Attorney General Mike Hilgers suing City of Omaha for requiring employers to pay youth $15 per hour

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced he is suing the City of Omaha due to alleged unconstitutional minimum wage ordinance.

This year, the Nebraska Legislature amended the State’s Wage and Hour Act. The growth rate for the minimum wage was set to allow employers to pay youth employees a distinct minimum wage.

The Legislature said the minimum-wage growth rate “shall” be 1.75% and the City’s ordinance would modify that statute to say “shall not”, according to Hilgers.

Hilgers said the City of Omaha is requiring employers to pay youth employees $15 per hour instead of what the Legislature says, which is $13.50.

“Our Constitution does not permit the City of Omaha to repeal any portion of a statewide law passed by the Legislature. A court already has enjoined the City of Lincoln from modifying this same state law, and it is unfortunate that we are forced to sue Omaha on a materially similar ordinance,” said Hilgers.