more specifically, what law was signed into effect that changed it so that employers didnt have to pay their tipped employees anymore?
It was the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 that got a minimum wage in the first place. Title 29, C.F.R. ยง 531.5 is the specific portion that states what you are asking, and that was put in on September 28th, 1967, if I am understanding this source correctly.