflation. One-size-fits-none mandates that escalate the cost of doing business only exacerbate the challenges our mom-and-pop shops face. By giving small businesses greater flexibility, this bill will create more opportunities for young Nebraskans and those just entering the workforce.” Background: Nebraska Initiative 433 passed on the November 8th ballot. The initiative increases the current minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026 and hikes the mandate according to the Midwest CPI every year after that. Small businesses disproportionately bear the burden of this mandate. LB 15, introduced by State Senator Tom Briese (Albion), would establish a youth and training wage across the state, softening the blow of Nebraska Initiative 433.

Topics:

Labor

State:

Nebraska

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