Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2024

After two days of negotiations, a criminal justice reform proposal seemed to gain some ground Wednesday with Nebraska lawmakers. But a handful of state senators remained unconvinced.

State agencies have limited inspectors general's access to information and facilities in the wake of an attorney general's opinion that those offices violate the state constitution.

Unlike previous Legislative Councils, where discussions have centered on water infrastructure or Nebraska’s changing demographics, this year’s retreat will have senators focusing on the Legislature itself.

A bill clarifying the role of inspectors general is in the works, but lawmakers suggested the Legislature should seek a court's ruling on the AG's opinion offices are unconstitutional.

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch is looking at ways to reform the Legislature's public hearing process following backlash about lawmakers cutting off testimony earlier this year.

We posed the question "What do you want state lawmakers to address this session and why?" in an online survey that ran between November and December.

The Legislature will find plenty of work waiting in the 60-day session, which will begin Wednesday and is tentatively scheduled to end April 18.

Will they return to more collegial relationships or will they repeat the bitter, session-long battles of last year?

The Rules Committee advanced 10 proposals, but adjourned before considering a change to the filibuster, overhauling the selection of committee chairs or limiting press access to closed meetings.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn sent a letter to Nebraska's Secretary of State on Monday saying the referendum to appeal the so-called Opportunity Scholarships Act "raises constitutional concerns."

Speaker John Arch said the Legislature will start debating technical and noncontroversial rules changes before moving onto items likely to draw heavy opposition in the chamber.

A rule change from Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne prohibiting state agencies from testifying for or against bills at committee had bipartisan support but fell short of being adopted.

Beginning next year, senators will only be able to introduce 20 pieces of legislation, under an amended proposal championed by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair.

One proposal would add Nebraska to an agreement creating a multistate licensure for school psychologists, while the other would allow schools to be reimbursed for hiring those professionals.

Nebraska cities with 50,000 or more residents would be required to develop plans to tackle poverty in their communities under a bill proposed by a North Omaha lawmaker.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad said sending Nebraska families to collections over student lunch debt harms families already "living on the edge."

Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill boosting protections for religious freedom Tuesday while discussions continue about what should be the limits of that freedom.

Sen. Steve Halloran said his bill promoted accountability, but school board members and administrators said it would hamper local control and potentially increase costs to taxpayers.

Nebraska lawmakers were told that the state would save money by offering tax credits to help caregivers cover expenses for looking after disabled family members. 

The bill would prohibit homeowners associations, or HOAs, from banning political signs displayed on an owner's property, with some caveats.  

Sen. John Lowe said making elections to NPPD and OPPD partisan would give voters "99% of what they need to know about how a candidate would govern."

With abortion appearing destined to become a central part of the 2024 election in Nebraska, it's unlikely any change to the law will come during the ongoing legislative session.

Gov. Jim Pillen's plan to sweep nearly $274 million out of state cash funds to help pay for his property tax plan faced stiff opposition at a public hearing.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who sponsored the “Opportunity Scholarships Act," said there are too many hoops for Nebraskans to jump through to remove their name from petitions.

A new feature on the Nebraska Legislature's website gives a quick look at where each bill is in the legislative process. It's part of a larger redesign of the site.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, chairwoman of the Revenue Committee, said she was not swayed by the hours of testimony against the bills that could become part of a package.

The existing law prohibiting foreign individuals and businesses from owning land in Nebraska has gone unchanged since 1943, Sen. Barry DeKay told the Legislature's Agriculture Committee.

Lawmakers passed a bill to ditch the process that led to multiple failed contracts, including one that put a troubled Kansas-based nonprofit in charge of child welfare in Omaha.

A bill that would limit out-of-pocket costs of Epipens and inhalers for insured Nebraskans received support at a public hearing — except from insurance providers. 

Nebraska's Legislature gave resounding first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would expand Medicaid reimbursements for prenatal care to include nutrition counseling and case management for at-risk mothers.

Nebraska could get more than $1 billion of federal money to boost Medicaid rates for hospitals and other health care providers under a bill that won easy first-round approval Thursday.

Speaker John Arch said he is pleased with the progress made and tenor of the first half of the Legislature's 60-day session as lawmakers look to an April finish.

Nearly halfway through this year's session, every lawmaker has named priority bills that will set the tone for the remaining 31 days. A few could bring back last year's rancor.

A bill from Sen. Dave Murman would prohibit adult websites from showing pornographic content to users unless they first submitted identification showing they were over the age of 18.

A bill from Sen. Danielle Conrad to repeal a law giving the attorney general power to sue to invalidate statutes they believe are unconstitutional won support from AG Mike Hilgers.

Nebraska lawmakers reluctantly agreed to advance a resolution Friday that would temporarily restore access to the Legislature's watchdogs tasked with investigating the state's troubled prison and child welfare systems.

The deaths by suicide of three boys in Nebraska's child welfare system last year has lawmakers looking into ways to help state officials identify warning signs in the future. 

Supporters of Sen. Rob Clements' plan said it was time for the Legislature to repeal the inheritance tax, but opponents said it would create financial challenges for counties.

An Omaha lawmaker wants to ensure Nebraska voters know when campaign advertisements use deep fakes to smear a candidate or cause, but said his legislative proposal needs work. 

A bill that aims to make it easier for people to obtain occupational licenses became one of the first bills to pass the Nebraska Legislature in 2024. 

Local Nebraska jurisdictions could distribute hypodermic needles to drug users to curb the spread of disease under a bill the Legislature passed Thursday. Gov. Jim Pillen may veto it. 

The amendment was added to a bill (LB894) from Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner requiring county sheriffs to complete a certification course before they can serve.

Veteran motorcycle operators will only be required to show they have completed a three-hour online safety course and will be exempted from a longer in-person class.

Struggling Nebraska nursing homes could get a $23 million federal lifeline under a measure advanced by state lawmakers Friday. 

A Nebraska bill that seeks to hold negligent state agencies accountable for harm caused by third parties stalled in committee Friday, but a different avenue remains to advance the measure.

Sen. Teresa Ibach said several senators approached her with concerns that allowing DACA recipients to serve as police officers and sheriff's deputies in Nebraska may have larger implications.

Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings received swift rebuke from colleagues on both sides of the political aisle for his comments that came during debate Monday night.

After three heated days of debate, the Nebraska Legislature blocked a bill that would remove protections for K-12 educators if they face charges of providing obscene materials to minors.

Nebraska lawmakers advanced an expanded safe haven bill Wednesday aimed at preventing desperate parents from abandoning their babies on doorsteps or other unsafe locations.

School property taxes would drop by over 45% statewide while state sales taxes could go up as much as 1 cent under a tax plan advanced by the Revenue Committee.

While it's not uncommon for Nebraska state senators to invoke the threat of censure against colleagues they feel have acted inappropriately, hearings like that scheduled Thursday are rare.

Among bills sent to Gov. Jim Pillen's desk were measures expanding Medicaid for prenatal care and inflating the governor's influence over the state's Racing and Gaming Commission. 

State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings said he would not attend a hearing on a censure resolution because he didn't want to "give credence" to it. 

Senators disassembled and reassembled a tax credit package as they considered a measure from Sen. Joni Albrecht incentivizing donations to centers that provide resources but not medical care to women.

Gov. Jim Pillen's plan to cut property taxes by raising sales taxes crumbled Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature, leaving its ultimate fate uncertain. 

The Executive Board of Nebraska’s Legislature voted 8-1 on Wednesday to issue a letter reprimanding Sen. Steve Halloran, who was accused of sexually harassing colleagues last month.

Opposition to a plan creating new requirements for wind and solar energy companies resulted in a compromise plan that sailed through the Legislature easily on Wednesday.

Introduced last year and prioritized this year by Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, the "Sports and Spaces Act" (LB575) was advanced to the floor on Thursday on a 5-2 vote.

The "Sports and Spaces Act" from Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha only mustered 31 of 33 votes needed to end debate. The bill is dead for the year.

Nebraska lawmakers backed a plan Tuesday to raise a tax on real estate sales by 44% and use most of the $17 million increase to cut inheritance taxes.

A bill from Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn appropriating $10 million for private school scholarships advanced from first-round debate at the Legislature on Tuesday on a 31-12 vote.

Organizers with Support Our Schools filed paperwork Tuesday afternoon with Secretary of State Bob Evnen to put a repeal of LB1402 before voters this fall.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Monday warned state lawmakers to clear their schedules for three weeks starting in late July, when he is expected to recall the Legislature to Lincoln.

The governor would see his total tax bill slashed by roughly $975,000 if lawmakers deliver on his promise to cut property taxes by 50% at a special session beginning Thursday.

Days after signing a budget he described as “fiscally sound,” Gov. Pillen’s office quietly directed state agencies to slash $280 million to help pay for a massive property tax cut.

Gov. Jim Pillen's plan to cut Nebraska's property taxes 50% hit a legislative wrench when the main bill encompassing his proposal was sent to a unexpected committee. 

The Veterans Justice Act would build upon the success of Nebraska's existing problem-solving courts by providing opportunities to help veterans deal with their underlying traumas.