Labor & Employment (Minimum Wage)

LB 678 allocates specific funds from Nebraska's General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to cover mandated costs for Nebraska State Colleges employees. It directly affects employees covered by the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, the State College Education Association, and the Nebraska State College System Professional Association. The bill provides funding for required salary increases from union agreements, minimum wage adjustments under the Wage and Hour Act, and rising health insurance premiums. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, ensuring colleges can meet existing financial obligations.

LB 699 amends Nebraska's ImagiNE Act to adjust eligibility requirements for sales and use tax incentives. It sets three investment thresholds for businesses: $5 million with 30 new hires, $250 million with 250 new hires, or $50 million with no specific hire requirement. To qualify, businesses must pay wages at least 150% of Nebraska's statewide average hourly wage and offer health insurance coverage to full-time employees. The bill provides tax refunds on qualifying property purchases and exemptions from future sales/use taxes during the program period, subject to these new conditions. It directly affects businesses seeking to expand in Nebraska under the ImagiNE program.

LB 75 amends Nebraska's Wage and Hour Act to strengthen protections for tipped employees, such as servers and hotel staff. It requires employers to ensure that an employee's total pay (base wage plus tips) meets or exceeds the state's minimum wage, shifting the burden of proof to employers to verify compliance. The bill mandates employers to maintain detailed records of tipped workers' pay, hours, and tips for three years and establishes clearer complaint procedures with liquidated damages for violations. These changes directly affect businesses in hospitality and service industries employing tipped workers across Nebraska.

LB 578 requires city and county jails and Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to pay incarcerated individuals the state minimum wage for work performed in correctional facilities. It mandates that administrators establish bank accounts for inmates to receive their wages, replaces outdated wage distribution rules, and ensures inmate labor complies with federal workplace safety standards. The bill also clarifies that inmates' wages cannot displace existing workers or violate local pay standards for similar work. These changes apply to all inmates working in jails or state correctional facilities, directly affecting their compensation and financial management.