Lawsuit aims to declare Nevada minimum wage unconstitutional

Several Nevada businesses are asking a federal judge to declare the state’s minimum wage law unconstitutional.

The businesses, which include Landry’s Inc. and Dotty’s Gaming and Spirits, filed a federal lawsuit Friday in Las Vegas against Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and the state’s labor commissioner, Shannon Chambers.

According to a recent fact sheet prepared by a Legislative Counsel Bureau researcher, an amendment to the Nevada Constitution to raise the minimum wage paid to employees was approved by voters in 2004 and was reaffirmed in 2006. The 2006 voter-approved amendment requires the minimum wage to be recalculated each year.

Effective July 1, 2014, according to the fact sheet, Nevada’s minimum wage for employees who received qualified health benefits from their employers is $7.25 an hour, and the minimum wage for employees who do not receive health benefits is $8.25 an hour.

The recent lawsuit targets the 2006 amendment and seeks an injunction to bar enforcement of its regulations.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Find her on Twitter: @CarriGeer