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Nebraska lawmaker proposes nonpartisan elections for statewide candidates
LINCOLN — Nebraskans could decide in 2024 whether the state’s constitutional officers, such as the governor or secretary of state, should be elected on a nonpartisan basis. Legislative Resolution 3CA, proposed by State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, would provide that the top two vote-getters for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor of public […]
DMV, polling places would be audited for ADA compliance under Nebraska bill
LINCOLN — Though talk of election audits has become more frequent in the past few years, a legislative proposal would require a different kind of audit: checking for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Legislative Bill 770, proposed by State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, would require the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office to […]
American Indian College Fund announces 2022-23 honorees, including three Nebraskans
LINCOLN — The American Indian College Fund has announced its Student of the Year and Tribal College and University Honoree of the Year awardees, who include three Nebraskans. The College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity that supports Native higher education for 33 years. This includes distributing more than $259 million in scholarships, programmatic […]
Freight train personnel encourage two-person crew mandate for public safety
LINCOLN — At 5:21 one evening, freight train crews could not tell whether a pickup truck was parked on railroad tracks because of the curvature of the path. Though the train had improved technology, Amanda Snide said there was no indication the truck was there. Emergency brakes were applied at 38 mph, needing to stop […]
Nebraska lawmaker pitches return to Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission
LINCOLN — Almost eight years after Nebraska left a Midwest commission designed to improve passenger rail services, a lawmaker pitched Monday for Nebraska to rejoin the group. Legislative Bill 44, proposed by State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would have Nebraska rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, a coalition of states in the region […]
Proposal to increase Nebraska legislative term limits to three terms gains momentum
LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker said Friday that allowing legislators to serve an additional four-year term could provide better, more effective representation and heal some damage done to the institution. Legislative Resolution 22CA, proposed by State Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk, could let voters decide whether state legislators should serve three four-year terms, instead of two. […]
Supporters of child labor resolution say it could make Nebraska ‘new champion’
LINCOLN — Supporters of a U.S. constitutional amendment related to child labor said Friday it could make Nebraska a “new champion” in the anti-child labor movement. Legislative Resolution 5, proposed by State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, would have Nebraska ratify the Child Labor Amendment of 1924. This would amend the Constitution and specify that […]
Nebraska lawmaker proposes expanding NEST 529 plans to K-12 private education
LINCOLN — State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln said she realized last year she could not use an educational savings plan to support her grandchildren’s private K-12 tuition costs. Congress approved an expansion in 2018 for NEST 529 plans under the College Savings Plan Program, but Nebraska is one of 10 states that lag in […]
Nebraska lawmaker continues push for LGBTQ nondiscrimination employment policy
LINCOLN — Jayden Speed, an 18-year-old high school student, said he is counting down the days to graduation while calculating whether Nebraska is the state to stay in. As a queer young person, Speed said, he loves Nebraska, its communities and the Legislature, and Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University have offered […]
LGBTQ protections at crossroads in Nebraska Legislature
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature stands at a crossroads in 2023 regarding LGBTQ Nebraskans, with critical bills that could expand or limit protections. This session’s proposals include restrictions on what bathrooms transgender youths could use and which athletic teams they could participate in. Other bills could expand nondiscrimination policies to include gender identity or sexual […]
Nebraska lawmakers weigh proposal to use state funds for private school enrollment
LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker encouraged a legislative committee Tuesday to allow students to use state funds toward private schools if they are denied a school district transfer. Legislative Bill 528, proposed by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would create the Nebraska Option Enrollment Tuition Account Program. Option enrollment is when students seek to […]
Tax credits proposed for private Nebraska pregnancy center donations
LINCOLN — As Nebraska state senators prepare for debate regarding abortion, one lawmaker presented a proposal Friday that aims to provide tax credits to private pregnancy help centers. Legislative Bill 606, proposed by State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, would establish the Nebraska Pregnancy Help Act and offer tax credits to incentivize private donations to […]