NEW POLLING FINDS 70% SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING MEDICAL CANNABIS

LINCOLN- New polling found that 70% of respondents are ready to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska and that a majority of those responding want to approve a novel alternative to property, sales and income taxes. The poll, conducted for Neilan Strategy Group, mirrors polling done by a group seeking to place the medical cannabis issue on the 2024 ballot.

The Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said their polling in 2022 showed that 80% of registered voters were in favor of legalization. “Nebraskans are clearly ready to legalize medical marijuana,” said Perre Neilan of Neilan Strategy Group. Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said that she’s not surprised “whatsoever” by the poll results in that it mirrors what they’ve seen in recent years.

This year marks the third time the medical marijuana group has tried to get the issue before voters, after failing to find favor with the issue in the Nebraska Legislature. To qualify for the ballot, an initiative seeking a law change must gather the signatures of about 86,000 registered voters and get signers from at least 5% of voters from 38 of state’s 93 counties.

For the full article click HERE

PROPOSAL WOULD PUT LOCAL WATER FLUORIDATION TO PUBLIC REFERENDUM

LINCOLN- Conversations about water fluoridation may be on the horizon for more Nebraska cities or villages, in light of a legislative proposal under consideration. LB1387, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen, would set up a referendum vote on whether communities should fluoridate their water supply, which is meant to fight tooth decay. In 2008, the Legislature mandated fluoridation for certain cities.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, LB1387 would require cities or villages to opt-in through an ordinance and a vote of its residents at the next regular election. It’s unclear whether communities already fluoridating would need to adopt another ordinance or put it to a vote; Hansen said they wouldn’t have to end fluoridation in the meantime. Hansen said communities should get to decide if they want the chemical.

“Our water systems are not to be used for drug distribution,” Hansen said at a hearing on the bill last Thursday. Testifying in opposition to Hansen’s bill were dentists from Nebraska, such as Dr. Jessica Meeske, a pediatric dentist in Hastings, who said it does not make sense for communities to reaffirm the decision to put fluoride in the public water supply.

For the full article click HERE

TWO NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES AWARDED A TOTAL OF $2.55 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT HELPS REPLACE STOCK LOST TO FLOODING

LINCOLN- Two Nebraska communities are to receive state grants totaling $2.55 million for affordable housing that will help replace dwellings lost in the substantial 2019 floods. In a press release, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced the grants.

They are, according to the press release, to go to Sarpy County and Dodge County. Sarpy County was awarded $1.95 million to build 13 homes just west of Offutt Air Force Base, while Dodge County will receive $600,000 to construct four new homes. The funds come from the Affordable Housing Construction Program-Homeownership Production Program.

The program is intended to help facilitate the construction of affordable housing that targets the areas federally designated as most distressed by the 2019 flooding disaster. DED officials said that distribution of state and federal aid has been ongoing since the flood occurred, and that interest in disaster recovery housing programs has exceeded expectations.

For the full article click HERE

LABOR COURT SIDES WITH THE STATE ON LATEST LEGAL VOLLEY IN REMOTE WORK CASE

LINCOLN- On Friday, a state labor court sided with the state of Nebraska over a case introduced by the 8,000-member Nebraska Association of Public Employees, which requested that the state provide records that could cost potentially $1 million to produce. This request was denied by the Nebraska Commission on Industrial Relations.

"The disputed requests are overly broad, unduly burdensome, and without any tie to potentially relevant or admissible evidence for the commission's consideration in deciding this dispute," said Commissioner Gregory Neuhaus. Justin Hubly, the Association of Public Employees's executive director, said he didn't see the decision as a significant setback.

At issue is Gov. Pillen's November executive order that aimed to end remote work for most state employees, with just a handful of exceptions. The order, which called for most employees to return to their offices by January 2nd, set off a firestorm of objections. Hubly said it will likely impact over 1,300 state employees.

For the full article click HERE

'DEFENDER OF DOWNTRODDEN' KEEPS VOTERS GUESSING AS DEADLINE NEARS TO FILE FOR 2024 ELECTION

OMAHA- The self-proclaimed "Defender of the Downtrodden," former state Senator Ernie Chambers, the longest-serving legislator in Nebraska history, said recently that he's "thinking about" running against incumbent Sen. Terrell McKinney. However, Chambers, now 86 years old, added that thinking about running is "different than planning or intending to."

The final deadline to file as a candidate for the Nebraska Legislature is March 1st. This year, sixteen of the 25 seats up for election in the Legislature are "open," or lacking an incumbent. Three other races feature appointees making their first run to retain their post. As of Friday, the incumbent deadline for re-election, only one legislative seat lacked candidates entirely: District 15, which is now held by the soon-to-be term limited Sen. Lynne Walz.

After leaving office in 2021, Chambers said he'd consider running again in 2024 if his health was good and his mind was "clear." Recently, Chambers asserted that both boxes were checked this year, but that "people won't let me be." He said that some in Nebraska believe he carries a "magic wand" to block some of the "bad things" that have happened in recent legislative sessions. "But," said Chambers, "there's only so much one person can do. Even Jesus would end up on the cross."

For the full article click HERE

CONFLICTING POLLS SHOW BOTH OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT FOR PILLEN'S PROPOSED SALES TAX INCREASE

LINCOLN- Two public opinion polls provided contrasting results over whether or not Nebraskans agree with Gov. Pillen's proposal to raise the state sales tax in an attempt to offset property taxes. Pillen's proposal, which has yet to be debated by the full Legislature, has been criticized by some as a "tax hike" and an unacceptable tax shift from typically conservative and tax-cutting groups.

However, others, especially farm groups, have praised the governor's measure, arguing that it's a necessary step to address an unfair property tax burden on farms and ranches. One of the polls, released on Thursday by the Nebraska Association of County Officials, was praised by Pillen in a press release. It found that 65% of Nebraskans supported a 1% state sales tax hike "to allow governments to continue to provide important services."

However, another poll conducted by the Holland Children's Institute found that a plurality of respondents, roughly 45% opposed reducing "Nebraska's state property taxes by raising state sales taxes from 5.5% to 6.5%." The two polls also followed one released in January by Americans for Prosperity Nebraskan, which suggested that 70% of Nebraskans opposed raising sales taxes to decrease property taxes.

For the full article click HERE

FULL TUITION WAIVERS PROPOSED FOR NEBRASKA STUDENT TEACHERS

LINCOLN- If passed, LB953 introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth could give student teachers 100% tuition waivers beginning in 2025. "Encouraging and supporting prospective teachers will help us rebuild our teacher population," Kauth told the Education Committee last week during a public hearing over LB953.

The proposed program would run for six consecutive school years, ending during the 2030-31 school year, and is estimated to cost roughly $15 million in lost tuition revenue. However, this would be offset by annual appropriations of up to $3 million, argued Kristen Hassebrook, a lobbyist for the University of Nebraska System.

Paul Turman, chancellor of the state college system of Peru, Chadron, and Wayne State Colleges, said some school districts, such as Omaha Public Schools, provide stipends to student teachers, but that the practice is not widespread, especially in rural Nebraska. "Any type of legislation that begins to address ways to help incentivize students teachers in their final year of experiences is very warranted," Turman told the Education Committee.

For the full article click HERE

SPEAKER: NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE MOVING SMOOTHLY, BUT DIFFICULT SUBJECTS ON HORIZON

LINCOLN- The 2024 session has passed the halfway mark with plenty of work ahead. Lawmakers will continue to split their days between morning floor debates and afternoon committee hearings through the end of the month, as they sort through nearly 600 bills introduced this year, plus bills that remain in play from last year. Speaker John Arch said he is pleased with the progress and tenor of the first half of the short session.

Senators have collaborated on the floor to address concerns or find compromises, he said, while committees are taking time to give bills thorough consideration before advancing them for debate by the full body."I think last year's session was a motivator, to put it mildly," Arch said. "It motivated people to find another way to do this, and as a result of that, we said 'there's a process here that works, let's go back and relearn that.'"

"People that have bills and want those bills to pass are talking to those who come to committee hearings, or perhaps other senators, and a lot of times that results in a minor change that clears the opposition," he said. "That has made for better bills." As the Legislature takes the turn for home, Arch said he hopes the spirit of good governance and collaboration experienced so far continues.

For the full article click HERE

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ADVANCES NEW OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP BILL

LINCOLN- State lawmakers have teed up another contentious debate over providing public funds for private, K-12 schooling. On a 6-3 vote, members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee advanced to floor debate a revised version of the Opportunity Scholarships Act that was passed last year.

That act faces nullification in a vote on the ballot in November, and supporters of the scholarships law made it clear that they want to avoid an expensive campaign to convince voters to retain last year’s act. “It’s pretty painful,” said Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the sponsor of the bill introduced last year and this year’s LB1402, noting that supporters of the act spent more than $1 million in attempts to keep the issue off the ballot.

Elmwood Sen. Rob Clements, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said he voted to advance LB 1402 because he’s been a longtime supporter of school choice and because backers of the Opportunity Scholarships Act wanted to avoid a bruising campaign over the ballot initiative. He was joined in voting the bill out by Sens. Armendariz, Dover, Erdman, Lippincott and McDonnell.

For the full article click HERE

'I MADE A MISTAKE': LAWMAKER WHO SANK NEBRASKA'S NEAR-TOTAL ABORTION BAN SEEKS CHANGES

LINCOLN- After working behind the scenes to revive a stricter abortion ban last year, a Nebraska lawmaker said he should have fought for an additional exception and a repeal of criminal penalties. Sen. Merv Riepe introduced LB1109 this year in hopes of adding an exception for fatal fetal anomalies, up to 20 weeks post-fertilization, in line with other exceptions for incest and sexual assault, which were included last year. At least two physicians would need to confirm a fatal diagnosis, determining the pregnancy would result in the infant’s death at birth or “inevitably thereafter.”

LB 1109 would also repeal criminal penalties for someone who intentionally or recklessly performs, or attempts to perform, an abortion in violation of state law. This penalty is currently a Class IV felony. Patients are not held liable for abortions performed or attempted illegally. “I failed last session to hold to my expectations, and we have an incomplete law,” Riepe told the Judiciary Committee.

Riepe said current criminal penalties penalize doctors following the law but “operating within the margins” while the additional exception is for mothers who have “done everything right”. ”They are want-to-be mothers. They have sought prenatal care and screening,” Riepe said. “But the genetic lottery has swatted them down, and they have lost.”

For the full article click HERE

DEBATE FOCUSES ON WHAT'S BEST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY: REPEALING OR RETAINING STATE'S 3-DECADE-OLD HANDGUN BUYER PERMIT LAW

LINCOLN- Gun rights advocates and those who support gun control differed on the merits of a bill that would rescind Nebraska’s 33-year-old handgun buyer’s permit law. The law requires anyone seeking to purchase, rent or receive a handgun to first obtain a state permit, costing $5, after first undergoing a criminal background check by a local law enforcement agency.

The permit is good for three years, which is what much of the debate was about. Right now, if someone obtained a state buyers permit and committed a felony or other offense the next day, that would disqualify the person from carrying a firearm, but that might not be discovered for another three years, said Sen. Tom Brewer. In this situation, an individual would still be able to purchase a gun.

Kelsey Remmers of the Nebraska State Patrol, which asked that LB 883 be introduced, testified it would close that “loophole” and “is in the best interest of public safety.” Supporters of gun control, Brewer said, should be in support of his proposal. That proposal is to require a background check at each purchase point as required by federal law.

For the full article click HERE

SUPPORT IS SURPRISINGLY BIPARTISAN TO DELETE CLAUSE ABOUT LEGAL OPINIONS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

LINCOLN- Attorney General Mike Hilgers testified in favor of a bill introduced by State Sen. Danielle Conrad, moments after the senator had ripped the state’s top lawyer for a “poorly written and political” legal opinion. Conrad was referring to the nonbinding legal opinion from Hilgers in August opining that legislatively created “inspector general” offices to monitor operations in state prisons and the child welfare system were an unconstitutional infringement by the Legislature on the authority of the executive branch of government.

The Lincoln senator has decried the legal opinion, saying that the agencies are “thumbing their noses” at state law, which requires the Legislature to provide oversight over state operations — operations at what she calls the two “most troubled” agencies in state government. The Legislature, Conrad said, created the inspector general offices in the wake of scandals over the past decade.

After being verbally slammed by Conrad during testimony, Hilgers spoke in favor of her bill, which surprised several members of the Government Committee. Hilgers said that the clause in state law concerning legal opinions from the AG is an “anomaly” and can make “a significant mess of things.” He added that his opinions are nonbinding.

For the full article click HERE

BILL TO PREVENT OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN NEBRASKA PASSES INITIAL HURDLE

LINCOLN- In 2022, 175 Nebraskans died of drug overdoses. A bill seeking to reduce that number advanced Wednesday from the initial-round legislative debate. State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who introduced Legislative Bill 1355, said that in more than 60% of the 2022 fatal overdose cases, there was at least one potential opportunity to prevent a death.

Under the bill, $4 million per year in grants from the Nebraska Opioid Recovery Fund would be provided for the Nebraska State Patrol, health care facilities, local public health departments and behavioral health regions to create programs to improve opioid treatment and response to overdoses. The bill, with amendments, advanced on a 40-0 vote.

Vargas, who prioritized the bill, said that opioid addiction touches too many lives and that the bill can help address “this public health crisis, keep our communities safe and get Nebraskans the help they need to treat and overcome addiction.” Vargas said that 67% of all overdose deaths in Nebraska involved opioids and that illegally made fentanyl was the top opioid involved.

For the full article click HERE

A 'TURNBACK TAX' DISTRIBUTION TO BENEFIT 27 NORTH OMAHA GROUPS, SMALL BUSINESSES

OMAHA- About $198,000 in grants to benefit the area were announced Thursday by a committee including Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers, Omaha City Councilwoman Juanita Johnson, North Omaha State Sen. Terrell McKinney and community members Ernest White and Rodney Johnson. ​​​​

The funds are awarded under the Nebraska Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act, which dictates that much of state sales tax revenue collected by hotels and retailers within a certain distance of a convention center are to be “turned back” to political subdivisions to pay off debt for the facilities.

The act, as amended, provides that 10% of that turnback tax funding received by the City of Omaha is be used in high poverty areas for these reasons: to showcase historical aspects; to reduce street and gang violence; and to assist small-business growth.

South Omaha received a separate portion of turnback tax grants worth about $198,000 for the 2023-24 grant cycle.

For the full article click HERE

LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL TO REPEAL NEBRASKA'S 2023 ABORTION AND GENDER CARE LAW WITHDRAWN

LINCOLN- A legislative bill that sought to repeal Nebraska’s 2023’s combo abortion and gender care law is dead this year, at the introducer’s request. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh introduced LB879 to allow the public to weigh in further on LB574. That bill enacted a 12-week abortion ban tied to gestational age and charged the state’s chief medical officer to write regulations on care primarily targeted to transgender youths. The law also prohibits transition surgeries before age 19. 

Lawmakers voted 30-2 Thursday to withdraw LB 879. Instead, the Health and Human Services Committee, of which Cavanaugh is a member, has requested a briefing with Tesmer on the proposed final rules and regulations. Temporary rules and regulations have been in place since Oct. 1, and the final proposal cleared the State Board of Health last week.

The requested briefing is for Thursday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. The briefing would be public, but the public could not speak as they can at bill hearings. It is currently unclear whether Dr. Timothy Tesmer will agree to attend the public hearing. The rules go to the offices of Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Gov. Jim Pillen for a final say. 

For the full article click HERE

'CLUB OF ONE': NEBRASKA ADMINISTRATORS, PROFESSORS CRITICZE EFFORT TO END FACULTY TENURE

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, faculty groups and administrators from the University of Nebraska lined up to oppose Sen. Loren Lippincott's LB1064, which would end faculty tenure in Nebraska. Lippincott said his goal in introducing the bill is not to stifle academic freedom, but to put benchmarks in place to allow for more transparency.

"A lot of these horses plowed the field very straight when they were young and they were earning their tenure," Lippincott told the Legislature's Education Committee, "But then those horses ended up staying in the barn and just simply eating hay." Interim NU President Chris Kabourek was the first to testify, arguing that tenure is something NU need in its "toolbox."

"It takes years of work and a proven record and scholarly performance and productivity, and that's good news for Nebraska," Kabourek said. Should LB1064 pass, Kabourek added, it would put NU at a "great competitive disadvantage." Colby Woodson, a UNL graduate student, argued that the institution of tenure has become a sort of academic caste system, and that it's not necessarily what it used to be.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA STUDENTS TAKE FIGHT AGAINST 'PERIOD POVERTY' TO LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- On Monday, a hearing was held before the Legislature's Education Committee over Sen. Danielle Conrad's LB1050, which would require school districts to provide menstrual products in girls' bathrooms or locker rooms by the 2025-26 school year. The bill, which did not include an appropriation, is expected by the Nebraska Department of Education to cost $750,000 annually.

The Legislature previously removed a sales tax on menstrual supplies and provided menstrual products to incarcerated women and girls, which Conrad described as the first steps. Alyssa Capek, a Nebraska eighth grader, told the Education Committee that it can be "traumatic and embarrassing" for girls when their school lacks adequate menstrual products.

"Once female students hit puberty, we're given this insurmountable task of being our own nurses and our own janitors," said another testifier, Cassidy Bell, "And because we don't talk about it, we girls never say to each other, 'Maybe it doesn't have to be like this.'" The Nebraska State Education Association, Nebraska Association of School Board, and ACLU of Nebraska all testified in support of the proposal.

For the full article click HERE

BILL TO RESTRUCTURE NEBRASKA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY BE DEAD IN LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- A lack of committee support indicates that a constitutional amendment to restructure the Nebraska State Board of Education may be dead in the Legislature this year, although the introducer still has hope. The Legislature's Education Committee held off on voting to advance Sen. Murman's LR278CA on Tuesday.

The proposal would reduce the number of elected members on the State Board of Education to five, with two additional members appointed by the governor. The Board is currently composed of eight members, each elected from separate districts. Murman argued that his proposal would put Nebraska in line with a majority of states, which do not elect their Board of Education members.

Murman acquiesced to not voting on the amendment Tuesday, noting the amount of opposition testimony it received, but said he wasn't committed to leaving the proposal stuck in committee for the rest of the legislative session. On Tuesday, the committee also decided to hold off on advancing LB635, which would require providers of digital and online resources to K-12 schools to filter and block obscene materials.

For the full article click HERE

HEARING BRINGS OUT BACKERS, OPPONENTS OF NEBRASKA ANTI-DEI BILL

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, critics of a proposal seeking to restrict Nebraska colleges and universities from spending public money and staff time on efforts to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion spoke for more than three hours, stretching an Education Hearing into the evening. Proponents of the bill spoke for just 45 minutes.

The bill, LB1330 introduced by Sen. Dave Murman, largely mirrors legislation passed in other red states, such as Oklahoma. The bill would make it unlawful in Nebraska for public higher education institutions to require employees to participate in training or workshops on power and privilege and how both impact people of different races, genders, and sexual orientations.

Murman, speaking to the Education Committee, told members that those in higher education who speak out against DEI are ostracized, marginalized, or outright fired. "This is the natural result of when public institutions put ideology into policy," Murman said, "It should be obvious and easy to say that race, ethnicity, gender and religion should never be used to discriminate against another person."

For the full article click HERE

PILLEN RAISES RECORD AMOUNT FOR FIRST-YEAR NEBRASKA GOVERNOR

LINCOLN- Just months after winning Nebraska's costliest governor's race, Gov. Jim Pillen set a record for first-year fundraising for the state's chief executive position. In 2023, Pillen raised $2.1 million, more than double the closest number ever raised by a first-year governor. Gov. Dave Heineman, the second-highest fundraiser, brought in only $815,000 in his first year.

Several Nebraska political consultants said they see Pillen's substantial early fundraising as a warning to any would-be challengers, like agribusinessman Charles Herbster, who Pillen beat in the 2022 Republican Primary. Chris Peterson, a Nebraska Republican consultant, called Pillen's figures "a stunning number," and argued that such an amount "doesn't happen by accident."

"It's clearly intended to both raise a war chest for 2026 and send a message to potential challengers that Governor Pillen isn't taking his re-election for granted, even though the primary election is more than two years away," said Peterson. Herbster declined to comment about his political intentions or Pillen's large haul. However, Herbster has expressed interest in a possible 2026 rematch.

For the full article click HERE