Photos: Opening day of the 2023 Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature began its 108th session Wednesday.
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican takes the floor on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Nebraska senators and family members arrive before the first day of the 2023 legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator Robert Dover on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
The first day of the 2023 Legislature is pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator Dave Murman on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard says he's tempted to offer a sine die motion to end the currently dysfunctional session and just go home.
During debate on a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Nebraska, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha told senators her 12-year-old son came out as trans more than a year ago.
Sen. Merv Riepe has introduced an amendment to the so-called "heartbeat bill" (LB626) that would instead lower Nebraska's existing ban on abortion from 20 weeks to 12 weeks.
Brewer
Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha shows his son, Leon, around the Capitol as the Legislature opened its 2023 session on Jan. 4.
Senator Teresa Ibach on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senators tally votes during the election of the Education Committee chair on Jan. 4. Senators who have supported ending secret balloting for committee chairs opted to delay consideration of the rules change until later this month.
Senator Jana Hughes on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
The 2023 Nebraska Legislature is called to order on Jan. 4 at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator Tony Vargas works at his desk on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senators speak to one another as the Nebraska Legislature is called to order on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator Rita Sanders fans herself with a piece of paper on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
A newly elected Senator signs the oath of office shortly before the beginning of the 2023 legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator Robert Clements speaks on the floor, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard (right) shakes hands with Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams after being elected to the Rules Committee on Wednesday at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Eliot Bostar has requested the Legislature help Lincoln secure a new source of water that might prevent it from exercising its right to water on the Platte River, which would affect upstream irrigators.
Senator Ben Hansen listens intently on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
After Senator John Arch is elected to speaker, his nameplate is replaced on the floor, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
A new senator wears a legislative pin on the first day of the 2023 session on Jan. 4.
Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward on the first day of the 2023 legislative session on Jan. 4 at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Merv Riepe sets down his notebook ahead of the first day of Legislature on Jan. 4 at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Those in attendance on the first day of the 2023 Legislature stand for the National Anthem on Jan. 4 at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. John Cavanaugh speaks on the opening day of the 2023 session
Sen. Suzanne Geist argues for her appointment to the Transportation and Telecommunications position in the 2023 Legislature on Jan. 4 at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Newly elected senators are sworn in on the first day of the session on Jan. 4 at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator George Dungan listens attentively to other speakers on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln works at her desk in the legislative chamber during the first day of the session last week at the Capitol.
Senator Raymond Aguilar uses his turn to address fellow senators on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln applauds a committee election announcement on Wednesday at Capitol in Lincoln.
Senator Beau Ballard listens to a speech by fellow lawmakers on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Senators and their families enter the West chamber for the first session of 2023, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican (left) swears in the new senators for 2023, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
A senator casts his ballot for head of the Rules Committee on Wednesday.
State senators adopted the rules of the last legislative session on Day 1 of the 2023 session, which will guide the proceedings until permanent rules are set later this month.
A proposed constitutional amendment that will be introduced Thursday would revert Nebraska's legislative branches to a bicameral form of government.
New chairpersons were chosen by the Legislature on Wednesday to lead some of the body's key committees and the Legislature's Committee on Committees met later in the day to make tentative recommendations for committee membership.
Speeding, distracted driving and failing to use seat belts were seen as the main culprits as Nebraska traffic deaths increased by 15% in 2022.
In his inaugural address, Jim Pillen promised lower taxes. "Great people want limited government that respects their freedoms, does its job and then gets out of the way."
The "constitutional carry" bill, among 91 pieces of legislation introduced on Thursday, would allow Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit or required safety training.
Virtually all Nebraska taxes would be eliminated and replaced with a consumption tax on goods and services under a pair of petition drives and a trio of legislative proposals.Â
State senators said they plan to object to the way committee assignments were made for the 2023 session on the floor of the Legislature on Friday.
Without the report's approval, the Legislature's standing committees can meet and hold hearings, but can't advance bills onto the floor for debate by all 49 senators.
State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha offered a bill that would end life without parole sentences for minors in Nebraska.
The Legislature launched its 2023 session last week with conflict and tension in the air.Â
Getting to agreement on committees wasn't easy, with several senators blasting a proposal to suspend the Legislature's rules to circumvent a filibuster preventing its passage.
An Omaha lawmaker is proposing citizen police oversight boards with staff investigators for Omaha and Lincoln, along with other law enforcement accountability measures.
Sponsored by the new Education Committee chairman, Dave Murman, the bill addresses grievances raised against Nebraska’s public schools in recent years.
The Rules Committee heard nearly 60 proposed changes to the Legislature's rulebook, including one that would end the secret ballot vote for committee chairs in place since 1937.
Proponents and opponents alike raised concerns Friday about Gov. Jim Pillen's proposal to change how farm and ranch land is valued for property taxes in Nebraska.
In his weekly column, Sen. Tom Brewer outlines conservative agenda and suggests that filibuster rule may be ripe for change.Â
