Yesterday morning, the Legislature passed the finalized budget and it’s now with the Governor awaiting his signature. It’s unprecedented for senators to pass a budget this early, but it will allow senators to continue to focus on their priority bills for the remainder of the session. There have been a few Appleseed priorities that have had time on the floor these past few weeks, and we anticipate several more to come up over the next month.
Important child care subsidy bill advances
Senator Wendy DeBoer’s priority bill, LB485, was debated on the floor yesterday afternoon and successfully advanced to the next round of debate. This legislation would expand initial eligibility for the child care subsidy program to Nebraska families whose income is at or under 185% of the federal poverty level, and allow families to continue to receive the subsidy if their income stays below 200% of the federal poverty level.
The changes proposed in LB485 are long-needed improvements to our state’s subsidy program to allow more families to access critical supports to afford child care. You can continue to voice your support for this bill by leaving a comment on the bill’s page here (click on “Submit Comments Online for LB485”).
SNAP cliff effect bill moved onto select file
Last Wednesday, the Legislature advanced LB108, Senator John McCollister’s priority bill, which would address the SNAP cliff effect to help families avoid the tough choice between accessing better job opportunities and keeping food on their tables. Twenty-nine senators voted to move the bill to select file.
Your voice is vital to ensuring this important piece of legislation continues to advance successfully through the legislative process. Call your senator’s office to share your support for this bill. You can also submit a comment on LB108 anytime by clicking the “submit comment” option on LB108’s page.
Stay up to date on Appleseed’s issues
You can keep up with all the happenings at the Legislature by following Appleseed online. Like our Facebook page and follow legislative hearings in real-time on Appleseed’s Twitter feed. Stop by our blog for opinion pieces, informative updates, and news stories.
We’ll let you know how you can take action to get involved and make your voice heard throughout the session!
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