LINCOLN - Nebraska Legislature lawmakers are exploring enhanced security measures at the Nebraska State Capitol ahead of the 2026 session, prompted by concerns about recent political violence elsewhere. Ben Hansen, chair of the Legislature’s Executive Board, said the building currently uses State Patrol officers and surveillance cameras, and allows firearms by open-carry, but that officials are considering additional steps while striving not to restrict public access.

Among the ideas under discussion are portable metal detectors at high-traffic entrances or hearing rooms, possibly for the 2026 session starting January 7, while permanent upgrades might roll out in 2027. The cost is expected to be modest—“less than tens of millions of dollars,” Hansen said—but the plan must contend with the Legislature’s major fiscal pressures, including a projected $451 million budget gap.

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