LINCOLN- On Friday, state Sen. Justin Wayne announced that a meeting with representatives from Gov. Pillen's office, the Attorney General's Office, and several county prosecutors led to agreements and concessions on a myriad of proposals that would enhance rehabilitation and supervision programs. However, some proposals still need some work and research, according to Wayne, and likely won't be considered as the 2023 legislative session inches closer to the end.

However, Wayne and other proponents of such legislation are excited and optimistic about these proposals. "We're going to set a good framework going forward," said Wayne, who chairs the state's Judiciary Committee, "I was actually pleasantly surprised." Wayne and the Committee faced intense scrutiny recently after advancing a large package of criminal justice reform proposals, which were contained in LB50, prompting the aforementioned meetings and negotiations.

Prior to the beginning of the 2023 legislative session, there were fears that proposals to address Nebraska's prison overcrowding and recidivism rate would fall upon deaf ears. Sen. Terrell McKinney also stated several times that, if such legislation isn't passed, Nebraska would be forced to build not one, but two new 1,500-bed prisons. "We have been waiting to do something for three years," said McKinney after the negotiations concluded, "We probably won't get everything we want but have to get something over the finish line."

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