The state House is moving to send a measure to the November ballot to require statewide standards for minimum wage. If passed by the Legislature, it will be required to be sent to the ballot as it would amend the state's constitution.
This would take away the power of cities to have their own pay requirements. The measure also goes so far to include paid leaves, meal breaks and rest periods to be set by the state.
Rep. Jeff Weninger, who partly owns sandwich shops, says businesses are currently at a disadvantage.
"There's just not enough employees. And now you just layer regulation after regulation. You have to give them a schedule three weeks ahead of time and these different things. It's just impossible," Weninger said.
The measure, which needs to be approved by the full House, would override a 2016 bill that did allow cities to set their own wages. It was approved by nearly 58% of voters.
