Meet the Nebraska state senators

Former state Sen. Merton "Cap" Dierks, who died Friday from complications following a stroke, was "a gentleman, sincere and honest in every relationship." 

“It’s fascinating to see the death threats, rape threats & sexually explicit comments sent by self-proclaimed ‘feminists’ to me, a female state senator, because I introduced a #prolife Heartbeat Bill," state Sen. Julie Slama said.

Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill that would continue an income tax credit program at a level high enough to offset about a quarter of school property taxes. 

The resolution passed on a 32-11 vote after supporters got enough votes to end a last-minute filibuster. The measure now heads to Congress and to the leaders of all other state legislatures. 

Tensions flared during debate Monday, both around broader justice reform efforts and around what some saw as political grandstanding.

Children with disabilities severe enough to qualify them for institutions could get help to stay at home under a bill advanced by legislators Tuesday.

One provider said hiring enough staff to care for the developmentally disabled will take more money. “I don’t know if there’s enough duct tape and baling wire in the world to hold this thing together and keep it from flying apart.”

The bill would create a map of broadband services across Nebraska that the state could use when awarding grants for projects intended to improve internet service.

The bill was put on hold in the face of stiff opposition from senators who argued it would disproportionately benefit large schools and amount to a property tax increase for rural property owners.

The measure would increase the amount of property exempt from inheritance taxes, reduce some inheritance tax rates and eliminate the tax for heirs 21 or younger.

State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln introduced the bill, saying his goal is to let county leaders set wages that make sense for the local economy and local cost of living. 

Introduced by Sen. Mike Flood, LB1050 would prohibit the state’s public postsecondary schools from denying money to student organizations "based on their viewpoints, beliefs and missions.”

Based on comments from two meeting participants, it is unclear if a discussion on Gov. Pete Ricketts' proposed canal and reservoir system needed to take place behind closed doors.

Sen. Megan Hunt flagged potential areas of criminal wrongdoing by Sen. Mike Groene based on media reports of the allegations. She urged the officials to investigate the matter promptly and thoroughly.

Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte resigned following allegations that he took inappropriate photos of a former female staff member. Gov. Pete Ricketts will appoint his replacement.

Three bills that would heavily restrict or ban abortions in Nebraska failed to advance to the full Legislature Tuesday.

A bill that would require Gov. Pete Ricketts to apply for $120 million in federal rental assistance has just one more round of debate to go before it makes it to Ricketts' desk. 

Nebraska lawmakers advanced the main budget bill with no changes Thursday after spending eight hours debating the future of the overcrowded state prison system.

Lawmakers will have to weigh increased property tax relief and cuts to top income tax rates vs. giving $200 to every Nebraskan this year and a future rate cut for a middle-income tax bracket.

The bill would ban all abortions in Nebraska if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, or if the U.S. Constitution or federal law is amended to give control over abortions to individual states.

An analysis showed that the amount of state dollars devoted to direct property tax relief could approach $1.6 billion within 10 years. 

Lawmakers ran out the clock Monday on a proposal that would have expanded SNAP access to drug felons who are currently barred from receiving the food assistance in Nebraska.

Bills to build a $500 million canal-and-reservoir system in eastern Colorado and western Nebraska and to build a 7-mile lake along the Platte River between Omaha and Lincoln were also approved. 

An amendment requiring education about “slavery, lynching and racial massacres in the United States" was removed from the bill after Gov. Pete Ricketts' office raised objections.

After negotiating with other lawmakers, Sen. Justin Wayne expanded the bill to encompass South Omaha, parts of Lincoln and rural areas with high concentrations of low-income residents. 

Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers said he has contacted multiple lawmakers to discuss a special session, but would not confirm whether he is proposing a 12-week ban.