BILL TO EXTEND PANDEMIC-ERA FOOD STAMP BENEFITS UP FOR HEARING THURSDAY

LINCOLN- Starting on Wednesday, March 1st, a large swath of low-income families in the U.S. faced difficult choices following the end of Covid-era federal food stamp protections. However, a new bill introduced by Senator Day, LB84, would extend the deadline of these protections past the end of September, allowing families to maintain food security for an extended amount of time.

"This was legislation that was introduced during the pandemic to give extra access to families that were struggling during the pandemic," said Mike Hornacek, president and CEO of Together Omaha, "Unfortunately, as we know now, food insecurity rates are the highest they've ever been even post-pandemic, whether that has to do with inflation and many other things, so this legislation is critical."

Hornacek stated that, if LB84 fails to pass, around 10,000 Nebraska families stand to lose SNAP benefits come late September. 32 other states have extended supplementary Covid-era benefits, but many will still lose benefits after March 11th, when most of the benefits are set to end. Currently, around 42 million Americans receive SNAP assistance in the U.S., with most being working families.

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FAMILIES WARN AGAINST BILL ALLOWING 'REASONABLE PHYSICAL INTERVENTION' IN NEBRASKA SCHOOLS

LINCOLN- A new bill, LB811, introduced by State Sen. Dave Murman, would allow for teachers and staff at all Nebraska schools to use "reasonable physical intervention" to manage student behavior. The bill received a large amount of pushback, particularly from parents of students with developmental disabilities, civil rights leaders, school administrators, and former teachers, many of whom argued that the measure would risk the safety of students already facing increased discipline.

Brad Meurrens, public policy director of Disability Rights of Nebraska, stated that the bill's ambiguity puts students with disabilities at risk. Meurrens cited that around 80% of students who get restrained at schools, whether by other students or staff, have disabilities, despite the fact that they only make up 13% of the student population. Murman, in defense of his bill, stated that he simply wants to clarify that Nebraska's teachers and staff can physically intervene to protect students and school staffers, a step several opponents argued already exists in Nebraska law. 

"Friends, we have got to do something here," Murman told the Education Committee, "These acts of physical aggression have disrupted the learning environment. We have to let teachers defend themselves." Similar bills have been introduced for the past eight years in Nebraska, but all have failed. Murman stated that he introduced the bill this year at the behest of the Nebraska State Education Association.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS WEIGH PROPOSAL TO USE STATE FUNDS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

LINCOLN- LB528, introduced by State Sen. Ben Hansen, would create the Nebraska Option Enrollment Tuition Account Program, allowing Nebraska youth to tap into state funds to attend private school. "I want you to create options within option enrollment," said Hansen during an Education Committee hearing, "guaranteeing that there's a path forward for students who have been denied."

Under the bill, students whose option enrollment application is denied could apply to the State Board of Education for an Option Enrollment Tuition Account, which could be used to pay for tuition and fees at private, denominational, or parochial schools in Nebraska. Hansen claimed that the funds would not be taken away from public schools, as many opponents argued, but that they would come directly from Nebraska's general fund. 

Dawnell Glunz, an instructor at Grand Island Central Catholic, said the bill is not about the fight between public and private schools. "Students deserve an education that is tailored to their specific needs. This rings true for all students but in a unique way for students who are on an IEP or 504," said Glunz. 

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKER SEEKS A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE FOR WEIGHTY TIF REQUESTS

LINCOLN- Under Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh's LB746, voters in any Nebraska city would have to approve a tax-increment financing request that exceeds $20 million. Sen. Cavanaugh introduced the bill to limit Omaha's use of TIF in particular, which, according to Cavanaugh, has been a bit too trigger-happy with TIF when starting large projects. "It's not about the merits of the project, it's the process," said Cavanaugh in defense of her bill, "Are we honoring the intention of TIF, and are we honoring the people? These are the people's tax dollars."

TIF, a popular and at times controversial tool, is intended to spur the revival of "blighted" areas and is often awarded to developers to cover redevelopment expenses before begin paid back over 15 or 20 years. Normally, the property tax payments go to support schools and other local tax-reliant bodies. Cavanaugh, during an Urban Affairs Committee hearing, stated that she introduced the bill in response to the recent flurry of TIF-supported projects in Omaha, including the Streetcar project and Mutual of Omaha's planned downtown office tower. 

Officials from the City of Omaha and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce testified in opposition to the bill, saying that the city already offers the opportunity for public opinion at various points throughout the TIF process. Jacquelyn Morrison, an economic development aide to Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, said that few projects in the past couple of years fell within the parameters of this bill.

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LGBTQ PROTECTIONS AT CROSSROADS IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- This session, a myriad of proposals have been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature that some see as restrictive for LGBTQ individuals, including bills that place restrictions on what bathrooms transgender youth could use, and which sports teams they can participate in. However, several bills have been introduced to counter these proposals, like one that expands nondiscrimination policies to include gender identity and sexual orientation and another to broaden the definition of marriage.

In response to the more restrictive proposals, state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh vowed to bring the Legislature to a "screeching halt" unless the bills were revoked. Sen. John Fredrickson, the first openly gay male senator to serve in the Nebraska Legislature, said that several of these more restrictive bills would "chip away" at LGBTQ rights. 

"In Nebraska, we haven't seen anything quite as aggressive and bold as what we're seeing this year," said Fredrickson, "so it's an interesting year to start, for sure, given this kind of unprecedented dynamic. But at the same time, we're also seeing some really great, proactive legislation to ensure that the community is protected." Sen. Fredrickson introduced several pieces of proactive legislation, including LB179, which would prohibit conversion therapy in Nebraska, a practice he defined as "deceptive," and LB316, which would remove a provision in state law that restricts people with sexually transmitted diseases from getting married. 

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HIGH SCHOOLERS CHALLENGE NEBRASKA SENATOR'S PLAN TO STUDY RENEWABLE ENERGY

LINCOLN- Last Friday, Senator Bruce Bostelman told the Nebraska Legislature's Executive Board that the economic impact of a nationwide shift to renewable energy must be studied prior to implementation to assess the long-term costs of replacing coal, natural gas, and other energy plants with wind and solar. To pursue this study, Sen. Bostelman introduced LB566, which would appropriate around $30,000 towards an independent consultant to examine the trends and project potential unforeseen that may come as a result of switching to cleaner energies in Nebraska. 

The study would also look at the economic benefits of maintaining coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy while making the switch to cleaner energy sources that "threaten the ability of power suppliers in the state to maintain existing baseload generation." "As energy policy around the nation is shifting to a more diverse set of generation sources," said Bostelman, "it is prudent for the Natural Resources Committee to examine the potential effects of those policies."

In response to this bill, which some see as a way to justify continuing the use of non-renewable energy sources, like coal and natural gas, a trio of Omaha high school students, who are members of Students for Sustainability, told senators that the scope of the study was far too narrow and that the result was "pre-determined" based on the language of the bill. Mia Perales, an attendee at Omaha South High School, said the study appeared poised to ignore previous reports that indicated that the cost of generating electricity from renewable energy has dropped by 80% in the last decade.

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'HOW SICK DO WE LET PEOPLE GET?' DOCTORS, SUPPORTERS AT ODDS OVER NEBRASKA ABORTION BILL'S REACH

LINCOLN- The day Senator Albrecht introduced LB626, or the Nebraska Heartbeat Act, she estimated that it would ban around 85% of all abortions in Nebraska. However, many opponents argued during a public hearing two weeks ago that the bill would essentially ban all abortion procedures, while others questioned how the exceptions listed in the bill, like for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault, would work in practice.

According to various experts who conducted research following the bill's introduction, the 85% prediction may be pretty close to the final percentage if the bill is passed. They also cited evidence that suggested that less than 14% of women who received abortions did so at five weeks or earlier. The Department of Health and Human Services also released data confirming that around 15% to 25% of all abortions in Nebraska happen at the six-week mark.

Opponents of the bill also argued that most women don't even realize they're pregnant at six weeks, and that women who do realize it would have a very limited amount of time to receive the procedure if they chose to. During the hearing, several doctors testifying in support of the bill claimed that there are certain procedures that terminate a pregnancy to save the life of a mother, but that they don't consider it an abortion. Lincoln maternal-fetal medicine physician Sean Kenney, a supporter of Albrecht's bill, said he's performed such procedures. "I didn't do an abortion," he said, "I saved [a mother's] life."

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NEBRASKA BILL WOULD INCENTIVIZE DONATIONS TO ANTI-ABORTION PREGNANCY CENTERS

LINCOLN- Lawmakers attempting to restrict Nebraska abortion access are eyeballing ways to incentivize donations to pregnancy centers that oppose abortions. Senator Albrecht is sponsoring the Nebraska Pregnancy Help Act which would offer tax credits for donations to pregnancy centers that do not provide abortions. 

Donations would only qualify for tax credits if the money goes to a certified charitable organization that assists women in carrying their pregnancies to term, helps with parenting or adoption, prevents abortions and promotes healthy childbirths. The organization cannot provide, refer or promote abortions, and cannot financially support any other organizations that do the same. 

Opponents to the bill included OpenSky Policy Institute, Planned Parenthood North Central States and ACLU of Nebraska, along with other abortion-rights advocates. Many opponents alleged the centers intentionally share misleading information to persuade women not to seek an abortion. 

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PROPONENTS OF EXPANDING CASINOS BEYOND EXISTING SIX RACETRACKS WON A ROUND IN THE LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Those in favor of adding casinos that are not a part of the six existing race tracks had a notable in the Nebraska legislature. The victory came from LB311 not advancing out of the General Affairs Committee. The bill would have required a market study on the impact of casino gambling, including whether it would have a detrimental or positive financial impact on existing racetrack/casinos.

The proposed report would have pushed back the licensing system for casinos to begin in 2029 rather than 2025. In 2020 voters approved gambling at the state's six racetracks. But several communities, including Bellevue, North Platte, Ogallala, Kimball and York, have indicated that they want to be allowed to build casinos, too.

Voting against advancing LB 311, besides Holdcroft, were State Sens. Jen Day of Gretna, Jana Hughes of Seward and Jane Raybould of Lincoln. Voting to advance were Lowe and Sens. Brian Hardin of Scottsbluff and Tom Brewer of Gordon. Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh was present but not voting. The bill did not advance on a 3-4-1 vote.

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PILLEN CROSSES POLITICAL AISLE TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH BILL FROM LINCOLN DEMOCRAT

LINCOLN- Governor Pillen made an unexpected appearance at a hearing recently to deliver personal testimony in support for LB276. LB276 is sponsored by Senator Wishart, a Democrat. The bill would enable the creation of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model in Nebraska through the Medicaid program. The bill has been touted as “transformational” in improving quality and access to care. It would create centers in six communities across the state.

Former Governor Ricketts only testified on one bill from a Democrat in his term, and his long-time press aide, Taylor Gage, delivered the testimony. Pillen’s testimony, observers said, is illustrative of his willingness to meet with political opponents, and work out differences, on some issues. Wishart said she was grateful for the support from the governor. She said “bipartisan support” will be “critical” in tackling the state’s problems with providing mental and behavioral health care. 

Governors often testify in support of bills they ask to be introduced by state senators, but it is rare for them to appear at committee hearings on bills they didn’t request. “Mental health and substance abuse are tough problems. We also need more mental health specialists,” Pillen said. 

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CONRAD BILL PUSHES TO ENSURE NEBRASKANS HAVE THE 'GREATEST POSSIBLE ACCESS' TO PUBLIC RECORDS

LINCOLN- Nebraska Senator Danielle Conrad, who previously worked for the ACLU of Nebraska and often sought public records, introduced LB366, a bill that expands the amount of time Nebraska governmental staff spend compiling public records requests, prohibits agencies from charging for pages that are blank or mostly redacted, and requires the public release of police body cam footage of in-custody deaths. 

Conrad, during a public hearing on her bill, said that she wants to give Nebraskans the "greatest access to government records and government activity as possible." Conrad also went on to state that the driving force for the introduction of this bill was how Nebraska agencies respond to public records, which, according to Conrad, is rather slow at the local level. 

"It's not just one agency, and it's not one community," she said, "In previous years, you'd say, 'Hey I'd like to get this information about this'...and you could really get that information. We've seen really a tightening and an evisceration of that approach in a really short period of time." What's more, according to Senator Conrad, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services attempted to charge State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh almost $64,000 following her work on the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee.

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OMAHA SENATOR SEEKS MORE EXPERTISE, ACCOUNTABILITY ON STATE PAROLE BOARD

LINCOLN- State Sen. Terrell McKinney called Thursday for a total revamp of the Nebraska Board of Parole, saying it would become a much better and more fair system if Parole Board members didn't miss so many meetings and transitioned back into inspiring "restorative justice." To fix these issues, Sen. McKinney introduced LB631, a bill that would require Parole Board members to miss no more than three hearings a year. 

LB631 would also bard the board from denying parole to an inmate if the state prison system "did not offer or delayed rehabilitation programming due to operational issues, including staffing shortages, maintenance issues, or lack of funding." McKinney's bill was introduced following an extensive state parole board review, facilitated by the Crime and Justice Institute, which recommended several steps to reduce prison overcrowding, including adopting a streamlined parole process for nonviolent offenders. 

Spike Eickholt, a representative from the ACLU of Nebraska, stated during a public hearing for LB631 that the Nebraska Parole Board has been "underutilized" in addressing the state's nation-high prison overcrowding. In 2018, 78% of Nebraska inmates were granted parole in hearings before the board, but that figure dropped to just 58% in 2020.

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PILLEN SIGNS ORDER BANNING USE OF TECHNOLOGIES FROM FIRMS LINKED TO CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY

LINCOLN- An executive order banning the state and its contractors from using communications equipment and services produced by six companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party has been signed by Governor Pillen. He listed specific companies that Pillen says are owned an controlled by the Chinese Communist Government. Those companies include Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corp., Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology and their subsidiaries.

The goal is to prevent the party from, "using technology to infiltrate and influence our state’s infrastructure.” In November, the Biden administration banned purchases of new telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE because they posed “an unacceptable risk” to U.S. security. Pillen said, "I will continue to find opportunities to improve Nebraska’s infrastructure and technology grid while remaining vigilant in protecting our state’s security."

Huawei has denied that its equipment is a spying threat. In January, State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln introduced a bill to prohibit Nebraska cell phone providers using Huawei or ZTE equipment from getting funds from the state’s Universal Service Fund. That bill has already had its hearing and is waiting to be moved out of committee.

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GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES FLEX MUSCLES, ADVANCE CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL

LINCOLN- The first round of approval for LB77, the permitless concealed carry bill, passed the first round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature. If enacted, it would allow people to carry a concealed weapon without a state permit or passage of a gun safety course. The bill was filibustered for multiple days before advancing on a 36-12 vote.

The bill had failed to advance in years past. This year, it has advanced to review even with the opposition of both Omaha and Lincoln. The bill's sponsor, Senator Tom Brewer, argued that law-abiding Nebraskans should not have to pay — $100 for a state concealed carry permit and $100-$200 for a training course — to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms.

Opponents pointed to the recent mass shootings in America claiming this is no time to expand gun rights. Brewer and other supporters held their ground that the bill had nothing to do with the proliferation of guns and gun violence in the U.S. There will be tow more rounds of debate on the bill before it would see the governor's desk.

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BILL WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC VOTE BEFORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD USE 'WORK AROUND' TO FINANCE NEW SCHOOLS

LINCOLN- Nebraska voters, under a new bill, would have to approve agreements to finance new schools via a little-used interlocal agreement system. LB299, introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, would also close a "loophole" in state law that allows for the financing of new school construction without a public vote. "If you're going to put people in debt," said Linehan during a public hearing on the bill, "people should have the right to vote 'yes' or 'no'." 

Linehan cited a recent case in Beatrice, where voters rejected a bond to build a new elementary school twice, but saw the local school board appropriate $43 million and begin construction anyway. Linehan described such a move as a "work around," and seeks to limit the ability of school boards to utilize this process.

Sen. Myron Dorn, who represents Beatrice, said he supported this bill because many of his constituents were upset that the construction project moved forward. LB299, which has already left committee, advanced from a first-round debate on a 38-0 vote.

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TESTIMONY LEANED HEAVY IN SUPPORT OF A PROPOSED MALCOLM X HOLIDAY IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- At a Wednesday hearing, support for a bill that would establish Malcolm X Day as a state holiday drew loud support. However, Sen. Steve Halloran suggested that, instead, Nebraska could implement a shared civil rights leader holiday, honoring Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and several other prolific figures. Preston Love, Jr., a proponent testifier, challenged Halloran's suggestion, saying that "maybe in another state that might be an approach" since Malcolm X was born in Nebraska. 

"We have somewhat of a cosmic and divine responsibility to recognize him as a state," continued Love, a North Omaha historian and professor, "give him a day." Kathy Wilmot, the only spoken opponent to the bill and a new member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, said that there are only a set number of days in a year and that many other prominent Nebraskans should be considered. "I don't think we can continually add new holidays," said Wilmot.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney, who introduced the bill, said he has previously attempted to establish the holiday, but failed. However, now that Malcolm X has been newly inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame, there may be a chance. Several proponent testifiers noted the hall of fame induction as a reason to establish the holiday. 

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS ADVANCE DRESS CODE BILL INTENDED TO PROTECT STUDENTS' RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL BELIEFS

LINCOLN- Under LB630, introduced by Sen. Terrell McKinney, the Nebraska Department of Education would be tasked with establishing a model dress code and grooming policy for all Nebraska schools. The bill intends to protect Nebraska students from discrimination for wearing attire or their hair in a way that aligns with their religious or cultural beliefs. The Legislature's Education Committee advanced the bill to general file on a 7-0 vote, pushing it into a first round of debate.

The dress code established by the Department of Education would not be allowed to prohibit any student from wearing attire associated with their race, religion, or national origin, and local school boards would be required to adopt the written dress code by July 1, 2025. During a hearing for the bill, there was no opponent testimony, and several proponents from various cultures and religions, both parents and students, argued that the bill would help them be more comfortable in school.

Two years ago, the ACLU of Nebraska sued a north-central Nebraska school district alleging that an employee cut the hair of a Native American child, a move that parents claimed violated their beliefs. "We believe our hair is our spirit; as it grows, our spirit grows," said one of the parents named in the suit. Under LB630, such violations will not be allowed to take place.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS ADVANCE BILL BANNING ABORTIONS AT ABOUT 6 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

LINCOLN- LB626, or the Nebraska Heartbeat Act, passed out of the Health and Human Services Committee on a 4-2 vote, with Sen. Lynne Walz not present to vote. Following advancement, the bill will be put through three rounds of debate. LB626, introduced by Sen. Joni Albrecht, would prohibit abortions in the state once embryonic cardiac activity is detected via ultrasound. 

Last session, Albrecht introduced the same bill, but failed to pass it following an extended filibuster. The bill introduced last year did not make it out of the Judiciary Committee on a vote, but passed through a successful pull motion to make it to the general file. This year, Albrecht's new bill includes several exceptions that were present in the last iteration, including several for rape, incest, and life-saving exceptions.

However, Albrecht's bill is still significantly stricter than Nebraska's current abortion law, which bans the procedure at 20 weeks past fertilization. It's estimated that LB626 would eliminate 85% of abortions in the state. If passed, a physician's medical license could be revoked if they perform an abortion after embryonic cardiac activity is detected. 

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THOUSANDS OF NEBRASKANS COULD LOSE MEDICAID AS COVID-ERA PROTECTIONS END

OMAHA- Around 80,000 Nebraskans are expected to lose Medicaid coverage in the coming months now that the federal Covid-related public health emergency is expiring and pandemic-era protections are ending. Some of those who will lose coverage include those who make too much money at work to qualify, found a job with health benefits, and have had children move out during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

However, state officials and community health advocates worry that others may be kicked off the program even if they still qualify since state Medicaid workers won't be able to reach them for newly resumed eligibility reviews. "The biggest thing is we really, really, really want to make sure we're not dropping anybody from coverage who's still eligible," said Kevin Bagley, Nebraska's State Medicaid Director. 

During the federal public health emergency, Congress required that states keep everyone on Medicaid who enrolled on or after March 18th, 2020. According to Congress, this move was intended to ensure that as many people as possible had health coverage during the pandemic. Despite this, President Biden announced last month that he was ending the Covid emergency starting May 11th, which set off a national "unwind" process under which states were required to begin reviewing Medicaid recipients, a practice done pre-pandemic. 

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BANKS CAUGHT UP IN MASSIVE BANK FRAUD BEGIN TO SHOW TEMPORARY LOSSES

LINCOLN- Millions of dollars of fraudulent loans obtained by Lincoln businessman Aaron Marshbanks are starting to show up in the bottom line of Nebraska banks and savings and loans. A total of six financial institutions reported a loss during the 4th quarter of 2022. Western National Bank, based in Chester, and I3 Bank, based in Bennington, reported net losses for the entire year. 

Kelly Lammers, director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, said Friday that he could not comment on individual banks but said he stands by earlier comments that despite more than $50 million in estimated fraudulent loans obtained by Marshbanks, Nebraska financial institutions are well capitalized to withstand such losses. “Generally, as an industry, Nebraska banking is incredibly strong,” Lammers said. 

An attorney has been appointed to sort out Marshbanks’ estate and to determine whether assets are available to pay off the more than $50 million in claims made by 30 financial institutions against the estate. Officials have said there appears to be little equity built up in the more than 200 properties he had purchased, primarily in north Omaha and Lincoln, but also in Wyoming and New Orleans.

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