This bill amends the Wage and Hour Act in Nebraska, specifically sections 48-1203 and 48-1203.01, to update provisions regarding minimum wage, training wage, and introduce a youth minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase incrementally, starting at $15 per hour in 2026, with annual adjustments of one and three-quarters percent thereafter. Additionally, a new youth minimum wage of $13.50 per hour is established for employees aged 14 to 15, with scheduled increases every five years starting in 2030. The training wage for new employees aged 16 to 19 is set at $13.50 per hour, with similar annual increases beginning in 2027.

The bill also includes provisions to ensure that employers cannot reduce the hours of existing employees or lay them off to replace them with new employees receiving the training wage. The training wage can be paid for a maximum of 180 days, contingent upon the new employee participating in an approved on-the-job training program. The original sections of the law are repealed to accommodate these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48-1203, 48-1203.01
Final Reading: 48-1203, 48-1203.01
Slip Law: 48-1203, 48-1203.01