LB 258 Minimum Wage Bill Resurrected: Final Debate Tomorrow Morning, Thursday, February 5 at 9 am

LB 258 is scheduled for final debate tomorrow morning, Thursday, February 5, at 9 am. Voices for Children opposes this bill as it would create a carve-out for a subminimum wage for young workers and place a cap on future voter-approved cost-of-living increases for all minimum wage earners.

Last year, LB258 did not have enough votes during the final reading to advance. Senator Strommen has prioritized it this year, giving it another chance on final reading. Debate will last two hours, so the time to contact your senator is now.

Between when the bill was debated last year and today, the minimum wage in Nebraska has increased to $15 for all Nebraska workers.

This timing means that if LB 258 passes, youth workers currently receiving the standard minimum wage would see their pay decrease from $15 an hour to $13.50 an hour. Young people would also not see another minimum wage increase until 2030. Across Nebraska, the earnings of all workers making minimum wage would also be capped at 1.75%, versus voter-approved increases based on the cost of living.

Minimum wage for young people matters, for interconnected economic and social reasons. The effects ripple far beyond a single paycheck, shaping long‑term opportunity, stability, and mobility. Young people often work low‑wage jobs in retail, food service, and hospitality: sectors with historically low pay. A higher minimum wage helps them cover basic living costs, especially as housing, transportation, and education expenses rise faster than wages.

Young workers are disproportionately represented in low-income households. Young people help their families pay for food, housing, and basic needs. Voices for Children opposes LB 258, because lower earning power will not help address youth poverty, which is strongly linked to lower educational attainment, poorer health outcomes, and limited upward mobility.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Call your Nebraska State Senator immediately and let them know you oppose LB 258.  Senators especially need to hear:

• You are a voter in their district who supports raising the minimum wage
• If you voted for the Raise the Wage ballot initiative in 2022, you knew what you were voting for and were not confused about the details
• You want the minimum wage tied to the real cost of living in Nebraska
• Young workers should not receive less than others for their time and effort — some teenagers are working to support their own child, and shouldn’t be arbitrarily penalized for their age when working to make ends meet
• An affordability crisis is not the moment to lower minimum wage and limit future increases!

FINDING YOUR SENATOR:

Click here to find your legislative district using your address. Once you know your legislative district, you can find your senator by clicking here.

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION:

• Identify Yourself: Clearly state your name and that you are a constituent from their district.
• Be Concise: Clearly state your concerns about changes to the minimum wage. You can share your personal story and/or share what concerns you have for the young people in your life and community. Feel free to use the talking points above.
• Request a Response: Ask your representative for their position on the issue and the actions they plan to take.