This is not a joke — we are in the final days of this legislative session and there’s a lot that’s still on the table.
Since our last update, the budget bills failed to pass the second round of debate twice before finally moving forward. The failures were squarely focused on senators’ attempt to use the state budget to include public funding for private schools which I’m sure you need no reminder that voters have already clearly said that’s non-negotiable. These budget bills will be on Final Reading today.
Below is an update on what’s moving, what’s shifting and where you can use your voice (and votes) to move our collective work to advance gender equity forward.
Bill Updates
✅ LB 304, introduced and prioritized by Sen. Wendy DeBoer, was included in a budget bill but then pulled out and debated separately on Monday. This assistance bridges the gap for families in the workforce who still don’t make enough to cover the rising costs of child care. It allows providers to stay afloat while keeping children in safe and consistent care facilities. The bill passed first round of debate 39-8! Read more about the issue through the Nebraska Examiner.
✅ LB 753, introduced by Sen. Victor Rountree, passed two rounds of debate on consent calendar since our last update thanks in part to your outreach. This bill would ensure military protection orders are recognized and enforced in Nebraska.
✅ LB 876, introduced by Sen. Bob Hallstrom, would allow immediate, short-term protection orders to be granted when someone is arrested for domestic or sexual assault with the protection order prohibiting the offender from possessing or purchasing a firearm. This bill was successfully amended into the Judiciary Committee’s priority bill, LB 935, which moved to Select File on Monday.
✅ LB 1131, introduced by Sen. Elliot Bostar, was added to a package of bills (now LB 901) from the Revenue Committee. This bill would terminate some tax exemptions for data centers and repurpose those funds to support domestic violence survivors. The bill is awaiting its Final Reading as of last week.
✅ LB 1146, introduced by Sen. Danielle Conrad, ensures certain absences are not considered unexcused, especially for pregnant and parking students. This bill was successfully amended during General File to LB 937, the Education Committee Priority Package.
👀 LB 878, prioritized by Sen. Dunixi Guereca, moved to Select File with a hostile anti-trans amendment that includes harmful language defining gender in very narrow terms and eliminates these benefits for some state employees who adopt. The original bill would require paid maternity leave for state employees but if the new amendment by Sen. Kathleen Kauth remains unchanged, this would be another case of anti-trans lawmakers continuing to add harmful and unnecessary language into state statue. We’ll monitor to see what happens in the second round of debate.
👀 LB 1089, introduced by Sen. Jana Hughes and prioritized by Sen. Christy Armendariz, has been placed on General File. The original bill would add back the voter-approved ability for employees to seek legal action against employers who violate their right to earned paid sick leave. However, the bill now includes a bad amendment that would further exempt more workers, including teachers, from being able to earn paid sick leave. More on this bill from the Nebraska Examiner.
Get Out the Vote
The Primary Election is coming up on Tuesday, May 12. This important step in our democracy sets the ballot for the General Election in November. Are you ready to make your voice heard?
➡️ Check your voter registration.
➡️ Find a ballot drop box (for those of you voting at home).
Get all the details and make your voting plan today at OmahaVotes.com.
New Economic Research: Learn More!
Join us for a free webinar on Thursday, April 16 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. as we take a deeper dive into the findings from our latest research, Unequal Plains: Examining the Economic Gender Gap in Nebraska, and what they reveal about women’s economic well-being in Nebraska. We’ll share key insights, stories from Nebraskans across the state and what meaningful change could look like.