The League actively engages with the Nebraska Legislature. Before each legislative session, members of the state board of directors review bills and identify priority bills based on our issues program. We testify before committees; write op-eds and letters to the editors of newspapers; contact government officials through e-mails, phone calls and letters; hold an annual Legislative Day; and, in general, encourage our members to take action. Learn more about how our members take action.
107th Legislature , 1st Session Sine Die May 27, 2021.
Special Session began on September 13, 2021.
The 107th Legislature,
1st Special Session for Redistricting
The Nebraska Legislature resumed meeting in special session on September 13, 2021 to take up redistricting bills. The session is scheduled to run until September 30, 2021.
The 107th Legislature, 1st Session Information
The 107th Nebraska Legislature, 1st session, began on Jan. 6, 2021. The Legislature is now expected to Sine Die on May 27, 2021.
We are following three new resolutions:
LR 107 – Request cooperation relating to prevention of unconstitutional abuse of power by state and federal governments. OPPOSE
LR 134 – Adopt the proposed guidelines to be used by the Legislature during the 2021 redistricting process. MONITOR
LR 159 – Request the Executive Board to appoint an AltEn LLC Ethanol Plant Special Investigative and Oversight Committee. SUPPORT
Bills are introduced during the first 10 days of the session. Each bill receives a hearing in committee.
Tentative calendar for the 2021 legislative session.
Bills introduced in the session.
Legislative Leadership
Speaker Mike Hilgers
Chair, Executive Committee, Sen. Dan Hughes
Vice Chair, Executive Committee, Sen. Tony Vargas
Chair, Agriculture Committee, Sen. Steve Halloran
Chair, Appropriations Committee, Sen. John Stinner
Chair, Banking, Commerce & Insurance Committee, Sen. Matt Williams
Chair, Business & Labor Committee, Sen. Ben Hansen
Chair, Education Committee, Sen. Lynne Walz
Chair, General Affairs Committee, Sen. Tom Briese
Chair, Government, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee, Sen. Tom Brewer
Chair, Judiciary Committee, Sen. Steve Lathrop
Chair, Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Bruce Bostelman
Chair, Nebraska Retirement Systems, Sen. Mark Kolterman
Chair, Revenue Committee, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
Chair, Transportation & Telecommunications Committee, Sen. Curt Friesen
Chair, Urban Affairs Committee, Sen. Justin Wayne
Chair, Rules Committee, Sen. Robert Clements
Chair, Enrollment & Review Committee, Sen. Terrell McKinney
League Action, the 107th Legislature, 1st Session
LWVNE Priority Bills for Legislative Action Day, Feb. 24, 2021
The LWVNE will urge action on the following bills on its Legislative Action Day:
LB 8: (Sen. Blood) Change independent expenditure reporting requirements and require electioneering reporting. (SUPPORT) DID NOR MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
LB 11: (Sen. Blood) Allow registered voters to request permanent receipt of an early ballot to vote. (SUPPORT) DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
LB 20: (Sen. Blood) Provide for insurance coverage of and Medicaid access to prescribed contraceptives. (SUPPORT) LEFT ON GENERAL FILE
LB 266: (Sen. McCollister) Adopt Renewable Energy Standards Act. (SUPPORT) DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
LB 383: (Sen. Hilgers) Appropriate funds to plan, design and construct two new correctional centers for up to 384 beds. (OPPOSE) PASSED WITH NO FUNDS FOR PRISON CONSTRUCTION, $15 MILLION TO DEVELOP PRISON ALTERNATIVES AND PROGRAMMING, PLUS MONEY TO UPDATE THE STATE’S MASTER PLAN FOR CORRECTIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A NEW STUDY OF THE STATE’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY THE NONPROFIT CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE.
LB 364: (Sen. Linehan) The Opportunity Scholarship Act. (OPPOSE) FAILED TO PASS
LR 22 CA: (Sen. Linehan) Constitutional amendment to limit the total amount of property tax revenue that may be raised by political subdivisions (e.g., public school districts) DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
Legislative Action Alerts
To read a call to action on:
Contact Your Senator to Oppose Rules Changes – Jan. 12 – The League is opposed to proposal #2 to replace the secret ballot with roll call votes. The League supports the use of the secret ballot for leadership elections to maintain the nonpartisan nature of the Legislature. The League is also opposed to proposal #6 to close Executive Sessions to the news media. The ability of news reporters to be present and report on Executive Sessions is key to maintaining the trust of citizens in the legislative process.
Rules Committee Public Hearing – Jan. 11 – Proposed rules changes for this session are due on Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. But Senator Clements chose to schedule a public hearing for the very next day, Jan. 12, at 1:30 p.m., giving constituents very little time to read and prepare to comment on any changes. This runs counter to the purpose of holding a public hearing in the first place.
General Action Alerts
Contact Governor Ricketts to help Mead, NE, and protect Nebraska from waste near our waterways and over our aquifer – Jan. 25. Mead, NE, has become a dumping ground for treated seed corn from all across North America. Nebraska does not need this kind of waste near our waterways and over our aquifer. Legislation is pending to prohibit future plants from using treated seed corn in this manner, but will not ensure NDEE enforces the violations of this plant by March 1. That is the Governor’s responsibility. For more information read: ‘There’s a Red Flag Here’: How an Ethanol Plant is Dangerously Polluting a US Village.
News Releases/Op-eds/Letters to Editors of Newspapers 2021
OWH Midlands Voices Op-Ed by Rachel Gibson, Education Director and Sheri St. Clair, Redistricting Director opposing LR 107.
OWH Midlands Voices Op-Ed by Co-Presidents Dianne Bystrom & Linda Duckworth opposing LB 383, which would fund the construction of a 1,512-bed correctional facility. Instead, they urge effective best practices to reduce the overcrowding problem in the Nebraska correctional system through Smart Justice programs.