This is your weekly Nebraska Legislature update.
Committee Hearings last week
Appleseed testified on several bills during Legislature committee hearings last week.
LB 12 – A bill to streamline the Medicaid process for eligible Nebraskans who enter and leave the criminal justice system. This bill will improve health care access while saving costs in the corrections system.
Appleseed testified in support of this bill before the Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 28.
LB 77 – A bill to improve Nebraska’s coverage of preventive health care and family planning services under Medicaid for families with low incomes. This bill will increase access to health care for individuals with low incomes while saving a significant amount of state dollars.
Appleseed testified in support of this bill before the Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 28.
LB 148 – A bill that streamlines the process for youth who age out of foster care to apply for Medicaid coverage that they are allowed to receive until age 26 under the Affordable Care Act. The bill also allows youth who age out of foster care in other states, but have moved to Nebraska, to be eligible for coverage.
Appleseed testified in support of this bill before the Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 30.
Upcoming Hearings
Appleseed will monitor and may testify at several committee hearings this week.
LR 33 – A bill introduced by Sen. Bob Krist to appoint a special legislative committee to investigate and making recommendations for improving the troubled ACCESSNebraska public benefits system. This would continue the efforts of the committee formed by LR 400 passed last session. Hearing: Executive Committee, Feb. 6.
LB 89 – A bill introduced by Senator Kathy Campbell that will help keep families together by slightly raising the payment rate of Nebraska’s Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) benefit. This rate has not been raised in nearly three decades and no longer reflects the current costs of living. The bill also helps to address the “Cliff Effect” by easing the transition off of the program. Hearing: Health and Human Services Committee, Feb. 6.
LB 147 – A bill introduced by Sen. Sue Crawford that would remove assets from consideration when determining eligibility to receive ADC and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This would help streamline the ACCESS Nebraska system, allow working families to receive critical work supports, and build savings to better achieve stability. Hearing: Health and Human Services Committee, Feb. 6.
Stay up to date on Appleseed’s issues
You can keep up with all the exciting happenings at the Legislature by following Appleseed online. Like our Facebook page and follow issues and legislative hearings in real-time on Appleseed’s Twitter feed.
Plus, stop by our Appleseed Blog for opinion pieces, informative updates, and news stories, and visit our Vimeo page for videos of what we’re working on throughout 2015.
We will keep you updated on the latest bill introductions, hearings, and floor debate. And, we’ll let you know how you can take action to get involved and make your voice heard throughout the session!