We are already (or only, depending on how you look at it) on Day 15 of the 90-Day Session, which means bill introduction is complete and committee hearings are in full swing. With more than 700 bills and several legislative resolutions introduced this session, we’re breaking down some of the top issues impacting gender equity and focused on effective public policy that will advance our rights, lives and futures.
As with most sessions, we’re also opposing some problematic bills that will hurt Nebraskans and impede our progress to create communities where everyone can reach their full potential. If there are other bills you are curious about, please email us.
Let’s dig in!
KEY BILLS IMPACTING GENDER EQUITY
- SUPPORT LB 67 (Sen. Jane Raybould) to provide survivors of sexual assault with complete emergency care, including information and access to emergency contraception following an assault, if they so choose.
- SUPPORT LB 68 (Sen. Raybould) would provide insurance and Medicaid coverage for certain birth control and allow individuals to take control of their health.
- SUPPORT LB 78 (Sen. Elliot Bostar) would increase the doc stamp by seven cents to create a Domestic Violence and Trafficking Victim Housing Assistance Fund. Lack of access to safe and affordable housing is a primary barrier for survivors of intimate partner violence seeking to leave an abusive situation. These dollars would assist survivors with housing costs. This bill had its hearing last week, and we are waiting for news of support from the Revenue Committee.
- SUPPORT LB 153 (Sen. Dunixi Guereca) to ensure postpartum health care is available to all by extending Medicaid coverage to CHIP 599 recipients.
- SUPPORT LB 157 (Sen. Danielle Conrad) provides a critical child tax credit for families with children under six years old with a focus on low-income households.
- SUPPORT LB 267 (Sen. Victor Rountree) to increase protections for domestic violence survivors in housing.
- SUPPORT LB 348 (Sen. Jason Prokop) would appropriate funds for domestic violence services.
- OPPOSE LB 89 (Sen. Kathleen Kauth) would narrowly define women and ultimately ban trans Nebraskans for sports and spaces while co-opting concern for women’s rights and our safety. This bill does nothing to expand protections for women or many any improvement in our lives. We see this clearly for what it is and will work with women and allies to put an end to this attempt to co-opt our rights to oppress others.
- OPPOSE LB 512 (Sen. Rick Holdcroft) would further restrict abortions by putting more barriers in place to receiving care and adds criminal penalties for medical providers.
- OPPOSE LB 669 (Sen. Tanya Storer) and this additional attempt to further restrict abortion access in Nebraska. Among other things, this bill requires patients go through invasive questioning based on the false assumption that those who seek abortion care are coerced or pressured.
UPCOMING HEARINGS OF MORE BILLS IMPACTING GENDER EQUITY
Below is a list of hearings for bills we’re following over the next two weeks. Make your plan now to attend in person or submit your online comment. Online comments can be submitted up until 8:00 am (CST) the day of the hearing to be considered as part of the official record. If you don’t want your information and testimony to be part of the record, simply select “no” under “including comment in public hearing record.” This means committee members can see your comment, but it won’t be part of the public committee statement. As always, you can watch hearings thanks to Nebraska Public Media.
Several housing justice-related bills will be heard by the Judiciary Committee starting at 1:30 pm in Room 1525.
- SUPPORT LB 92 (Sen. Terrell McKinney) would provide clean slate relief for evictions filings after three years for cases that never resulted in eviction, listed a minor child, or were dismissed or vacated.
- SUPPORT LB 223 (Sen. Guereca) would prohibit source of income discrimination and support renters who utilize subsidies to find housing.
- SUPPORT LB 235 (Sen. Conrad) will offer tenants additional time after an eviction judgment to prepare to leave the property and secure future housing.
See our fact sheet on these bills to learn more about the intersection between gender equity and access to safe, affordable housing.
LB 110 (Sen. Jana Hughes) will be heard by the Health and Human Services Committee in Room 1510. We SUPPORT LB 110 as it seeks to clarify that all patients must consent to pelvic examinations.
Two legislative resolutions, LR5CA and LR6CA, will be heard by the Judiciary Committee. Both resolutions, introduced by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, seek to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages through constitutional amendments. We SUPPORT both resolutions to update our state constitution to reflect all marriages in Nebraska. If passed by the legislature, these resolutions would appear on the ballot for Nebraska voters to decide.
A bill, LB 698 (Sen. Paul Strommen) would reverse portions of the paid sick leave measure recently passed by 75% of Nebraska voters. We OPPOSE this bill as it would exempt several groups of workers from being able to earn paid sick leave, including seasonal and temporary workers and workers under the age of 16. Add your comment of opposition now to ensure the legislature keeps the will of voters.
The Health and Human Services Committee will meet in Room 1510 starting at 1:30 pm. Among the bills on the agenda are:
- SUPPORT LB 102 (Sen. Ashlei Spivey) to increase the eligibility for Aid to Dependent Children and provide direct cash assistance funded by TANF.
- SUPPORT LB 192 (Sen. Dan Quick) to eliminate a sunset date that would return rates to lower to pre-pandemic levels, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure Nebraskans are fed.
- SUPPORT LB 304 (Sen. Wendy DeBoer) to maintain current eligibility levels for federal child care subsidies, which just means that those low-income families that rely on assistance for affordable child care won’t lose it.
HOW TO ADVOCATE
This may all feel overwhelming, and it certainly can be. Please don’t allow uncertainty or the amount of information stop you from getting involved. Your stories, your voice and your lived experience help to shape the future of our communities. Now is the time to get engaged, follow along and commit to staying in community with us to make a bold impact.
→ Call or Email Your Senator
→ Submit An Online Comment
→ Amplify Your Advocacy Online
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We can create real and lasting change, together.