FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           Contact: Deena Keilany

Senator Megan Hunt Introduces Bill to Raise the Tipped Minimum Wage in Nebraska

Lincoln, NE— 1.17.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB400, a

bill to increase the “tip wage” for Nebraskan workers for the first

time in 28 years, to 50% of the state minimum wage. The new wage would

take effect on January 1, 2020, and would initially increase the wage

to $3.60 per hour, and then to $4.50 per hour on January 1, 2021.

“Nebraska’s ‘tip wage’ ranks significantly behind our neighboring

states and leads many Nebraskans to seek employment and opportunities

in other states,” Hunt said.  “Colorado, Iowa and South Dakota all

have a higher ‘tip wage’ than Nebraska. But the ‘tip wage’ in the

Cornhusker State has been $2.13 an hour since 1991 – even as inflation

continues to rise.”

“Even with great customer service, tips aren’t always guaranteed,”

Hunt said. “Nebraska has raised its minimum wage seven times since

1991, but the wage for tipped workers hasn’t budged. After 28 years,

it’s time to give our tipped workers in Nebraska a raise. Passing this

bill will prevent brain drain and bring more dignity to the lives of

our tipped workers and their families.”

LB400 was introduced with bipartisan support.  Cosponsors include

Senators Blood (LD 3), Bolz (LD 29), Cavanaugh (LD 6), Chambers (LD

11), Crawford (LD 45), DeBoer (LD 10), Hansen (LD 26), Howard (LD 9),

Kolowski (LD 31), Lathrop (LD 12), McCollister (LD 20), McDonnell (LD

5), Pansing Brooks (LD 28), Quick (LD 25), Walz (LD 15), and Wishart

(LD 27). 

###

For more information, please contact Deena Keilany at (402) 471-2722 or dkeilany@leg.ne.gov.