The Nebraska Unicameral Legislature has advanced bills that aim to direct aborted baby remains to be buried or cremated, expand senator term limits, and limit the purpose of hemp production in the state.
Public comments, whether in person or submitted in writing, continue to make a difference in which measures senators put their attention toward advancing in the lawmaking process.
There is an easy online process to submit comments: Go online to https:// nebraskalegislature.gov/ bills/ and search for the bill of interest by number in the top righthand corner of the webpage. This search will bring up the specific bill’s informational page; click on the “Submit Comments Online” button positioned under the bill’s history.
All legislation is considered by committees of senators as to whether they should advance to consideration by the full Legislature. General File is the first stage of floor debate.
Not all bills advance out of committee to floor debate, and only some of the bills that are moved to General File move on in the lawmaking process. After General File is the second stage of floor debate, Select File, and then the vote-only Final Reading. Bills approved during this final vote are then delivered to Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk to be signed into law.
Clay County News is following certain legislation we feel has more potential to impact Clay County, providing updates as the bills move through the legislative process until the end of the session on June 2. In each section below, there are plenty more introduced bills that may interest readers. Let us know if you’d like us to add a bill to our list of weekly updates.
Notable happenings and current status during the week of April 14-18:
GENERAL BILLS AWAITING FINAL READING LB34
would keep Daylight Saving Time year-round contingent on a change in federal law or when neighboring states did the same.
Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman’s
LB302
would eliminate Daylight Saving Time to keep standard time year-round and go into effect immediately.
ADVANCED TO SELECT FILE LB632,
which would require abortion providers to dispose of the remains of an aborted unborn baby by cremation or interment by burial, saw four hours of debate over two days—during which supporters of the bill advocated for the dignified treatment of aborted babies and the opposition countered that the bill is a backdoor attempt to deter legal abortion providers.
Ralston’s Sen. Merv Riepe and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, of Omaha, each suggested that patients be given the choice of what to do with remains following an abortion. Cavanaugh, quoting the cost of cremation $800-$1,300, worried about the financial ability of abortion providers.
Sen. Megan Hunt, of Lincoln, said that there are already laws of how abortion providers are to dispose of medical waste. Sen. George Dungan, of Lincoln, voiced concern about the vagueness of the bill’s penalty for violations. Sen. Ashlei Spivey, of Omaha, filed a flurry of motions to kill the bill one way or another.
Debate finally ended when Sen. Ben Hansen, of Blair, invoked cloture to force a vote. Lawmakers voted 34-11 to advance the bill from General File to Select File.
ALSO ON SELECT FILE LB383
would adopt the Parental Rights in Social Media Act to require parental consent for social media use by youth 17 years and younger.
ADVANCED TO GENERAL FILE The Executive Board moved LR19CA,
which would put before voters whether to change the State Constitution to expand legislative term limits from the current two consecutive terms to three consecutive terms, to General File with an amendment that assign this ballot initiative to a special election on May 12 instead of the November general election.
ON GENERAL FILE
LB279
would allow operation of registered motor vehicles with only one license plate.
LB512
would adopt the Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol Act to require tracking of provider distribution of abortion-inducing drugs.
TAX-RELATED BILLS ON GENERAL FILE LB169
would apply sales and use taxes on nearly two dozen currently exempt services such as chartered flights, dating services, dry cleaning, marketing, and swimming pool cleaning.
LB170 would collect sales tax on candy and soft drinks.
LR13CA
would allow voters to change the State Constitution to prohibit levying of an inheritance tax.
EDUCATION BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW Pillen has signed Murman’s LB390
into law, requiring each public school board to allow parental access to school library information including which books are checked out by their students.
AWAITING FINAL READING LB140
would ban student use of cellphones and other electronic communication devices in public schools.
LB428
would require public schools to notify parents prior to surveying students.
ON GENERAL FILE
LB89
would adopt the Stand With Women Act to prohibit transgender students from using the locker room or restroom of their identified gender in schools, colleges and universities, and state offices as well as designate that only biological women students can participate on a women’s athletic team.
LB213
would require the State Board of Education to adopt academic content standards on human embryology under the science education standards.
Murman’s
LB300
would limit the salaries and benefits of public school superintendents
and educational service unit administrators.
LB426
would create an American flag education program for middle school students in public and private
schools.
HEALTH & SAFETY BILLS - ON GENERAL FILE LB104
would adopt the Family Home Visitation Act to establish a home visitation program to serve families of infants and young children.
LB224
would require paid maternity leave for state employees.
LB253 would require insurance and Medicaid coverage of biomarker testing for disease management.
LB320
would require that hotels post information about human trafficking and provide training on human trafficking to employees.
JUSTICE & LAW ENFORCEMENT BILLS - AWAITING FINAL READING
LB230
would adopt the Kratom Consumer Protection Act to classify kratom as an illegal substance.
ON GENERAL FILE
LB159 would allow a court of law to reduce sentencing
of an offender convicted of a crime if that offender is the victim of abuse or trafficking.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW Pillen signed Murman’s LB84
into law, enabling school psychologists to cross state lines for employment.
ON SELECT FILE
LB257
would enable marriage and family therapists to cross state lines for employment as well as streamline the licensing process for counselors, social workers, art therapists, and occupational therapists.
LB258
would limit the annual cost-of-living increase in minimum wage once it reaches its $15-per-hour base in 2026 and also set a minimum wage for youth workers that increases by 1.5 percent every fifth year beginning 2030.
ON GENERAL FILE
LB83
would enable dentists and dental hygienists to cross state lines for employment.
AGRICULTURE BILLS ON SELECT FILE LB316,
which would limit the purpose of hemp production to only cannabidiol and prohibit any other use including fiber and livestock feed, has moved out of the Judiciary Committee to General File.
ON GENERAL FILE
LB490
would require certificates of title for self-propelled agricultural equipment and power-unit hay grinders.
LB658
would require labeling and origin statements during advertising for protein food products that resemble animal meat but consist of more than a trace of insect or plant protein.
