CANDIDATES START EMERGING FOR 2024 NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE RACES

LINCOLN- The 2023 Legislative session may have just ended and the 2024 election is still more than a year away, but at least six candidates have announced they will compete for a seat in the unicameral. The six include one former candidate and five political newcomers. Five are seeking seats now filled by senators who are barred by term limits from running again. One is challenging an incumbent senator.

Fifteen lawmakers will be term-limited in 2024, guaranteeing turnover for those districts and another year of significant change for the 49-member Legislature. Last year saw 14 new senators elected. Along with the two senators who were appointed after the 2022 session, newcomers accounted for nearly one in three seats when lawmakers convened in January.

The candidates are Tracy Hightower-Henne, running for District 13 currently held by Sen. Justin Wayne. Allison Heimes, running for District 39 currently held by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan. Bob Andersen, running for District 49 in hopes of unseating Sen. Jen Day. Kameron Neeman, running for District 27 currently held by Sen. Anna Wishart. Michelle Smith, running for District 33 currently held by Sen. Steve Halloran. Ethan Clark, running for District 41 currently held by Sen. Tom Briese.

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INTERPRETERS WHO WORK IN NEBRASKA COURTS STAGE WALKOUT TO PROTEST PAY

LINCOLN- In protest to their pay, some interpreters for Nebraska's state courts are refusing to go to work. An increase to pay for court interpreters was proposed in the state's two-year budget but was later vetoed by Governor Pillen. There was an attempt to override the veto, but it did not sustain. There is not an official number of interpreters that will be participating in the walkout.

A lack of available interpreters could mean delays in court services, an increased reliance on video interpreters and extra money spent extending some cases. Despite numerous attempts to raise wages for interpreters, there has not been a change since 2004. The current rate is $50 an hour for certified interpreters and $35 an hour for registered and non-certified interpreters, with a two-hour minimum.

The interpreters’ latest requested increase was $85 an hour for certified interpreters and $60 an hour for non-certified interpreters, with a 3% automatic yearly increase. In the Legislature, Sen. Dungan proposed a bill that would appropriate about $1.2 million in the budget to cover rate increases for court interpreters. After debate in the state’s Appropriations Committee, the funding was lowered to about $400,000, and was then eliminated entirely through Pillen’s veto.

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POPULATION GROWTH STRONGEST IN SOME NEBRASKA SUBURBAN AND RURAL COUNTIES

LINCOLN- While Nebraska overall saw a slight population bump, 51 of the state’s counties lost residents between mid-2021 and mid-2022, according to a new census analysis by the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research. Sarpy and Saunders Counties both grew by about 1.4%. Lancaster County, another population center, clocked in with a smaller 0.4% growth, compared to bordering Otoe County’s 1.2%.

The latest census report also showed some of the strongest annual population growth in a handful of smaller, more rural Nebraska counties, including Frontier, Deuel, Greeley and Dawes. Frontier is home to the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, which has noted plans to expand from about 300 to 500 students within the decade. The campus, in the town of Curtis, also is poised to get a new $12 million student and community center.

During the decade of 2010-2020, Schafer said that 68 of Nebraska’s 93 counties saw their population decline (compared to 51 during the year between July 2021 and July 2022). Nebraska’s latest population estimate of 1,967,923 represents an increase of 0.22% — just above the 50-state median of 0.19%. Nebraska’s statewide growth rate fell short of the rate in bordering states of Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota. South Dakota was among the country’s top performers.

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IN EMAIL TO SUPPORTERS, PILLEN CLAIMS SESSION A VICTORY

LINCOLN- Following his first Legislative session, Gov. Jim Pillen claimed a victory as he reflected on the work. In an email to supporters, Pillen said the job has been a privilege and simply incredible. He began by reiterating why the people of Nebraska voted for him saying, "You elected me to office with a clear mandate to make transformational change in the areas most important to our future: our kids; our tax code; our agricultural industry, the backbone of our economy, and our conservative Nebraska values." 

Pillen said the 2023 Legislative session produced the most wide-ranging package of commonsense reform in state history from his point of view. He went on to highlight contents of the session such as $6 billion in property and income tax relief; reforming TEEOSA and investing in students; capping spending at 2%; school choice via the Opportunity Scholarships Act; a 12-week abortion ban; constitutional carry rights; creation of the Nebraska Broadband office; securing water rights; and funding law enforcement. 

The message ended by saying there is still more to be done. Property taxes, lifting up more kids, and addressing mental health challenges are all still on the agenda, but the state must celebrate for now. He noted a plan to win 38 of the 49 seats in the Legislature and further fight for 'commonsense, conservative values'. He signed off by saying, "Together, we can."

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE WORKED OVERTIME THIS SESSION AND RACKED UP EXTRA COSTS

LINCOLN- The 2023 session of the Nebraska Legislature had an unprecedented string of debate-extending filibusters, as well as more night sessions than ever. As debate would often stretch past 11 p.m., pages and red-coated sergeants received many more hours than in past sessions. The legislative accounting office announced that costs for that group rose 23% this year compared to the last 90 day session in 2021.

Overtime payments for the clerk’s office, revisor of statutes, legislative fiscal office and sergeants of arms this year were more than double what was spent in 2021. The Nebraska State Patrol devoted 14% more hours. “There was a lot of strain on them this session,” State Sen. John Arch, the Speaker of the Legislature, of legislative staffers. “They’ve got work ethic like you wouldn’t believe,” said the Clerk of the Legislature, Brandon Metzler, of his staff’s willingness to work nights and rearrange schedules.

The night sessions continued every week starting March 28 and continued nearly every day. The exception was the last day of the week when lawmakers traditionally work through lunch and adjourn in early- or mid-afternoon to facilitate long drives home for rural senators. Lunch breaks at noon were shortened from 90 minutes to 60 minutes, to provide more time for floor debate. And a nightly supper break lasted only 30 minutes.

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NEBRASKA'S TAX REVENUES CONTINUE TO FALL BELOW FORECASTS

LINCOLN- Despite optimistic predictions for the state's economic future, Nebraska's tax revenues continue to fall below projections, according to the Nebraska Department of Revenue, which produced data indicating a $53 million shortfall from October 2022 to May 2023. Despite this, Sens. Lou Ann Linehan and Robert Clements, Chairs of the Legislature's Revenue and Appropriations Committees respectively, aren't concerned.

In fact, Clements argued that the shortfall will be "easily absorbed" by around $70 million left unspent this year by the legislature. Sen. Linehan echoed a very similar sentiment. "If there's a squeeze on our economy, I'm not seeing it," she said. However, in May alone, Nebraska's next tax receipts were 8.7% below the original forecast, with corporate income tax down 226.5% and tax refunds up a staggering 29.5%, from a projected $152 million to $197 million.

Although slight changes were made to the Revenue Committee's forecast prior to the finalization of the Legislature's two-year budget, neither Clements nor Linehan believes any new information would have changed how the recently-passed budget turned out, even if the most recent shortfall was observed earlier. "We're not teetering on the edge here," said Linehan, adding that income revenues will stabilize in the near future as a result of events like the College World Series.

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GOVERNOR PILLEN ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA CRIME COMMISSION

LINCOLN- On Friday, Gov. Jim Pillen announced his appointment of former Nebraska State Patrol Supervisor Bryan Tuma as the next executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission, replacing Don Arp, who submitted his resignation to the governor this week. "Bryan has extensive experience in public safety, particularly in law enforcement and in the area of emergency management," said Pillen in a press release, "He is a five-star recruit for this role."

Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly echoed Gov. Pillen's sentiment about Tuma, noting that he had worked with the former State Patrol Supervisor many times over the years. "Bryan Tuma is a perfect fit for this position," said Kelly, "He has earned an outstanding reputation in the law enforcement and emergency management fields."

Tuma has worked in state government for nearly four decades, and has 33 years of experience in the State Patrol. In 2005, Tuma was appointed by then-Gov. Dave Heineman to serve as superintendent of Nebraska State Patrol until his retirement in 2011. After working in the private sector for a time, Tuma came back to state government and worked as the assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Arp, who is being replaced by Tuma, has worked in the position since 2019.

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GOV. JIM PILLEN APPROVES INSULIN PRICE CAP IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen signed Sen. Bostar's long-awaited LB799, which caps the price of life-saving insulin at $35 per month in the state. Starting on January 1st, the cap will only apply to the out-of-pocket cost of prescription insulin. Sen. Bostar's original measure was amended into LB92, the package of bills that were signed by Gov. Pillen.

Nebraska, having enacted the insulin cap measure, is now in line with 23 other states, as well as the District of Columbia, that have enacted similar proposals. "More than 700,000 Nebraskans either have or are at risk for diabetes," said Gary Doughert, director of state government affairs for the American Diabetes Association, "So, we're talking about a lot of people."

Between 2012 and 2021, the price of insulin nearly doubled across the country, with many unable to purchase the essential medication. According to Jina Ragland, advocacy director for AARP of Nebraska, this heightened price forced Nebraskans to make tough decisions. "That's very concerning when they're making a choice about whether they're paying for the out-of-pocket cost of their insulin or their medications," said Ragland, "or whether they're having to choose not going to the grocery store and buying their basic necessities of food."

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STATUE OF NEBRASKA ICON WILLA CATHER UNVEILED IN U.S. CAPITOL

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On Wednesday, a new bronze statute of Willa Cather was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol just feet away from another depicting Ponca Chief Standing Bear, making her the second Nebraska icon to be memorialized there. "A lot of history was made in this room, but a little history is being made today" said Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy at the unveiling ceremony, standing alongside Gov. Jim Pillen, Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer, and Reps. Mike Flood and Adrian Smith. 

The sculpture has created by Omaha-based artist Littleton Alston, who became the first African-American artist to have a statue in the Capitol's collection. "Our nation's heroes are memorialized here in marble and bronze. Today, Willa Cather, the Nebraskan novelist and national icon, joins them," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, "She becomes the first Pulitzer Prize Winner and 12th woman represented in the National Statuary Hall collection."

Others who gave speeches include Gov. Jim Pillen, Rep. Adrian Smith, and Sen. Deb Fischer, all of whom cited Cather's writings as particularly representative of Nebraska's culture and people. Cather's statue replaces that of J. Sterling Morton, famous for establishing Arbor Day but later becoming better known for his pro-slavery attitudes. Chief Standing Bear's statue, in 2019, also replaced a historical figure, William Jennings Bryan. 

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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REMOVES BARRIERS FOR NEBRASKA TEACHERS TO HELP ALLEVIATE SHORTAGE

LINCOLN- The landscape for future Nebraska teachers is on its way to becoming easier to navigate following the revision of several state regulations by the State Board of Education, which were made during its June 2nd meeting. According to Brad Dirksen, an accreditation administrator with the Nebraska Department of Education, the revisions still have to be approved by Attorney General Hilgers and Gov. Pillen before they take effect.

"The Board is really eager to make some real changes in the regulations to hopefully get teachers into the classroom," said Dirksen, "It's really about removing barriers, but also retaining quality of teachers, because we don't want to lower standards for teachers and classrooms." One of the revisions approved by the Board makes it far easier for teachers to regain certificates that have been expired for five or more years to allow for more retirees to come back and fill district shortages. 

Another revision will allow individuals with college degrees, and at least 75% of the course requirements for a teaching endorsement, to secure certification more easily, provided they also take a subject area exam, which is a different procedure than the basic skills test struck by Gov. Pillen last month. "During this time of severe education workforce shortages, removing barriers to licensure is a priority," said Sara Skretta, a senior director and certification officer at UNL, "The expansion of alternative pathways is a positive addition, and this should assist school districts in hiring classroom teachers with training."

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DON'T PUT THOSE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS AWAY YET, NEBRASKA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY

LINCOLN- Barely a week after the Nebraska Legislature voted to repeal the state's motorcycle helmet mandate, and according to local law enforcement agencies, there has already been a large uptick in motorcyclists riding without their helmets. Although no concrete date has been released, the Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Sheriff's Office each reported this week that street officers have observed a noticeable increase in the practice.

The main problem, according to the agencies, is that Nebraska's helmet mandate, which has been in place since 1989, doesn't expire until January 1st. "From now until then," said Chief Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin, "you still need to wear a helmet." Until then, according to Houchin and the Sheriff's Office, helmetless riders risk earning a $50 fine for violating the mandate, despite the passage of Sen. Hansen's LB138, which kills the mandate.

When the bill officially becomes law in January, motorcyclists or passengers over the age of 21 will be allowed to ride without a helmet, provided they complete a basic motorcycle safety course and submit proof of completion to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles. According to date from the Department of Transportation, over 86% of motorcyclists killed in Nebraska crashes were wearing helmets. However, in states like Missouri, where similar repeals have passed, motorcyclist fatalities increased by 35% over a one-year period.

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PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT ON DEPLOYMENT OF FEDERAL BROADBAND FUNDS

LINCOLN- Public input at a string of upcoming meetings will be sought concerning the quality and availability of high-speed internet across Nebraska, as well as how federal funding should be spent to provide internet to the most significant amount of communities. The sessions are designed to help the state develop a more comprehensive approach to providing quality digital access across the state.

The meetings will be led by the newly-established Nebraska Broadband Office, which was recently confirmed by the Nebraska Legislature after Gov. Pillen created the office through an executive order in January. The office will be tasked with distributing around $42 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding, which was passed as part of President Biden's infrastructure bill.

However, if a greater need for funding and access is revealed at the public meetings, Nebraska has the ability to apply for more BEAD funding, with the assurance of receiving at least $100 million more if need be. On Tuesday, the Public Service Commission transferred the responsibility of handling the BEAD funds to the new broadband office. The public meetings are as follow:

• Kearney, June 8 at 6:30 p.m., at the Kearney Public Library, 2020 First St.

• North Platte, June 13 at 5:30 p.m., at the Harvest Christian Fellowship, 1501 S. Dewey St.

• McCook, June 14 at 5:30 p.m., at the Public Safety Center, 505 W. C St.

• Broken Bow, June 21 at 5:30 p.m., at the Broken Bow Public Library, 626 D St.

• South Sioux City, June 29 at 5:30 p.m., at the South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront, 385 E. Fourth St.

• Lincoln, July 11 at 5:30 p.m., at the Nebraska Department of Transportation Auditorium, 1500 Nebraska Parkway.

• Omaha, July 12 at 5:30 p.m., at the NDOT State Operations Center, 4425 S. 108th St.

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COUNTY GOP FIGHT IS LATEST FRONT IN NEBRASKA GOP WAR BETWEEN POPULISTS, TRADITIONALISTS

PAPILLION- Following a GOP upheaval last summer that changed party leadership from Ricketts loyalists to Trump loyalists, party leaders have asserted a more populist brand of conservatism, including against fellow Republicans. After last year’s state convention rumble, the feud blew back into view in late May in suburban Sarpy County. That’s where a state party effort to force the removal of a sixth-year county chair and hold a re-run election ran into public resistance from some of the state’s top elected Republicans.

Gov. Pillen accompanied Nebraska’s entire congressional delegation and statewide officeholders in defending Sarpy County Chairwoman Nora Sandine. A letter from Pillen dubbed it “unprecedented” and “gross overreach” to try to oust Sarpy GOP Chairwoman Nora Sandine using the state party’s powers. It also called for an end to the intra-party fight for the good of Republican candidates in Nebraska’s fastest-growing county.

The new GOP leadership is questioning the validity of Sandine's re-election, while Sandine’s supporters say she won fair and square. Some current party leaders have said they spent months trying to persuade Sandine to hold another election and to involve people new to the county party, including some who oppose Sandine. Nebraska GOP Chairman Eric Underwood has said he wants to bring Republicans together by “empowering the grassroots” and “revitalizing county parties from the bottom up.”

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PUBLIC ASKED TO CONSERVE WATER IN LOWER PLATTE RIVER BASIN, WHICH INCLUDES OMAHA, LINCOLN AREAS

LINCOLN- Severe drought conditions throughout eastern Nebraska have forced officials to institute voluntary conservation steps. Steps include conservation when watering lawns, washing clothes, gardening, and even brushing your teeth. The City of Lincoln officially instituted the ask, while Omaha is expected to soon follow.

A large swath of east-central Nebraska, from Geneva northward to near South Sioux City, is listed as in “exceptional drought” in the current U.S. drought monitor map. The year 2022 was the fourth driest on record in Nebraska, with most of the state receiving less than 70% of normal precipitation. Officials have claimed they have never seen reservoirs this low within their respective tenures.

Despite some recent rains, the eastern part of Nebraska is still running behind on precipitation this year. Nearly 70% of the entire state is labeled as being in exceptional, extreme or severe drought. That prompted the Lower Platte River Consortium this week to encourage the public to take proactive steps to conserve water. All suggested conservation steps can be found in the link below.

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INTERNET OPTIONS TO GROW IN RURAL NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Farm Bureau announced a new push to provide additional broadband to rural Nebraska. The Farm Bureau said it has partnered with Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to provide service to its members. “We are excited to work with Starlink to deliver high-speed broadband to rural areas in Nebraska that are underserved,” said Mark McHargue, president of the farm advocacy group.

The service price has not yet been determined, but it is expected to be around $100 a month. “We continue to hear from our members that farms, ranches, rural households, and businesses struggle with getting access to reliable high-speed internet," McHargue said. "Whether you are 20 miles from Lincoln or Omaha or in the Sandhills, the thing we hear the most is that quality service and speed is just not available."

Starlink avoids building access lines by providing wireless service from more than 4,000 satellites orbiting the Earth. “Starlink is ideal for those who live and work in rural communities, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to offer reliable high-speed internet coverage to the last acre for farmers and ranchers across the state,” said Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink Business Operations.

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORTERS LAUNCH DRIVE TO PUT SCHOOL CHOICE ON BALLOT

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, the public schools advocate group Support Our Schools Nebraska announced that it would be launching an effort to place a referendum before voters on the newly-passed school choice law. With just 90 days to do so, the group must garner at least 90,000 signatures from registered voters if the issue is to be placed on the 2024 ballot.

The school choice measure, which was implemented into law through Sen. Lou Ann Linehan's LB753, offers Nebraskans generous tax breaks for donations toward scholarships for students to attend private or parochial schools, but is seen by education groups as a "foot-in-the-door" for even more controversial school choice measures, such as voucher programs or state-funded charter schools. Opponents of school choice, through the ballot initiative, seek to reject the diversion of state tax funds from public schools toward private schools, which some argue are allowed to freely discriminate against certain religions, ethnicities, or gender identities.

However, proponents of the newly-passed measure, including Gov. Jim Pillen, argue that it would offer more options for "vulnerable and at-risk children" at a time when state funding for public education has been increasing dramatically. Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, called the petition drive "disgraceful" and all-out political warfare against children in need of better educational opportunities." T. Michael Williams, a Baptist preacher from North Omaha, was the first to sign the petition, arguing that the new school choice law won't help a majority of children of color or who reside in low-income areas of the state.

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THREE RIVERS HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS

LINCOLN- A human case of the West Nile Virus was confirmed Monday in the Lincoln area, according to the Three Rivers Public Health Department. The person who tested positive did not need to be hospitalized, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The department covers Dodge, Saunders, and Washington counties.

The department said people should limit their time outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active to avoid bites. People can also wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks when outside and use an EPA-registered insect repellent. Most people who are infected will have no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms, according to the department.

West Nile virus is transmitted through mosquito bites from bugs that have fed on infected birds, then transmitting the virus to humans. This case was detected earlier than usual in the season. Typically, human cases don’t peak until late July or early August. Because of the early case, the health department began trapping mosquitoes within its jurisdiction Monday, a step it doesn’t usually take until mid-June.

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U.S. SUPREME COURT WEIGHS IN ON NEBRASKA 'HOME EQUITY THEFT' CASES

LINCOLN- Action Monday by the nation’s highest court voided two decisions of the Nebraska Supreme Court that upheld what critics have been calling state-assisted “home equity theft.” Two cases have been sent back to the Nebraska Supreme Court to be reconsidered following a decision in a similar Minnesota case. All nine justices in that case, Tyler v. Hennepin, agreed that the tax sale process in Minnesota’s Hennepin County (akin to that of Nebraska’s) was unconstitutional and violated the “takings clause.”

State Sen. John Cavanaugh called the decision a reinforcement that he and others seeking to change Nebraska's delinquent tax sale process were on the correct side. Reconsideration of the two Nebraska cases could bring good news to plaintiffs in the cases of Kevin and Terry Fair of Scottsbluff and Sandra Nieveen of Lincoln. In both cases, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the state’s tax sale process laws but allowed the families to stay in their homes pending the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“It has taken a long time to get to this point,” said Jennifer Gaughan, chief of legal strategy for Legal Aid of Nebraska, which represented both homeowner families in state court. “We look forward to resolving these cases and seeing justice served for our clients who have lived for years under the stress of not only the threat of homelessness but also the loss of equity in their property without any compensation — stripped of their only asset and left with nothing to be able to get another place to live.”

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NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEAD A LIFELONG NEBRASKAN WITH QUARTER-CENTURY OF PROMOTING RURAL AREAS

LINCOLN- Attracting both people and businesses to Nebraska will be the main focus of K.C. Belitz, the states new top economic developer. Belitz, a former longtime head of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, said economic developers today must deal with issues dramatically different from a decade or so ago. Housing and child care, for example, are among services that “clearly are part of the puzzle,” said Belitz.

Gov. Jim Pillen announced Belitz as his choice to lead the Department of Economic Development, which has 130 full-time positions and has quickly grown with new grants and programs funded in part through federal pandemic dollars. Belitz, who hails from Pillen’s hometown, replaces Tony Goins, who resigned April 5 from his $215,000-a-year-job amid conflict of interest questions. According to a department spokesperson, the DED’s base budget this fiscal year is $881 million, up from about $58 million and 68 full-time positions five years ago. 

Pillen said the search for the new DED director was typical. He said that  there was “tremendous interest” for the advertised position and that three finalists were interviewed. He said he sought a director who understands “how important the culture of an organization and a team is,” and who hits the sweet spot with energy, experience and enthusiasm. Belitz is to step into the post July 5. Pillen said. 

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NEBRASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKS COURT TO REJECT INJUNCTION ON ABORTION, GENDER CARE RESTRICTIONS

LINCOLN- Last week, following the introduction of a lawsuit against LB574, a new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors and abortion after 12 weeks, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, alongside Assistant Attorneys General Christopher Felts, Jennifer Huxoll, and Erik Fern, called on the Lancaster County District Court to reject a request contained within the lawsuit to temporarily block enforcement of the two restrictions.

The lawsuit, which was introduced by the ACLU of Nebraska and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, argues that LB574, which was recently signed into law, contains two distinct subjects, which goes against a provision of the Nebraska Consitution. Hilgers, Gov. Pillen, Dannette Smith, Charity Menefee, and Timothy Tesmer are all named in the lawsuit. Smith is the CEO of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, while Menefee is the director of the agency and Tesmer is the chief medical officer. The agency is set to determine the state's stance on puberty blockers and hormone treatments for minors, an authority given to them through LB574.

Hilgers and his team argue that the Lancaster County District Court is being forced, through the ACLU and Planned Parenthood lawsuit, to be the first Nebraska court to find that an act of the Legislature violates the state's single-subject legislative requirement. However, an 1899 case in Nebraska, formally titled Weis v. Ashley, has already found a legislative act violating the single-subject rule. The ACLU of Nebraska filed a response to Hilgers' request, but it has not yet been released to the public.

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