Hearings are wrapping up, senators are starting to declare their priorities and bills are moving through three rounds of floor debate. There are still several Women’s Fund priority bills in committee these next few weeks (see a schedule below). If the committee takes no action or opposes the bill, the bill is essentially done for the session. If the committee votes it out, the bill will go to the floor for three rounds of debate by the full legislature (General File > Select File > Final Reading).
Let’s take a look at some of the bills on the move.
Bills Getting Prioritized
Senators are allowed just one priority bill. Committees can pick up to two priorities, and the Speaker gets 25. By the end of this week, all senators must select their priority bills, but some have already done so.
- LB 78, introduced by Senator Elliot Bostar and prioritized by State-Tribal Relations Committee, has been placed on General File. We SUPPORT LB 78 as it would provide the necessary funding 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.
- LB 89 has been introduced and prioritized by Senator Kathleen Kauth. We OPPOSE LB 89 because it is an unnecessary and discriminatory bill that impacts all trans students in K-12 and postsecondary schools and keeps them from participating in school-based sports. The bill does nothing to expand protections for women or make any material improvement in our lives but could open the door for intrusive policies related to our bodies and identities. Learn more about our opposition to this bill.
- LB 258, introduced and now prioritized by Senator Jane Raybould, has been placed on General File and could be debated as soon as this week. We OPPOSE LB 258 as it would limit the voter-approved measure to increase wages and also create a sub-minimum wage for workers under 20. Learn more in our recent action alert and contact your senator now to oppose LB 258.
- LB 698 has been filed as an amendment onto LB 415, which has been prioritized by the Business and Labor Committee. The bill is now on General File and could be debated at any time. We OPPOSE LB 415 with this new amendment and its attempt to carve out who can earn paid sick leave based on industry and age. Our economy must work for all, not just some. Read more about protecting paid sick leave for all workers.
What can you do right now?
ACTION ONE: Contact your senator via phone or email to let them know your position on any (or all) of these bills. Call them often. Invite your family and friends to contact their elected officials, too—no matter how they’ve voted on the issue in the past or even if you think you know how they might vote—they need to hear from you now.
ACTION TWO: Show up during the debate. Sit in the balcony. Fill the Rotunda. Talk directly to your senator. We’ll send out advocacy alerts with additional action items when debate is scheduled.
Upcoming Hearings
The following two bills will be heard by the Judiciary Committee this afternoon and seek to change criminal proceedings that involve victims of sexual violence. If you missed the opportunity to add online comments, you can contact members of the committee directly with your support.
- SUPPORT LB 103 (Sen. Wendy DeBoer) to change Nebraska Evidence Rules to prohibit questions relating to past sexual behavior or sexual assaults. This is a step forward in removing victim-blaming narratives from sexual violence related civil and criminal proceedings.
- SUPPORT LB 159 (Sen. Dunixi Guereca) would consider victim status in sentencing, including if the offender has been sexually abused by a family member or partner, or is a trafficking victim.
- SUPPORT LB 67 (Sen. Raybould) to adopt the Sexual Assault Emergency Care Act. This bill ensures survivors of sexual violence are provided with complete, trauma-informed care post-assault. The bill will be heard by the Health & Human Services Committee. Learn more about LB 67 via our fact sheets (English / Spanish).
- SUPPORT LB 107 (Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh) to provide an income tax credit to renters that totals 4% of rent paid. The bill will be heard by the Revenue Committee.
- SUPPORT LB 153 (Sen. Guereca) to ensure postpartum coverage is available to all by extending Medicaid coverage. This bill will also be heard by the Health & Human Services Committee.
- SUPPORT LB 442 (Sen. Ashlei Spivey) to create a state child care subsidy program to support working families. The bill will be heard by the Health & Human Services Committee.
- SUPPORT LB 189 (Sen. M. Cavanaugh) with another attempt to ensure all Nebraska families have access to paid family and medical leave. The bill will be heard by Business & Labor Committee.
- OPPOSE LB 552 (Sen. Loren Lippincott) which would prohibit colleges and universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion offices. This follows national attempts to limit access to services for students and reverse decades of progress in our communities. The bill will be heard by the Education Committee.
- SUPPORT LB 367 (Sen. Megan Hunt) to prohibit conversion therapy. This is a dangerous practice that targets LGBTQ youth and seeks to change their sexual or gender identities and it should be banned in our state. The bill will be heard by the Health & Human Services Committee.
In The News
Labor groups ring alarms over proposed changes to Nebraska minimum wage, paid sick leave laws – Nebraska Examiner
Dozens gather at Nebraska State Capitol to rally for paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage – KETV Channel 7
Nebraska lawmakers considering bills to help survivors in wake of domestic deaths – Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska lawmakers consider paid maternity leave for state employees – Nebraska News Service
Updates to informed consent for abortion proposed – Unicameral Update