The 2025 Nebraska Legislative Session ended on Monday and will be remembered as the one where lawmakers disregarded overwhelming opposition to harmful policies and did what they wanted to anyway, including passing bad legislation that discriminates against Nebraskans and rolling back voter-approved ballot measures. While these policies will take effect in our state to the detriment of those in our communities, we now move toward accountability and will continue our important work into next session with a renewed focus of advocating for effective policy change to advance gender equity.
On a brighter side, we made positive strides toward support for survivors of sexual violence with critical funding and housing assistance. And together, we stopped some truly horrible bills from advancing. Any bills that didn’t make it through the process this session will pick up where they left off when the next one begins in January 2026. Read on to find out what happened this session. ⤵️
KEY BILLS ADVANCING GENDER EQUITY
One of our key priority bills, LB 78, passed Final Reading unanimously. This bill, introduced by Senator Elliot Bostar and prioritized by the State-Tribal Relations Committee, will provide approximately $1 million in necessary funding to create a Domestic Violence and Trafficking Victim Housing Assistance Fund, alleviating emergency shelter bottlenecks and ensuring survivors don’t have to choose between homeslessness and safety.
LB 192, introduced by Senator Dan Quick and prioritized by Senator John Cavanaugh, passed with 41 votes. The bill eliminates a sunset date and makes permanent our expanded eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure 10,000 Nebraskans and their families are fed.
LB 267, as amended to LB 80, passed. Introduced by Senator Victor Rountree, this bill is a critical part of our Freedom From Violence and Economic Security work this session. LB 267, increases housing stability for domestic violence survivors and their families in rental housing by allowing for the removal of an occupant who commits domestic violence and requiring landlords to change locks for safety.
An amended LB 348, introduced by Senator Jason Prokop, was successfully included in the budget package and will provide critical funding for domestic violence services and programs. With ongoing cuts to funding for services at the federal level, we will continue to encourage the Legislature to maintain adequate funding levels for this life-saving work locally.
LB 499, introduced by Senator Wendy DeBoer, passed unanimously. This puts survivors on the Crime Victims Reparations Committee, increasing survivor representation and leadership where decisions are made regarding their healing and path forward.
SETBACKS IN ADVANCING OUR WORK
The issue of paid sick leave was taken to the ballot after several years of inaction by state lawmakers. And just last November, nearly 75% of voters approved a ballot initiative so that all hardworking Nebraskans could earn and use paid sick leave. Then, lawmakers immediately carved out exemptions for more than 140,000 workers across the state, including any business with 10 or fewer employees, seasonal ag workers and those under 16 years old. With the unfortunate passage of LB 415, introduced by Senator Beau Ballard, and the amendment to include LB 698, introduced by Senator Paul Strommen, the bill also removes important protections for workers who face retaliation from their employers for using earned paid sick leave.
And after overwhelming opposition where trans youth and their families, allies and advocates strongly voiced their concerns with LB 89, introduced by Senator Kathleen Kauth, the bill passed anyway with just enough votes to ban trans youth from playing sports with their peers and requiring all student athletes to submit documentation of their sex at birth. While the original bill had additional harmful policies that would have restricted trans Nebraskans from bathrooms and other spaces, the pared down sports ban remains discriminatory and unnecessary. This bill that does nothing to expand protections for women or make any improvement in our lives but could open the door for intrusive policies related to our bodies and identities.
BILLS STILL IN PLAY
After LB 258 failed, was revived and then tried several more times, restrictions to voter-approved minimum wage increases failed to happen (for now), which means LB 258 will remain on Final Reading until next session. The introducer, Senator Jane Raybould, acknowledged that it will be difficult to lower the minimum wage increases next session after voter-approved changes take effect on January 1, 2026. Continue to contact your senator to let them know you oppose LB 258 and its attempt to create a subminimum wage.
Key bills still in committee and that will come back in 2026 include:
✅ LB 67 (Sen. Raybould) adopts the Sexual Assault Emergency Care Act. This bill ensures survivors of sexual violence are provided with complete, trauma-informed care post-assault. Learn more about LB 67 via our fact sheets (English / Spanish).
✅ LB 68 (Sen. Raybould) provides insurance and Medicaid coverage for certain birth control and allow individuals to take control of their health.
✅ LB 92 (Sen. Terrell McKinney) provides clean slate relief for eviction filings after three years for cases that never resulted in eviction, listed a minor child, or were dismissed or vacated.
✅ LB 153 (Sen. Dunixi Guereca) ensures postpartum coverage is available to all by extending Medicaid coverage.
✅ 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.
✅ LB 223 (Sen. Guereca) would prohibit source of income discrimination and support renters who utilize subsidies to find housing.
✅ LB 304 (Sen. DeBoer) maintains 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.
Additional bills that we oppose—including LB 512 (introduced by Senator Rick Holdcroft) and LB 669 (introduced by Senator Tanya Storer), both on General File; and LB 632 (introduced by Senator Ben Hansen), which is on Select File—would further restrict abortion care in Nebraska and make it easier to investigate and criminalize pregnancy loss. As we know, anti-abortion lawmakers will continue to push for further restrictions by putting barriers in place to receiving care. We remain committed to opposing any attempts to further restrict abortion care and criminalize pregnant people in our state.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
The work that we do together, matters. It can be hard and frustrating, demeaning and demanding. But progress happens every time you share your story, stand in opposition to discrimination and use your voice to advocate for change.
Until the next session, I will continue to focus on the good work that we did collectively this year—for survivors, for our neighbors, for our families. And now, as we shift our eyes forward on the work that lies ahead, we’ll focus on interim studies, coalition building and continued awareness raising.
Get in community with folks. Chase your joy. Stay committed to the purpose and mission. The way forward is together.