It was another busy week at the Nebraska Legislature. We testified on issues that we care deeply about and that impact women and girls— ending natural hair discrimination (LB 451), paid family and medical leave (LB 290), sick and safe leave (LB 258), and supporting mothers who are incarcerated (LB 119).
We are putting in the work to ensure policymakers know how these issues impact women and girls across the state. Your voice is equally, if not more, important in creating real and lasting change. Will you join us? These issues shouldn’t have to happen to you for it to matter to you. Use your voice to advocate for these bills for all Nebraskans.
ACT NOW – Submit Your Comment Online to End Natural Hair Discrimination
LB 451 – Bans Natural Hair Discrimination in the Workplace (Senator Terrell McKinney). Last week, we asked for 20 online comments in support of LB 451, and you showed up and doubled it! However, I Be Black Girl is going really big with a goal of 500 online comments, and we know we can get there! If you have lived experience, please leave a comment. To our white or white-passing advocates, your voice and allyship matter on this issue. Support Black women leading this effort by leaving an online comment today to demonstrate how important fair and equal workplaces are for all of us.
- Submit comments online today by clicking the button that reads “Submit Comments Online For LB 451” and mark yourself as a “Proponent.”
- Visit I Be Black Girl’s Take Action page for shareable images and get more info to share on your social media!
- Learn more about LB 451 via our fact sheet (English / Spanish).
ACT NOW – Submit Your Comment Online to Strengthen Protection Orders
LB 118 – Extends Protection Orders to Five Years and Eliminates Notarization Requirements (Senator Adam Morfeld). Protection orders are critical to maintaining survivor safety in the aftermath of violence, preventing offenders from contacting, intimidating, harassing, or harming survivors or their children.
- Submit comments online now by clicking the button that reads “Submit Comments Online For LB 118” and mark yourself as a “Proponent.”
- Read a recent OpEd from Survivor Amanda Bohm about the necessity of protection orders.
- Watch this news story featuring Senator Morfeld, survivors and local advocates discussing the importance of this legislation.
- If you need additional talking points, see our testimony.
- Learn more about LB 118 via our fact sheet (English / Spanish).
The Nebraska Legislature is closed today and on Monday, but there are more hearings on the horizon next week, including some critical bills that hope to address the challenges amplified during the pandemic and to remove barriers to the assistance people need.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
LB 108 – Increases eligibility for SNAP (Senator John McCollister). This bill addresses the cliff effect in food assistance benefits that allows working families to accept raises or small wage increases without losing the support they need.
LB 121 – Removes the lifetime ban for eligibility to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs) benefits for individuals with a prior drug conviction (Senator Megan Hunt). Food insecurity and the need for resources in our community has been at an all-time high during the pandemic. We support this bill to remove barriers to food assistance for Nebraskans with past drug convictions.
Both bills will be heard by the Health and Human Services Committee beginning at 9:30 am.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18
LB 67 – Modernizes school-based health center laws (Senator Jen Day). This bill would align school-based health center operations with other clinic settings to better meet the health care needs of young people. The hearing for this bill will take place in front of the Health and Human Services Committee beginning at 1:30 pm.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19
LB 183 – Adopts the Sexual Assault Emergency Care Act (Senator Megan Hunt). This bill outlines the need for providing emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors in the emergency room and will be heard by the Health and Human Services Committee beginning at 1:30 pm.
Reminder: Our Public Policy Power Hour happens on Fridays at noon. Join us next week as we share what’s new in the Nebraska Legislature and how you can get involved in public policy that supports women and girls. Let us know you are coming!