The Nebraska Legislature has reached an important milestone this week, as committee hearings have concluded and we have now entered all-day debate. Speaker John Arch recently updated the body on progress made so far, highlighting that more than 80 bills
have successfully passed through the legislative process and are now awaiting the Governor’s approval. This includes my bill, LB 312, which was passed on Final Reading on Thursday with 46 favorable votes. To date, fifty-three legislative bills have been approved by the Governor, twelve of which will become law immediately due to the emergency clause, which allows a bill or a portion of a bill to take effect the day after the Governor signs it.
In his address, Speaker Arch also noted that nearly half of senator priority bills remain held by their respective committees. These bills will require careful attention, potential negotiation, and a successful majority vote in the coming days in order to be considered by the entire legislative body prior to the close of this year’s session. The committee process plays a crucial role in shaping the final version of these bills, and it will be important to see how they evolve in the days ahead. Among these, my priority bill, LB 538, which aims to prohibit harassment and discrimination incidents in Nebraska’s public K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions, is awaiting a vote by members of the Education Committee.
The Legislature made significant progress on a few consequential priority measures during the most recent business days. Senator Raybould’s personal priority, Legislative Bill 258, advanced from General File, as amended, to the next stage of debate with a vote of 32-17. Similarly, Senator Ballard’s LB 415, a Business and Labor Committee priority bill, advanced to Select File after receiving a 34-15 vote at the end of last week. Finally, LB 246, introduced by Senator DeKay at the request of the Governor, prohibits the production, import, distribution, and sale of lab-grown meat. The bill advanced to Select File with a successful vote of 33-4.
Another key point Speaker Arch emphasized during his address was the ongoing work on the state’s budget. As we are currently facing a $289 million budget shortfall, revenue generating bills and bills positively impacting the general fund will also be considered priority legislation. The Appropriations Committee has yet to finalize its proposed budget but is on track to complete the process by Day 70 of the session. The Legislature just completed Day 56, and budget deliberations are expected to begin by Day 73.
As always, I appreciate your continued engagement on these important topics. If you have any feedback or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our district and state.