NEBRASKA SEN. MEGAN HUNT DITCHES DEMOCRATIC LABEL, REGISTERS AS NONPARTISAN

LINCOLN- Senator Megan Hunt, one of Nebraska's highest-profile Democrats, has left the party and registered as nonpartisan. Hunt has had many different parties throughout the course of her life saying, "I have been a Republican, an independent, a Libertarian, a Democrat, back to Republican to vote in the primary, back to Democrat." As an active member in this year's legislative proceedings, the change may come as a surprise for some.

Many are asking what prompted such a switch. The answer is that the intensity of the legislative fights in Nebraska, the focus on party affiliation in media, and the lack of support from national groups for liberal candidates in conservative-dominated states led Hunt to make the jump. "The parties are not the future," she said. "The political dysfunction is extreme and at the national level, the parties are ideologically bankrupt."

Hunt noted that prominent Democratic organizations wanted to highlight and support her work in this year's Legislature, but they got involved after the battle was already fought. "We have scrapped and fought and won against a lot of odds in a system that funds Republicans with a blank check but abandons progressives, and they want to share the credit for it?" Hunt said. "Go away." Hunt said she remains on the left of the political spectrum and will continue advocating for those positions.

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OPS SUPERINTENDENT CHERYL LOGAN REFLECTS ON HER FIVE-YEAR TENURE, WHICH WILL END JUNE 30TH

OMAHA- As Dr. Cheryl Logan wraps up her time as the leader of Nebraska's largest school district, she took time to reflect upon her tenure, saying that she wouldn't have done anything differently these past five years. Dr. Logan has served in the position since 2018, and has had to navigate many obstacles since joining the school district, including teacher shortages, transportation issues, declining student achievement, and a deadly pandemic. 

"You don't get to choose the circumstances of your leadership--you choose a job and the job chooses you," said Logan, "I'm really reflective, especially about decision-making...every decision that was made or executed, even the ones we have to make quickly with the time allotted, we were thoughtful, we brought in resources or experts to help us make those decisions and executed them."

Over the past five years, Dr. Logan has spearheaded the launch of academies and pathways at each high school in the district, deployed new one-to-one technology, managed the construction of several new school buildings, and helped create plans to disburse millions of dollars in federal Covid-19 relief money. Logan also stated that she was proud of her work in implementing LB147 in 2021, which will put the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems in charge of managing the troubled OPS pension system in 2024. 

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CALLERS CHALLENGE PILLEN ABOUT HIS SUPPORT FOR BILL BANNING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

LINCOLN- Governor Pillen received two callers during his monthly radio call-in show that asked about the Governor's support for the controversial gender-affirming care ban. The bill has advanced to final-round consideration, but it has also spawned a nearly session-long string of filibusters by Omaha Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh and Megan Hunt.

One caller from Fort Calhoun asked how many people the bill (LB574) really affects. “One kid makes a big difference,” Pillen said. “So the transgender bill, from my seat, is very, very simple. It’s important that children can decide when they get to the adequate age.” Pillen added that he cannot sit down and have a beer with his 18-year-old son “because it’s not in the best interest of the child.” 

“That’s the same thing with the therapy,” he said, referring to gender-affirming treatments or surgeries. Two other callers supported Pillen’s stance on Legislative Bill 574, with one caller referring to gender-affirming care as “child abuse.” Other callers were concerned with communist Chinese police stations in Nebraska, which Pillen said he would not be giving any time to. 

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WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA GET NEARLY $2 MILLION BOOST FROM FEDERAL GRANTS

OMAHA- The Department of the Interior has announced roughly $2 million in federal grant funds will go to water conservation projects in southwest Nebraska. A $1.1 million grant is to help defray the cost of a $2.68 million project in the Middle Republican Natural Resources District. The district includes at least parts of five counties: Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock, Red Willow and Lincoln. 

The other $834,310 grant is to help pay for a $2 million project in the Upper Republican Natural Resources District, which encompasses Dundy, Chase and Perkins Counties. These grants come as part of a $140 million national package. Much of the grant funding comes from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law that allocated $8.3 billion for national water infrastructure projects. 

Natural resources districts, known as NRDs, empower locally elected community members to manage the state’s water resources, noted U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Jasper Fanning, general manager of the Upper Republican NRD, described the funds as “a big step forward” in efforts to increase efficiency in his area. 

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NEW REPORT SETS OFF ALARM ABOUT NURSE SHORTAGE AND PATIENT CARE IN NEBRASKA

OMAHA- According to a new report released this week by the Nebraska Hospital Association, Nebraska Rural Health Association, and Nebraska Health Care Workforce Collaborative, Nebraska is on pace to be short 5,435 nurses by 2025. Contributing factors outlined in the report include burnout, an aging nurse population, and insufficient training funds. 

"Our hospitals in Nebraska face tremendous pressure when it comes to recruiting and retaining a stable and healthy workforce," said NHA President Jeremy Nordquist, "This report highlights the significant gaps in nursing across the state, especially in the areas of behavioral health and critical care." Citing findings from the report, Sen. Merv Riepe introduced a measure to increase spending on clinical training sites for nurses, asking for a total of $6 million over two fiscal years. 

The Hospital Association also stated that the ongoing nurse shortage has negatively impacted the state's economy, since citizens and businesses won't settle in areas lacking in adequate care. In response to staffing shortages, many Nebraska hospitals have had to invest "significant" resources in the recruitment and retainment of staff, something that has further exacerbated the financial hardships hospitals are facing. 

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NEBRASKA AG HILGER'S OPINION SAYS ABORTION BILL WOULDN'T PUT DOCTORS AT RISK OF A CRIME

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers released a legal opinion disputing two of the top concerns surrounding Sen. Albrecht's LB626, which would prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy or after embryonic cardiac activity is detected. Hilgers and Solicitor General Eric Hamilton, who drafted the opinion together, stated that doctors would not be charged with a crime in Nebraska if they meet the proposal's six-week window or provide care in the hopes of protecting the life of the mother. 

"Exceptions apply to both the post-viability and 20-week bans," they wrote, "The Act does not amend these statutes or any other provisions in the Nebraska Criminal Code." Despite this, Sen. John Cavanaugh, an attorney, argued that a separate section of state law, which could be changed by LB626, could be utilized to criminally prosecute doctors who perform abortions outside of the stipulated parameters. 

Other opponents of the bill, including Sen. Jen Day, have argued that the vagueness by which LB626 is written could be read to require the reporting of rape to law enforcement. Sen. Merv Riepe introduced an amendment that would shift the six-week ban to twelve weeks, a compromise some opponents are willing to consider.

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DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD POSTPONES VOTE ON BUILDING MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES IN DOWNTOWN OMAHA

OMAHA- Concerns about proposed costs led the Douglas County Board to postpone a vote on Tuesday which would allow the city to take a major step toward building new mental health facilities near the Douglas County Jail, which resided in downtown Omaha. The Board was just minutes away from moving the resolution forward before being postponement. The new facilities are expected to cost a combined $60 million.

The resolution, which was put forward by Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson, called for the launching of capital improvement projects that would lead to two new downtown structures. Much of the construction cost would come from federal pandemic recovery and relief funding, as well as around $8 million from the CARES Act. After a debate and public hearing on the proposal, the Board seemed poised to approve the resolution, but Board Member P.J. Morgan moved to table it.

In the end, the Board voted 4-3 on the resolution, with Jim Cavanaugh, Mike Friend, and Maureen Boyle joining Morgan in voting to postpone the resolution. "I really want to be careful about the expenses," said Morgan of his vote. Morgan stated that he was also concerned that the community mental health portion of the project would be too expensive. Similarly, Morgan recommended that the Board wait to see how state legislation might affect opportunities to collaborate with the state for funding.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS DEFEND COLLEAGUE HUNT FOR 'OUT OF BOUNDS' CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMPLAINT

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Sen. Megan Hunt confirmed that she was under formal investigation for an alleged conflict of interest stemming from her opposition to LB574. Frank Daley, executive director of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission hand-delivered the complaint to Hunt, which was devised by Omaha-based attorney David Begley.

The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission requires that all public officials and employees disclose potential conflicts of interest in writing, and David Begley alleged that Sen. Hunt's opposition to LB574, which would ban gender-affirming care for minors, is in the direct interest of her child, who is transgender. "The point isn't that I could gain financially if my kid has rights," Hunt told her colleagues on the floor, "The point is the harassment." 

Multiple senators spoke out against the allegations, including Republican Sen. Tom Brandt, who said that Nebraskans elected "49 good people" and that "family is off limits." Continuing, Brandt said that he does "not endorse this offensive complaint. It is so far out of bounds that it does not merit discussion." Sen. John Cavanaugh, an attorney, argued that the investigation is a "deliberate and clear attempt" to harass Hunt. Sen. Wendy DeBoer came to Hunt's defense as well, saying that many senators have conflicts, many of which are not identified. "So if Senator Hunt is going to get a conflict or a NADC file against her, then I should too," said DeBoer.

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OMAHA CHAMBER URGES LEGISLATURE TO AVOID MEASURES CONTRARY TO 'POSITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT'

OMAHA- The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on Wednesday urging the Nebraska Legislature to avoid advancing, in the interest of "diversity, equity, and inclusion," any bills that would "threaten Nebraska as the warm and welcoming state we know it to be." 

The statement, which was issued by Chamber President Carmen Tapio and interim CEO Tim Burke, did not name any specific bills, but was, according to some, aimed at LB574, which would ban gender-affirming care for minors. In fact, a Chamber spokesman confirmed that that was the case. Sen. Kathleen Kauth, the introducer of LB574, is currently working with a coalition of colleagues to draft a compromise amendment.

The Chamber's state said further that the business organization was not "equipped to weigh in on issues that involve personal medical care decisions or medical decisions regarding parents, their children, and their health care professionals." Despite this, the Chamber emphasized that it was "fully committed" to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce.

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OMNIBUS BILL AIMS TO HELP MAKE NEBRASKA CROSSING A MECCA FOR 'RETAIL TOURISM'

LINCOLN- LB727, a substantial legislative package containing more than 20 bills, aims to revitalize and stimulate economic activity all over Nebraska. Besides a bill that would allow Nebraska Crossing to finance a proposed 1,000-acre expansion, LB727 also offers an expansion for Omaha's CHI Center, the construction of a new convention center in Lincoln, tax breaks for retired firefighters, and tax credits for those selling soybean-based biodiesel.

However, the headline proposal of LB727 remains the Nebraska Crossing expansion. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the architect of this expansive proposal, stated that she wanted Nebraska to become a "retail tourism" destination, comparable to the Legends complex in Kansas City. Linehan believes that providing financial incentives will draw in more retailers to the area who might have previously passed on building in the state, like IKEA and Crate & Barrel. 

Right now, said Linehan, Nebraska Crossing is "a cornfield," and unless the state helps the area out, it will become a forest of strip malls. "I'm not a lover of incentives," said Sen. Linehan, "but the money that we're losing to other states and the money we could bring in here, I see it as a huge win." Debate on the package of bills is expected very soon.

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DHHS ENCOURAGES UPDATING INFORMATION AS 145,000 NEBRASKANS AT RISK OF LOSING MEDICAID

LINCOLN- 145,000 are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage as renewals restart following a three-year Covid-19 pause. Changes in federal law mean the eligibility of Medicaid recipients is now being reviewed, returning to “normal” eligibility requirements. The Nebraska DHHS began March 1 processing the accounts of Nebraskans whose renewal months are April and May. As a result, Nebraskans could begin to lose coverage this month, even though some may still be eligible for Medicaid. 

DHHS said the most important thing Nebraskans can do is update their contact information. Nebraskans can visit or call ACCESSNebraska to update their information or see when their renewal month is. DHHS also has local offices throughout the state to assist Medicaid recipients. Watson said the best estimate is that 10-20% of the nearly 390,000 Nebraskans on Medicaid could lose coverage, which is in line with national trends. 

Some could lose eligibility unnecessarily, Watson noted, if the department cannot reach enrollees when more information is required to verify eligibility. This could be done via mail, and enrollees may need to send pay stubs or other identifying information. Nebraska Appleseed has a step-by-step guide for following the Medicaid renewal process and can also help Nebraskans manage the process. 

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GOV. JIM PILLEN SIGNS PERMITLESS CONCEALED CARRY BILL INTO NEBRASKA LAW

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Nebraska Gov. Pillen signed Sen. Brewer's LB77 into law, allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed firearms without a permit starting later in the summer. "Today, with the signing of this bill into law," said Pillen during the broadcasted signing, "we do justice to the constitutional promise." The bill will apply statewide, and overrides any local ordinances limiting the concealed carry of handguns.

Because the bill did not include an 'emergency clause,' Nebraskans can expect to begin concealed carrying firearms without a permit 90 days after the legislative session ends, around August or September. Until then, Nebraskans seeking to carry a concealed firearm will still be expected to pay a $100 fee and take an eight to sixteen-hour gun safety class. 

Sen. Tom Brewer was ecstatic that the bill had passed. Since attaining office in 2017, Brewer has worked to implement bills similar to LB77. "For some of us, this has been a long endeavor," he said. An amendment folded into LB77 added an extra misdemeanor charge if someone is found to be carrying a concealed firearm while committing certain crimes, including domestic assault, shoplifting, or stalking.

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STATE IS SEEKING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, BUT CRITICS WANT MORE URGENCY

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has its eye on around $245 million in federal funding made available through two programs, which are designed to incentivize homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. The two programs, the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure and Jobs Act offer billions in tax credits, rebates, and block grants to states, and Nebraska wants in. 

Despite the Department's willingness to apply for these funds, however, a coalition of environmental groups, business owners, and state lawmakers argue that the state isn't acting urgently enough to secure Nebraska's full share of the funding. LB560, introduced by Sen. Carol Blood, would require the state to apply for "all funds made available in Nebraska" in the Inflation Reduction Act. Blood said that she had introduced the bill after Nebraska declined to accept $120 million in federal rental and utility last year through a Covid-19 relief program. Thus far, no action has been taken on the bill.

David Holtzclaw, an engineer and owner of an Omaha-based company that provides consultation on energy and building efficiency, also believes Nebraska has not acted with the kind of decisiveness Sen. Blood suggested they should. "I've been on dozens of these webinars and there is nobody else from the state of Nebraska there," said Holtzclaw, "Or, if they are, they are not putting in the resources Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, and every other state in the region is putting in."

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'A BALANCING ACT': NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS DISCUSS POSSIBLE CHANGES TO TRANS HEALTH CARE BILL

LINCOLN- As the Nebraska Legislature nears day seventy of a ninety-day session, lawmakers continue to discuss possible changes to the controversial LB574, a bill introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth that would, for the time being, restrict any Nebraskan under the age of 19 from receiving a broad range of gender-affirming care. After the bill advanced through its second round of debate, a small coalition of eight lawmakers, both opponents and proponents, came together to discuss potential concessions.

Some of the proposed ideas may ease the bill's restrictions on transgender youths who are already undergoing gender-affirming care, while others could add mental health protections. While the bill could still pass with no changes, Sen. Kauth was hopeful that the coalition, which she called the 'A Team,' would be able to construct suitable amendments. 

The coalition is made up of Sens. Kauth, Fredrickson, John Cavanaugh, Walz, Briese, and Ibach, as well as Speaker of the Legislature John Arch. While the main goal of the team is to have meaningful discussions surrounding potential amendments to LB574, they also helped play a role in lowering the temperature of last week's floor debate, even as the months-long filibuster continues. 

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FRUSTRATED BY FILIBUSTER, SENATOR ERDMAN SAYS LEGISLATURE WILL MAKE MAJOR CHANGES TO RULES

LINCOLN- Just three weeks after the Nebraska Legislature approved a mid-session rules change in an attempt to stop the ongoing, Democrat-led filibuster, Senator Steve Erdman, chairman of the Rules Committee, said he would consider further changes to the rules this year. "In fact," said Erdman, "we may start at page one and rewrite the whole book. There will be rule changes and they will be significant."

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch said it's very unlikely that he'll set aside time to change the rules this year, since there a very few days remaining in the 90-day legislative session, but expressed interest in discussing the changes during the interim period. Despite this, Erdman said the committee would consider rules proposals "that try to apply common sense." 

Erdman also called out State Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh and Megan Hunt, who have led the months-long filibuster, saying that their willingness to bring the Legislature to a crawl may scare off those who intended to run for the Legislature in the future. On day fifty-one of the Legislature, and because of frustrations at the lack of progress the Legislature had made up to that point, the body adopted a rules change that limited the number of motions that could be offered during each round of debate. Similar changes are expected to be considered going into the interim period. 

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JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TEES UP PROPOSAL FOR 'MANDATORY' SUPERVISED RELEASE

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Sen. Justin Wayne, chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, brought together members of the committee met in an executive session to discuss certain aspects of LB50, a bill voted out of the committee last week on a 4-3 vote that would allow inmates to serve the final 15% of their prison sentence outside of prison walls under strict supervision.

Wayne stated that he had introduced the bill in response to the large number of Nebraska inmates "jamming out" of prison, or serving their full sentence but not participating in rehabilitation programs. Under LB50, inmates would have the chance to serve the remaining 15% of their sentence in a heavily supervised halfway house, where they would be given the chance to participate in rehabilitation programs and employment opportunities. 

"We can get them out, working jobs and giving them the services they need," said Wayne of LB50, "without reducing their sentence." Newly-appointed Sen. Bosn, who now serves in the Judiciary Committee, said, however, that she was hesitant to support the bill since it's unclear whether the new programs would be 'mandatory.' Wayne argued that, at least for low-level offenders, establishing a mandatory program for inmates will help reduce Nebraska's high recidivism rate.

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NEBRASKA ABORTION BAN TIED TO CARDIAC ACTIVITY FALLS ONE VOTE SHORT, 20-WEEK LIMIT REMAINS INTACT

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Nebraska Legislature fell just one vote shy of passing Sen. Albrecht's LB626, which would have restricted abortions in the state after embryonic cardiac activity was detected, roughly six weeks into a pregnancy. After around four hours of debate, the Legislature motioned to invoke cloture, or end debate and hold a vote on LB626, which requires 33 votes. 

As senators slowly voted on the cloture motion, Sen. Justin Wayne, considered a swing voter on abortion, appeared as present but didn't vote 'yes' or 'no.' With 32 votes on the board, Sen. Merv Riepe was the last to vote. Riepe, in a good-faith attempt to compromise with Democratic senators, previously introduced an amendment to bump the 6-week ban up to 12 weeks, but was widely rejected by his Republican colleagues.

In the end, perhaps because of this prior rejection, Sen. Riepe also appeared as present but didn't vote one way or another, effectively killing LB626. "Pro-life has shades of gray," Riepe said after the vote. Gov. Jim Pillen, who is staunchly pro-life, called on Sen. Riepe following the vote to propose a motion to reconsider it, saying that the senator should remember his pledge to be pro-life. Abortion restriction is not off the table for Riepe, however. "I want stability, and I want something that can go forward," he said, "I'd like to just have another shot at it next year to come up with hopefully some new bill."

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APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SLIGHTLY HIGHER SPENDING THAN GOVERNOR

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, the Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee voted to advance a new proposed state budget that calls for an average increase of 2.3% in spending over the next two fiscal years, despite Gov. Pillen's recommendation of 1.5%. Although the proposals from Gov. Pillen and the Appropriations Committee differ only slightly, the new proposed budget includes an additional $80 million to increase rates for providers of Medicaid services.

On top of that, the recommended budget from the Appropriations Committee includes a budget increase for the University of Nebraska of 2.5%, up from Gov. Pillen's 2%. Additionally, the new budget would also provide raises for state employees, which were negotiated by a state labor union, of 7% in the first fiscal year and 5% in the second. "We're providing for the state's needs," said Sen. Rob Clements, chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Clements outlined that the 2.5% increase in the University of Nebraska's budget was created out of a compromise between the governor's 2% increase and the 3% request from the University. However, Clements also stated that he wasn't sure if Gov. Pillen would accept this increase, and believes a veto is still on the table. 

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SENATORS OPEN DEBATE ON BILL SEEKING GREATER USE OF CORN-BASED ETHANOL

LINCOLN- State Sens. Megan Hunt and Jane Raybould crossed party lines to join with conservative PAC Americans for Prosperity in arguing that mandating what kind of gas pumps businesses should provide was government overreach. "Government should not tell businesses what to sell," said Hunt, "The ethanol industry can stand on its own without a government mandate."

Sen. Raybould echoed a similar sentiment. Raybould, whose family owns a chain of supermarkets that include gas pumps, argued that forcing retailers to have higher blend E-15 pumps was wrong-headed. All of this concern arose after debate began on Sen. Myron Dorn's LB562, which would require that gas stations utilize the higher blend. Sen. Murman joined with Sen. Dorn to argue that the higher blend of ethanol, because Nebraska produces so much of it, would strengthen Nebraska's economy and reward corn farmers. 

"We need to support our own economy," Murman told his colleagues, "And this is a bill that will do that." If passed, LB562 would require any new gasoline outlet, or any station replacing more than 80% of its pumps at any one time, to provide E-15, a blend that contains 15% ethanol, in at least 50% of its pumps. The conservative PAC Americans for Prosperity argue that such a mandate would be blatant and egregious government overreach.

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE SLOW TO ADOPT ETHICS CHANGES IN THE YEAR AFTER GROENE'S RESIGNATION

LINCOLN- It's been almost a year now since Sen. Mike Groene resigned amid allegations of workplace misconduct, and the Nebraska Legislature has still yet to adopt ethics changes intended to curb future scandals. Although the Legislature's Executive Board prepares to vote on a list of recommendations made months ago by an interim ethics committee, lawmakers are split on whether or not the suggested changes are sufficient.

Groene, who resigned after news broke that he had taken photos of a former female staff member without her knowledge, spurred the creation of the interim ethics committee, which was tasked with considering ways to prevent such misconduct in the future. Sen. Wendy DeBoer, however, who was vice chair of the committee, said the Groence incident was only the "catalyst" for the review.

Well before the Groene incident, DeBoer stated that she had heard similar concerns from staffers and fellow senators, but news about Groene only raised the level of awareness surrounding such issues. Sen. Jen Day, who took office in 2021, also stated that she had been warned about a culture of misogyny in the Legislature and confirmed that she had seen signs of it. "At some point," said Day, "It's going to have to be dealt with." The ethics committee previously voted to approve 11 recommendations for the Executive Board, and Sen. Briese said he expects the board to approve even more recommendations by the end of session in June.

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