LINCOLN- The people of Nebraska have the right to the initiative process which allows for laws and constitutional amendments to be enacted independently of the unicameral. Since just 2014, those initiatives have raised the state's minimum wage, reinstated the death penalty, expanded Medicaid and most recently legalized casino gambling at horse tracks.

Proposed initiatives, such as legalizing medical marijuana, have been thrown out by the court. The initiative did not make the ballot because it violated the state's single-subject rule. The initiative language was approved by the Secretary of State Bob Evnen but was challenged by Lancaster County Sherriff Terry Wagner. The Supreme Court decision was 5-2 and sided with Wagner.

Senator Anna Wishart was an organizer of the initiative, and she says, "My goal is for people to be able to introduce petitions that have one general subject, but also include provisions that connect to that general subject so you can have a well-thought out and well-developed petition."

The constitutional amendment she is proposing will help eliminate the 'gray area' which she feels stopped the initiative. LB475 is being introduced and would require the AG to issue a legal opinion on whether the petition's language would meet the single-subject rule. LB477 would require the Secretary of State to provide an advisory opinion.

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