MEASURE TO LET NEBRASKANS VOTE ON LEGALIZING ONLINE SPORTS BETTING IN 2026 ADVANCES FROM COMMITTEE

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Legislature is likely to debate whether to let voters weigh in on whether to legalize mobile sports betting next year after a legislative committee advanced the proposal. Legislative Resolution 20CA, from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, seeks to allow authorized gaming operators at licensed racetracks in the state to offer online sports betting. Bettors would need to be in Nebraska at the time the wager is placed, and revenue would be directed toward property tax relief. Bostar has estimated $32 million in annual tax revenue.

The General Affairs Committee voted 6-2 to advance Bostar’s resolution, with many telling the Nebraska Examiner they did so to be “proactive” and put lawmakers in the driver’s seat. Opponents argued the Legislature shouldn’t do the “bidding” of gambling lobbyists and that LR 20CA and proposals like it are a “direct threat” to Nebraska families.

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COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILL WITH 57% SALARY HIKES FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, EXCEPT GOVERNOR

LINCOLN- A legislative committee has narrowly advanced a bill that would provide all Nebraska constitutional officers, except the governor, a roughly 57% salary raise effective in 2027. Legislative Bill 345, introduced by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, includes no specific dollar amounts as introduced. However, the committee unanimously adopted an amendment to the bill, advanced in a 5-1 vote, offering the raises effective Jan. 7, 2027, if passed by the full Legislature and signed into law by the governor.

The changes would affect the following salaries:

• Attorney general, from $95,000 to $149,000.

• Secretary of state, from $85,000 to $133,000.

• Auditor of public accounts, from $85,000 to $133,000.

• State treasurer, from $85,000 to $133,000.

• Lieutenant governor, from $75,000 to $118,000.

• Five members of the Public Service Commission, from $75,000 to $118,000 each.

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MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL AWAITS AMENDMENT AS POSSIBLE GREEN LIGHT TO FULL LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- The legislative committee mulling how to help implement Nebraska’s voter-led medical cannabis laws awaits an amendment before lawmakers vote on whether to advance the bill. Legislative Bill 677, from State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, seeks to help carry out the overwhelming voter approval to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in the state last fall. His bill would create a regulatory structure for licensing and detail how patients or caregivers could become registered to obtain up to 5 ounces of physician-recommended cannabis at one time.

State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, chair of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee, said last week that he and seven other committee members were awaiting a final amendment that could help the currently deadlocked committee decide whether to advance the bill. Sen. Hansen has said one key change in his amendment would be tracking medical cannabis through the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, similar to the process for opioids. At least nine states use a local prescription drug monitoring program to carry out local medicinal cannabis laws.

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FAMILY URGES LEGISLATURE TO PRESERVE DETAILED READING, DYSLEXIA DATA IN SCHOOLS

LINCOLN- A legislative bill seeking to “clean up” and “simplify” reports in the Nebraska Department of Education received pushback to not weaken reporting on dyslexia and reading. Legislative Bill 671, by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil on behalf of the Education Department, intends to streamline and consolidate existing reports on option enrollment (to collect both accepted and denied applications) and reading deficiencies, including dyslexia (to remove some specific data requirements).

The bill also would eliminate an intended “high-need” retention grant of $5,000 for teachers who become qualified to teach dual credit K-12 courses. Brian Halstead, deputy commissioner for the Education Department, described LB 671 as the usual “clean up” or “technical amendment” bill repealing outdated laws.

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BILL TO PLUG 'MISSING YEAR' OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SCHOOLS ON PAUSE FOR NOW

LINCOLN- The effort to plug a “hole” left behind from Nebraska’s 2024 special session on property taxes — a “missing year” of tax relief — will likely not move forward this year. State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, the sponsor of Legislative Bill 81, confirmed the status of his bill this week. If passed, LB 81 seeks to extend the previous refundable income tax credit for school property taxes paid the previous year for one more year. 

That program ended with the passage of a bill during the special session that ended in August. LB 81’s goal is to capture relief for the roughly 85% of Nebraska taxpayers who pay property taxes in arrears, such as property taxes assessed in December 2023 but paid throughout 2024. Hardin said State Sen. Brad von Gillern of the Elkhorn area, chair of the Revenue Committee, has opted to keep LB 81 in committee and not “exec” on it, the step toward voting whether to advance the bill.

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HOUSING ADVOCATES CONVERGE AT STATE CAPITOL, HEAR GRIM UPDATE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS

LINCOLN- Habitat for Humanity of Omaha calls it the “equity promise.” It’s new, and essentially a “pay-it-forward” pact in which the nonprofit’s homebuyer clients who receive downpayment and other assistance agree to certain resale restrictions designed to keep a house affordable for generations to come. A problem Habitat saw in crafting the promise last year, however, was that property taxes owed by the homeowner could be thrown out of whack. 

Enter 2024 legislation pushed by State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, which is now law and allows such sales-restricted houses a property tax break via a special method that “stabilizes” values in recognition of limited marketability. “It’s a huge, huge deal for the people it fits,” said Amanda Brewer, CEO of Omaha Habitat. “This is ensuring that there are affordable places where people can own a home in Omaha for the next 50 years.”

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BILL ALLOWING LAWSUITS AFTER CHILD SEX ASSAULTS AT SCHOOL COULD BE NARROWED

LINCOLN- The ongoing legislative fight to allow lawsuits against Nebraska schools for alleged negligence in cases of child sexual assault faces a tough road in 2025, as indicated by a Wednesday hearing. Legislative Bill 156, by State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, was the result of months of work to find “the most narrow approach possible” to revive a successful measure that passed 28-17 on the last day of the 2024 legislative session. Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed the bill after lawmakers had adjourned, arguing the measure was too broad and would unfairly burden taxpayers. Lawmakers had no opportunity to respond.

Conrad said LB 156, and a second proposal that mirrors the 2024 bill, represent a “promise” to a Lincoln family to keep fighting for the issue. The issue revolves around “sovereign immunity” and tort claims, or the idea that the government should be insulated from certain lawsuits and liabilities, in effect guarding taxpayer dollars. Pillen said he vetoed the measure, stating it would “substantially erode” decades-old sovereign immunity protections and was too broad.

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INCOME TAX CREDITS AVAILBLE FOR NEBRASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGES' PROPERTY TAXES, MUST BE REQUESTED

LINCOLN — Tax credits to offset property taxes owed to local K-12 school districts are now automatically applied. However, Nebraskans still need to file for income tax credits for community colleges for additional relief each year.

State lawmakers opted to “front-load” the tax credits for property taxes paid to K-12 schools in August, beginning with tax statements that went out in December, lowering property tax obligations. But Nebraskans seeking similar relief on property taxes paid last year to community colleges — before the state largely took over funding them — still need to take the extra step of requesting a refund via their tax returns by April 15. 

This includes the last round of general fund community college property taxes, as well as capital improvements or bonds assessed in December 2023 that most taxpayers paid throughout 2024. 

Under current law, the income tax credits for property taxes paid to community colleges are set to be available each year, but must be filed for one year after payment.

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PILLEN APPOINTS 'NEBRASKA WATER QUALITY, QUANTITY TASK FORCE’ AS HE EYES AGENCY MERGER

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has officially appointed a new “Water Quality and Quantity Task Force” as he seeks to merge two state agencies that oversee water resources.

Pillen’s office announced the initial appointment of seven members to the task force and a first meeting of the group earlier in the day, according to a news release Wednesday evening. The first meeting was not open to the public or announced ahead of time. The governor’s office is still working out whether some future meetings will be public.

In the coming weeks, Pillen has promised to appoint more members and is eyeing a group of about 20 to 25 people who will focus on water quality and quantity but also education. Pillen promised to create the group when he testified on Legislative Bill 317 last month, which was introduced at his request. That bill seeks to fold the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources into the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

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U.S. REP. DON BACON, IN TELE-TOWN HALL, SAYS HOUSE GOP, DOGE NOT THREATS TO SOCIAL PROGRAMS

LINCOLN — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., reassured his constituents Tuesday that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and the House GOP budget are not threats to the stability of the social programs they rely on or the federal agencies that provide benefits like Social Security and Medicaid.

Bacon also said he and a bipartisan group of House lawmakers are prepared to push back against Trump administration efforts to privatize key government functions such as the U.S. Postal Service. He said he would press DOGE and the administration to be more thoughtful in cutting government spending. 

Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, also called on President Donald Trump and his national security team to take accountability for accidentally sharing war plans with a journalist using a consumer-grade cell phone app, Signal.

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BILL MOVES FORWARD, BUT WITH RESISTANCE, TO EXPAND BOUNDARIES FOR NORTH OMAHA BUSINESS PARK

LINCOLN- A bill aimed at enlarging the area where a long-awaited North Omaha business park could be developed advanced Tuesday to its final reading in the Nebraska Legislature. However, Legislative Bill 290, introduced by State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, faced continued resistance led by State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County.

McKinney told the lawmaking body that he was asking for flexibility on the boundaries because there are problems with the top two locations identified by the development team awarded the $90 million in state funds to prepare the industrial site. McKinney’s bill would drop a requirement that the park be located within two miles of a major airport, instead allowing it to be within the broader boundaries of the Omaha Inland Port Authority.

McKinney also chairs the board that oversees the Port Authority. Its jurisdiction, members said, is roughly 3,000 acres, although not all of that is buildable property. The $90 million for a business park was part of the Economic Recovery Act approved by the Legislature in 2022 and updated in 2023. The act, which included other elements, was championed by McKinney and then-Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha.

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LAWMAKER WANTS TO RESHAPE HIGHER ED WITH DEI, TENURE BANS

LINCOLN- Several University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Omaha students expressed concerns Monday about a pair of bills that aim to reshape higher education in the state. “Our university system should be something we invest in,” said UNL student Carter Grier, representing the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska. “Not something we undermine.”

College students, faculty, and some university officials testified against Legislative Bills 551 and 552 during an afternoon hearing of the Education Committee. The proposed legislation, filed by State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, would ban diversity, equity, and inclusion offices (LB 552) and dismantle tenure for faculty members (LB 551). Tenure provides a layer of protection for college faculty members from being dismissed and is often seen as a safeguard of academic freedom.

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LINCOLN SENATORS CLASH OVER SCHOOL RETIREMENT BILL, AS SCHOOL LEADERS WEIGH IN

LINCOLN- Two Lincoln state senators clashed Friday at a hearing over a governor-backed priority to reconsider what to do with Nebraska retirement plans once they are fully funded, starting with schools. The proposal in question, Legislative Bill 645 by State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, seeks to lower annual contribution rates to the statewide school retirement plan for eligible teachers and school employees, excluding those in the Omaha Public Schools, who have a separate retirement plan.

The initial bill, introduced at Gov. Jim Pillen’s request, had received broad condemnation from the Nebraska State Education Association and teachers statewide before the latest amendment that shifted the NSEA to neutral because it would lower employee payroll deductions, increasing take-home pay. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, the current Legislature’s longest-serving lawmaker in her 11th year, repeatedly asked Ballard if lawmakers should pause given “great risk and significant economic volatility.”

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LAWMAKER'S BID TO PUT MOBILE SPORTS BETTING ON BALLOT ADVANCES FROM COMMITTEE

LINCOLN- A bid to allow Nebraska voters the chance to legalize mobile sports betting in next year's election took a crucial first step forward Monday as a committee of state lawmakers sent the proposal to the floor of the Legislature. For now, gamblers in Nebraska can only place sports bets in person at casinos that have sportsbooks. However, a proposed constitutional amendment introduced by Lincoln Sen. Eliot Bostar would legalize mobile sports betting through platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings.

In a vote Monday afternoon that signaled bipartisan support for the measure, the Legislature's General Affairs Committee voted 6-2 to advance the proposal to the full Legislature. Republican Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and Jared Storm of David City voted against the move, while the rest of the committee — three Democrats and three Republicans — voted for it. Bostar's proposal (LR20CA) still has several hurdles to reach the 2026 ballot. It will need the support of 30 of Nebraska's 49 lawmakers during each of three rounds of debate in the Legislature to be placed on the ballot, where its fate would then be decided by voters. The measure would need the support of 33 lawmakers if opponents filibuster it.

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DOCTORS REVIEWING MEASLES VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS AMID TEXAS OUTBREAK

LINCOLN- With the growing outbreak of measles in Texas, New Mexico and now likely Oklahoma, doctors in Nebraska are reviewing vaccination recommendations for the highly contagious viral illness. It turns out the details behind those guidelines are a bit more complicated — and confusing to patients — than a quick glance at the federal recommendations might indicate, thanks to the way the measles vaccine was developed and how vaccination recommendations evolved over the years, said Dr. Mark Rupp, an infectious diseases specialist with Nebraska Medicine.

As a result, some patients, generally those in their late 30s through early 60s, may be asked about their vaccination status and offered the shot. Most, however, won't need to rush to get it. Meanwhile, Rupp and his colleagues have been updating their guidance and disseminating it to Nebraska Medicine clinics and emergency rooms. Both the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also have posted guidance for healthcare providers.

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DEBATE DELAYED ON PROPOSAL TO MORE FREQUENTLY CHANGE LAWMAKERS COMPENSATION

LINCOLN- A legislative proposal to let an independent, nonpartisan commission set the compensation of future Nebraska state senators is now “on pause” and will fall to the bottom of legislative priorities in 2025. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, the sponsor of Legislative Resolution 25CA, announced the decision Monday after multiple senators spoke against the proposal during its first two hours of debate on Friday. Hansen said much of the opposition focused on issues that didn’t pertain to the proposal itself, and he wanted to move forward.

Hansen said he still hopes to address the proposal later this year, or early next year, which if passed would send the final decision to voters at the November 2026 general election. The intent of the commission is to remove lawmakers’ annual $12,000 salary from the Nebraska Constitution. Because it is in the Constitution, pay increases, or decreases, can’t happen without a statewide vote, unlike other state officials. The commission could also consider health care benefits, per diems, or reimbursement rates.

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BILL TO PREVENT LOCAL RENT CONTROLS IN STATE MOVES A STEP FORWARD, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS

LINCOLN- A measure that would prevent local governments from imposing rent controls on private property, with some exceptions, took a step forward in the Nebraska Legislature on Monday. Legislative Bill 266, introduced by State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk, moved ahead on a 32-5 vote despite objections from a handful of Democratic lawmakers. Under LB 266, cities and counties generally would be prohibited from enacting local laws that have the effect of placing rent controls on private property.

The bill outlines exemptions for ordinances aimed at increasing the affordable housing supply “through land use or inclusionary housing requirements” or for programs in which the landlord voluntarily and contractually agrees to rent restrictions. Dover told fellow lawmakers that 37 other states had enacted similar legislation prohibiting rent controls, and he believes it is better to “look at what is going on in the country and get in front of it.”

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BILL TO CATALOG SCHOOL 'TOOLS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE' HITS ROADBLOCK

LINCOLN- A state lawmaker’s attempt to publicly catalog “tools of mass surveillance” in Nebraska public school districts is on pause, at least for now, as she finds an alternate path forward. Legislative Bill 31, from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would require all of Nebraska’s 245 public school districts to publicly inventory and catalog student surveillance, monitoring, and tracking technology tools used by or contracted for use in each district. The bill was debated Feb. 21 and Feb. 24 before not returning to the legislative agenda, at Conrad’s request.

Conrad has pledged to find a path forward for her bill with some bipartisan support, such as through a different bill or by working with the State Board of Education, the Nebraska Department of Education, or specific school districts. The bill faced stiff opposition from some senators who feared the bill could require schools to disclose sensitive information or impose unfunded burdens to compile the necessary information.

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LEGISLATURE ADVANCES BILL LIMITING WHEN SCHOOLS CAN SCHEDULE BOND ELECTIONS

LINCOLN- A proposal to limit when Nebraska school districts can have special bond elections advanced from first-round debate at the Legislature on Wednesday. The bill (LB135) from Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue would require school districts to put bond issues to voters during regularly scheduled statewide primary or general elections in even-numbered years. Holdcroft's bill also prohibits school districts from seeking a second election within 10 months of a bond issue's defeat.

An amendment adopted Wednesday would also allow special elections to be held during May or November in odd-numbered years — times Holdcroft said Nebraska voters would be accustomed to voting. Holdcroft, who introduced a similar measure last year, said the changes would give more voters a chance to weigh in on whether or not school districts should borrow money or exceed their property tax levy limits.

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COMMITTEE DELAYS VOTE ON BILL TO DEFINE MALE, FEMALE IN LAW FOR SPORTS, BATHROOMS

LINCOLN- A Nebraska legislative committee has delayed, for now, a final vote on whether to advance a proposal to define “male” and “female” in state law and restrict student-athlete participation by sex at birth. The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee elected to not yet vote on advancing Legislative Bill 89, the “Stand With Women Act” from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, over questions from some committee members about whether a proposed amendment would require all students to get a notarized doctor’s note of that student’s sex to participate in single-sex sports.

State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, the committee chair, said “more clarity would provide a better debate” after Omaha State Sens. John Cavanaugh, Dunixi Guereca, and Megan Hunt asked whether a doctor’s “attestation” would implicate the need for a notary. Hunt said this would increase costs for some families. She asked her colleagues to consider if they lived in the land of the free and thought of all the people who died for the freedom to play sports who would need to find a notary to do so. Cavanaugh said the requirement should lead to a new public hearing.

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