As the final hours of this 90-Day legislative session quickly approach, I’m taking a moment to reflect on what has been an incredibly busy and rewarding experience as a first-year senator. Serving on the Appropriations Committee has given me the opportunity to dive deep into the state budget, ensuring we make responsible choices while prioritizing the needs of our communities. It’s been a challenging, yet fulfilling, journey, and I’m proud of the progress we have made on behalf of our district. With just a few days left, we are working hard to finish strong and ensure that our constituents’ priorities are well represented.
As of the beginning of this week, approximately twenty-one priority bills are awaiting the Governor’s signature, while seventeen have already been signed into law. My priority bill, LB 538, which would require K-12 schools and colleges to adopt a policy and provide training to crack down on discrimination, was advanced to General File by the Education Committee on Wednesday with a vote of 5-2.
The final day of session, June 9, is typically reserved for potential veto override votes, though the Legislature may adjourn early if none are needed at that time. To allow time for any potential veto overrides, bills must be passed by June 2, the 89th legislative day. Bills not passed, debated, or indefinitely postponed by then will carry over to the 2026 Legislative Session, offering another opportunity for consideration.
On Monday, an effort to override the governor’s veto of a bill that would have ended Nebraska’s lifetime ban on SNAP eligibility for individuals with certain drug-related convictions fell short of the 30 votes required. The bill failed to become law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor with a vote of 24-24-1.
In other procedural news, members of the Legislature voted Thursday on a motion to reconsider a Final Reading vote on LB 258, introduced by Senator Raybould, which proposes an annual fixed rate increase of 1.5% for the minimum wage beginning on January 1, 2027. The bill failed last week by two votes, falling short of the 33 needed to amend a voter-approved law. A motion to reconsider may still move the bill forward, but it requires a senator on the prevailing side to want to change a vote, or the requesting senator must have missed the vote. Under legislative rules, at least 30 senators must support the reconsideration. The motion was successful with a vote of 33-16.
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. You can contact my office at (402) 471-2616 or by email at pstrommen@leg.ne.gov.