The Nebraska Democratic Party is tracking key bills this legislative session and will issue calls to action on key bills.
The 2018 session runs from January 3rd to April 18th.
All bills that are introduced get a hearing in the committee the bill is assigned to during each legislative session.
Key Links
Nebraska Legislature Homepage: https://nebraskalegislature.gov (you can find your Senator, all bills introduced and more)
NET live-streams bill heading and floor debates: http://netnebraska.org/basic-page/television/live-demand-state-government
Radio: You can also listen to NET for radio coverage http://netnebraska.org/basic-page/radio/radio
Mobile: Access live and on-demand video of the Unicameral via the Nebraska Capitol Live Mobile App.
Hashtags: The hashtag for the legislative session is #NEleg and Democratic advocates also use #NebDems
Find Your Senators: You can look up your State Senators by entering your address and you can also find all Senators’ phone numbers and emails.
If you would like to email all of the Senators you can copy and paste the email addresses below into your email:
jscheer@leg.ne.gov; jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov; rbaker@leg.ne.gov; cblood@leg.ne.gov; kbolz@leg.ne.gov; bbostleman@leg.ne.gov; lbrasch@leg.ne.gov; tbrewer@leg.ne.gov; tbriese@leg.ne.gov; rclements@leg.ne.gov; scrawford@leg.ne.gov; lebke@leg.ne.gov; serdman@leg.ne.gov; kfriesen@leg.ne.gov; sgeist@leg.ne.gov; mgroene@leg.ne.gov; shalloran@leg.ne.gov; mhansen@leg.ne.gov; bharr@leg.ne.gov; mhilgers@leg.ne.gov; rhilkemann@leg.ne.gov; showard@leg.ne.gov; dhughes@leg.ne.gov; rkolowski@leg.ne.gov; mkolterman@leg.ne.gov; bkrist@leg.ne.gov; jkeuhn@leg.ne.gov; tlarson@leg.ne.gov; blindstrom@leg.ne.gov; llinehan@leg.ne.gov; jlowe@leg.ne.gov; jmccollister@leg.ne.gov; mmcdonnell@leg.ne.gov; amorfeld@leg.ne.gov; jmurante@leg.ne.gov; ppansingbrooks@leg.ne.gov; dquick@leg.ne.gov; mreipe@leg.ne.gov; pschumacher@leg.ne.gov; jsmith@leg.ne.gov; jstinner@leg.ne.gov; tthibodeau@leg.ne.gov; tvargas@leg.ne.gov; lwalz@leg.ne.gov; kwatermeier@leg.ne.gov; jwayne@leg.ne.gov; mwilliams@leg.ne.gov;
awishart@leg.ne.gov
About the Bills
We are not tracking all the bills introduced, you can see all of those on the legislative website.
The NDP posts information about bills that we want to call fellow Democrats attention to during the session.
We also post bills on our Facebook page that are making headlines (or should make headlines!).
While the #NEleg is non-partisan, we are proud of State Senators who are Democrats, so we will post bills they are introducing as well to highlight their good work for the people of our state.
State Senators Priority Bills
Every year, each Senator can choose one bill to make their priority. Usually, this means the bill then gets a floor debate, but it does not guarantee it! We list each of the State Senators, who are part of the Democratic family, priority bills here:
Senator Blood: LB685 – Provide a funding priority for special-needs military dependents under the Developmental Disabilities Services Act
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Blood
Summary: The bill clarifies current funding priorities and adds an additional funding priority for military dependents with special needs. This will make sure that members of the armed services who are legal residents of Nebraska, due to assignment in the state, receive needed specialized services.
Status: Under consideration on Select File
Senator Bolz: LB998 – Create the Collaborative School Behavioral and Mental Health Program
Committee: Education
Introduced by: Senator Walz
Summary: This bill would create the Collaborative School Behavioral and Mental Health Program. The goals of this program include providing each educational service unit with a social worker. Their job will be to train teachers and other school personnel and to work with parents, schools, behavioral/mental health care providers, and other community resources. This training will emphasize providing timely, effective, and family-centered services. These services will be focused on the behavioral/mental well-being of the students.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
Senator Crawford: LB589 – Provide for depositions of a child victim or child witness
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Crawford
Summary: This bill ask judges to consider whether a videotaped forensic interview as been completed when determining whether to require a deposition for a child 18 years or younger. If a request to depose a minor is granted the court will make a protective order to shield the individual from emotional harm or distress.
Status: Under a Filibuster on General File
Committee: Urban Affairs
Introduced by: Sen. Hansen
Summary: Establishes the Neighborhood Improvement District Act which allows municipalities/neighborhoods to raise money for actions like improving a public place/facility, creating more public goods (plazas, sidewalks, trash receptacles, under/overpasses), forming and execution of a plan to better the area’s public architecture, creating neighborhood watch programs, and other various public improvements.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
Committee: Revenue
Introduced by: Sen. Harr
Summary: We support LB1108, which would create educational development programs in high-demand, high-skill fields. The bill would provide tax credits to employers who implement these educational development programs. Development of a skilled workforce is crucial to a building a strong economy in Nebraska, and this begins with educational programs that provide students with the skills they need to be competitive in these fields.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
Senator Howard: LB931 – Provide requirements for opiate prescriptions
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB931 which puts further regulations on prescribing opioids. Regulations outlined in this bill would combat the growing prevalence of opioid abuse. Prescriptions for fewer pills will decrease the likelihood of dependency on the drugs.
Status: On Final Reading
Senator Kolowski: LB838 – Change provisions relating to the Indoor Tanning Facility Act
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Wishart
Summary: Prohibits minors from tanning in commercial tanning salons. Bill does not apply to those who own tanning equipment for their own personal use or physicians who use phototherapy in their medical practice.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
Senator Krist: LB368 – Change helmet provisions, change passenger age limits, and require eye protection for operators of motorcycles and mopeds
Committee: Transportation and Telecommunications
Introduced by: Sen. Lowe
Summary: This bill makes it illegal to drive or be a passenger on a motorcycle/moped on any highway in the state without protective eyewear or a protective helmet. It would give the choice of wearing a helmet to all of those over 21 years of age.
Status: Voted on, Bill Failed
Senator McDonnell: LB913 – Change provisions relating to assault with a bodily fluid against a public safety officer
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. McDonnell
Summary: We support LB913, which adds health care professionals to the definition of public safety officers within the existing provisions. This would ensure health care professionals are guaranteed rights under the umbrella of public safety officers within the existing bill, which makes it illegal for any person to knowingly and intentionally strike a public safety officer with bodily fluids.
Status: Enrollment and Review Filed
Senator Morfeld: LB757 – Change provisions of the Credit Report Protection Act and the Financial Data Protection and Consumer Notification of Data Security Breach Act of 2006
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Morfeld
Summary: We support LB757, which would provide added protection to consumers who are members of consumer reporting agencies. Under this bill, these agencies would be required to stop charging a fee for consumers wishing to remove a security freeze, as defined in the bill, on their accounts. Currently, consumers wishing to place or a remove a security freeze from their accounts are liable to be charged a fee, based on the method of contact they use to request this change, and the level of protection they wish to place their account under. This bill would remove that fee, allowing consumers more freedom over the amount of security their accounts have under consumer reporting agencies.
Status: Passed into law
Senator Pansing Brooks: LB158 – Change provisions relating to appointment of counsel for juveniles
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Pansing Brooks
Summary: We Support LB158. This will require the county to provide counsel to the juvenile for at the first court appearance and continued representation, if the juvenile is unable to afford counsel. This will allow juveniles to be accurately represented at all times during the court process.
Status: Filibustered
Senator Quick: LB1132 – Set aside convictions of victims of sex trafficking and to expunge related records
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Pansing Brooks, Sen. Ebke, Sen. Linehan, Sen. Morfeld, Sen. Vargas, Sen. Wishart
Summary: We support LB1132 which allows victims of sex trafficking to file a petition to set aside any conviction they may have gotten for crimes related to being trafficked. By nullifying these convictions and removing any civil disabilities incurred as a result of the convictions, the court is giving victims of sex trafficking the opportunity to have a fresh start in society.
Status: Amendments Pending
Senator Vargas: LB194 – Change provisions of the Credit Services Organization Act, Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act, and Nebraska Installment Loan Act
Committee: Banking, Commerce and Insurance
Introduced by: Sen. Vargas
Summary: We support LB194 which redefines the provisions already set on the limitations of credit service organizations. This bill would make it illegal for these organizations, or salespersons representing the organizations, to charge a brokerage fee to clients. It also requires that a person offering credit services, or delayed deposit loans, be licensed by the state to be eligible to offer these services. These additions to the current law, as well as others which add to the legitimacy of the transactions, protect consumers seeking delayed deposit loans, safeguarding their investments.
Status: Heading for Floor Debate
Committee: Transportation and Telecommunications
Introduced by: Sen. Walz
Summary: We Support LB1113 as it will protect the State’s dark fiber services from Private gain. It allows the Public Service Commission to review the contracts and approve or deny them based of certain qualifications.
Status: Heading for Floor Debate
Senator Wayne: LB990 – Create the offense of possession of a firearm by a prohibited juvenile offender
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Wayne
Summary: A person under 25 who holds several specific criminal record criteria who also knowingly possesses a firearm will be charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited juvenile offender. We support this bill as it restricts the ability to own and operate a firearm from those who could potentially misuse them.
Status: Heading for Floor Debate
Senator Wishart: LB989 – Authorize testing of autonomous vehicles by a city of the primary class on its roadways
Committee: Transportation and Telecommunications
Introduced by: Senator Wishart
Summary: Authorizes the testing of self-driving vehicles, at speeds no greater than 35 miles per hour, on the roadways of larger cities in Nebraska. Prior to testing the tester must seek and obtain many permits and certifications from various agencies within the state government.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
Bills We Support
LB 856: Adopt the Internet Neutrality Act
Committee: Transportation and Telecommunications
Introduced by: Sen. Morfeld
Summary: We support LB 856 which would secure Net Neutrality in Nebraska and VICE covered the story since we are the first “red state” to put up a state-based bill. Trump’s FCC voted to allow private corporations to control speed and access to websites on the national level. Sen. Morfeld is looking to fix this major issue at the state level and the bill is getting bi-partisan support in the #NEleg. Democrats believe the foundation of democracy is the free and open flow of information and free speech. A fair internet gives us the ability to grow new businesses and organize our communities on key issues. Read more about net neutrality.
Status: In Committee
LB622 – Adopt the Medical Cannabis Act
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Wishart, Sen. Craighead, Sen. Ebke, Sen. Hansen, Sen. Kolowski, Sen. Krist, Sen. Morfeld, Sen. Pansing Brooks, Sen. Vargas, Sen. Wayne.
Summary: We support LB622, which would allow the use for Medical Cannabis. This would allow doctors to prescribe cannabis to patients for a list of approved medical conditions. This will allow doctors to improve the life of their patients.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
LB 798: To Provide a Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Feminine Hygiene Products
Committee: Revenue
Introduced by: Sen. McDonnell
Summary: We support LB 798 which would remove the luxury tax designation on Feminine Hygiene Products.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Business and Labor
Introduced by: Sen. Hansen
Summary: We support LB916 to allow employees to file a complaint under the Wage and Hour Act. Workers should be treated fairly and equally, and have a right to be paid a decent wage. This bill will allow workers to feel safe reporting unfair treatment without fear of retaliation, making the workplace more equal for all.
Status: In Committee
LB922 – Adopt the All Kids Health Care Program Act
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Vargas
Summary: We support LB922 to give all children whose family income falls below the poverty line access to healthcare. This bill would provide critical care to children who may otherwise not have access to it. Equal access to healthcare for all children allows them greater opportunity to prosper, a right which should be guaranteed by the government.
Status: In Committee
LB865 – Change provisions relating to passage of ordinances by cities and villages
Committee: Urban Affairs
Introduced by: Sen. Crawford
Summary: We support LB865 which enables government operations at the local level to be a more transparent, democratic process. This bill states that boundary lines for local office cannot be redrawn without public input.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
LB844 – The Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act
Committee: Business and Labor
Introduced by: Sen. Crawford, Sen. Ebke, Sen. Hansen, Sen. Howard, Sen. Pansing Brooks, Sen. Quick, Sen. Walz
Summary: We support LB844, people who work hard deserve to have the ability to take care of themselves and their family on an occasional work day. This bill allows workers to earn paid sick or safe leave if their employer does not already offer paid sick leave or PTO. It will ensure that workers in Nebraska can earn access to one week of paid leave in any given year to care for themselves or a family member or to address needs to stay safe in a domestic violence situation.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB932 which will establish protocol for medical directors to equip soon-to-be-released inmates with treatment to reduce use of opiates. Reduced or eliminated use of opiates will benefit inmates as they begin transitioning back to society.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB834 which will allow every person – no matter their income – opportunity to advance professionally. Licensing, which includes any required training, education, or fee to work in a specific profession, can be restrictive to low-income, military, and young individuals.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB892 which would ban restraining animals without shelter in the case of hazardous weather conditions including tornado warnings, high winds, extremely high or low temperatures, and other severe conditions. The bill would also institute a penalty for noncompliance.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Education
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB898 which would require all public postsecondary education institutions to administer a voluntary survey to students about sexual climate on campus, create a comprehensive report of survey findings, and provide training for all individuals involved in student grievance procedures. LB898 will help public universities become safer for students and will make the administration aware of the issues students face.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB897 which requires medical providers to file a police report when their patient appears to have been injured in connection with a criminal offense only if the victim gives written permission. This would allow the victim to decide if and when to report an assault.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
LB717 – Safe sleep training for childcare workers
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB717 which will create mandatory safety training requirements for childcare workers before they start service and annually during their service. The purpose of LB717 is to eliminate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), among other illnesses and abuse. LB717 will make childcare providers more equipped to care for infants and older children.
Status: Heading to Floor Debate
LB777 – Provide requirements for filling legislative vacancies
Committee: Executive Board
Introduced by: Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB777 which would provide a set of rules that the Governor must follow. The Governor must select an applicant for a vacant position at the Governor’s office that has applied within 30 days of said position becoming vacant.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Executive Board
Introduced by: Sen. Vargas, Sen. Crawford, Sen. Howard
Summary: We support LB974 which would ensure that any redrawing of legislative districts is based solely on population numbers, not on political affiliation or demographics of the residents. If we allow districts to be drawn based on anything other than population numbers, the fairness of the election process becomes compromised, creating a legislature that is a poor representation of Nebraska as a whole.
Status: In Committeee
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Morfeld
Summary: We support LR281CA which puts forth an amendment to the state constitution that would recognize that access to affordable healthcare is a right for all Nebraskans. In recognizing this, the amendment will expand the margin of eligibility so that more people under sixty-five who fall below the poverty may have access to affordable healthcare coverage.
Status: In Committee
LB687 – Adopt the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced by: Sen. Blood and Sen. Brewer
Summary: We support LB687, it seeks to establish a reciprocity in Nebraska with other states where military spouse nurses are already certified and practiced in and get moved here as their military member/partner moves here. Ease of certification, rapid utilization of already certified and skilled medical professionals, boosts to their personal and family economies, boosts to the healthcare environments and the economies of the communities they reside in, are the potential and positive effects.
Status: In Committee
LB988 – Adopt an affirmative consent standard with respect to sexual assault
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Pansing Brooks, Sen. Howard, Sen. Walz, Sen. Wishart
Summary: We support LB988, a bill that clearly defines the word consent with respect to sexual assault. This bill makes important strides in protecting victims of sexual assault, particularly by noting that withdrawal of consent, clothing worn, use of alcohol and drugs, among other things, in no way implicate the victim. These arguments are commonly used to shame or place blames on victims. By taking away the viability of the arguments, the bill allows victims to feel a greater degree of safety in coming forward against their assailants.
Status: In Committee
Oppose
LR1CA – Constitutional amendment to require voter identification
Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
Introduced by: Sen. Murante
Summary: We strongly oppose LR1CA, this bill is an attempt to make it harder for Nebraskans to vote. This will disenfranchise working and minority families that elected officials are representing. Voting is a right and duty of every citizen, making it intentionally harder for Nebraskans to vote destroys our Democracy.
Status: Sen. Larson Priority Bill
Committee: Judiciary
Introduced by: Sen. Schumacher
Summary: We oppose LR 269CA which would allow the state to take huge swaths of land by eminent domain and hand it over to corporations who would also not pay any taxes. The land could be used to get around environmental safeguards that big corporations hate—think fracking waste ponds, uranium mining and other risky projects.
Action: Sen. Schumacher Priority Bill
LB 712: Require drug testing for certain applicants and recipients of unemployment benefits
Committee: Business and Labor
Introduced by: Sen. Albrecht
Summary: We oppose LB 712 which would require drug testing for recipients of unemployment benefits. Every taxpayer pays into this system as a way to make sure they have an income when looking for work in between jobs. It is shocking Republicans would push this type of bill. Drug testing tied to government programs is a huge waste of taxpayer money and is not effective in ending drug abuse.
Status: In Committee
LR285CA – Constitutional amendment to eliminate the State Board of Education
Committee: Education
Introduced by: Sen. Murante
Summary: We oppose LR285CA, which would dissolve the State Board of Education, leaving the State Department of Education to be solely comprised of a Commissioner of Education, who would be appointed by the Governor and have administrative powers over the Department. As elected officials, members of the State Board of Education represent the needs of the diverse communities all across the state. Dissolution of the Board removes the ability for communities to have a voice in the education system.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
Introduced by: Sen. Murante
Summary: We oppose LB1064 which is the first part of a trio of bills introduced by Sen. Murante in an attempt to bring voter identification to Nebraska. This bill would require voters to be screened in an database of undocumented “aliens”. Not only does this bill set into motion a precedent of classifying voters as deceitful, but it also uses language that perpetuates harmful stereotypes of undocumented immigrants.
Status: In Committee
Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
Introduced by: Sen. Murante
Summary: We oppose LB1065, which would establish a voter ID law with electronic poll booths that contain a list of registered Nebraskans and sign-in with a photo image and digital signature of the voter. There is no evidence of voter impersonation fraud in Nebraska, and LB1065 would require individuals who cast provisional ballots to appear before the election commission or county clerk within seven days after election day.
Status: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee priority bill
LB1066 – Require photographic identification for purposes of voting
Committee: Government, Military, and Veteran Affairs
Introduced by: Sen. Murante
Summary: We oppose LB1066, which would require valid photo ID in order to vote. Requiring voter identification is an unnecessary step in the voting process, as there is nothing to suggest that voter identification stops instances of voter fraud. This bill would place the burden of payment for the IDs on the Secretary of State’s Office, meaning that citizens’ taxes would be paying for unnecessary identifications that do nothing to improve the validity of the voting process in Nebraska.
Status: In Committee
