LINCOLN- The Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee has been trying for a month to get one of its packages of education proposals out of committee and onto the floor. But the past few executive sessions have been tense, and committee members remain divided. Now, the committee chair, who until last week had been optimistic about the package’s chances, says the bill that includes giving teachers more time off to deal with significant life events is running out of time to reach the legislative floor this year. The obstacle: lawmaker objections to including one senator’s priority proposal that would allow K-12 students to be excused during the school day for off-site religious instruction and coursework.

Two Democratic-aligned lawmakers and one Republican on the committee have questioned the inclusion of the religious-themed bill in the package. But the Education Committee chairman, State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenville, continues to emphasize the importance of including the bill. The inclusion of Central City State Sen. Loren Lippincott’s Legislative Bill 550 was part of a “deal” involving the state Legislature’s Retirement Systems Committee, one Democrat and other Republicans on the committee, and the state’s largest teachers' union.

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