Last week, the Nebraska Legislature officially kicked off the 2025 session, welcoming 17 new faces to the Unicameral. Senator John Arch was re-elected Speaker of the Legislature, committee chair elections were held, and committee assignments were reported.
Bill introductions also began last week, and will continue through Day 10 which is Wednesday, January 22. Hearings will start on January 22 and continue through the end of March. Floor debate on any rules changes will also begin on January 22. All-day floor debate is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 31.
Appleseed Priority Bills Introduced
A number of bills were introduced last week, including several Appleseed 2025 priority bills:
✅ LB14, introduced by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, aka the Hunger-Free Schools Act, offers free school meals for all students in Nebraska, making sure kids get the food they need to learn and thrive.
✅ LB17, introduced by Senator John Cavanaugh, protects Nebraska renters by prohibiting landlords from charging predatory fees, ensuring reasonable late fees, and refunding screening fees for prospective tenants who are not offered a rental.
✅ LB96, introduced by Senator George Dungan, ensures healthier transitions for Nebraskans leaving correctional facilities by permitting Medicaid coverage for certain services prior to reentry.
✅ LB101, introduced by Senator George Dungan, recognizes Nebraskans’ Constitutional right to a trial by jury in eviction cases. It also ensures that tenants are informed of their right to a trial by jury and protects against leases that would require tenants to waive that right.
✅ LB102, introduced by Senator Ashlei Spivey, puts money in the pockets of families who need it by increasing the eligibility limit for Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), the direct cash assistance program funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant.
✅ LB153, introduced by Senator Dunixi Guereca, ensures that postpartum health care is available to all women and people who need it, which is critical for keeping babies, families, and our communities healthy.
✅ LB157, introduced by Senator Danielle Conrad, helps families fight the rising cost of living by adopting the Child Tax Credit Act (CTC), which would create a fully refundable tax credit of $1,000 per child under age 18 for Nebraska taxpayers in low-income households.
✅ LB174, introduced by Senator Jason Prokop, protects Nebraskans and their paychecks by limiting wage garnishment to repay medical debt.
✅ LB181, introduced by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, would expand the Bridge to Independence (B2I) program to all young people aging out of foster care, regardless of their immigration status.
✅ LB192, introduced by Senator Dan Quick, preserves access to food for thousands of Nebraska families by maintaining the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)’s income eligibility level, which will decrease in September unless the legislature acts now.
We anticipate several more of Appleseed’s priority bills to be introduced this week and next. Stay tuned for further updates!
Tell Your Senator to OPPOSE LB89
Last Friday, Governor Pillen held a press conference with a number of senators announcing ❌ LB89 to adopt the “Stand With Women Act.” This bill is an expansion of the school bathroom and sports bill that was defeated last year and would create definitions of “male” and “female” that K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, and ALL state agencies would be required to follow.
We are concerned about the broad application of ❌ LB89 and how it could impact ALL rules and regulations across state agencies, including the way public programs are implemented and accessed in Nebraska. This bill is not only harmful to Nebraskans – it has serious implications for our state’s fiscal health and budget.
We’ll let you know how to take action as this bill moves forward in the Legislature. In the meantime, you can:
- Tell your Senator to OPPOSE ❌ LB89 (Find your senator.)
- Follow our partners for the latest on this bill:
Stay Up to Date
You can keep up with all the happenings at the Legislature by following Appleseed online:
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Don’t miss out on our live updates on legislative hearings on BlueSky and X.
- Stop by our blog for opinion pieces, informative updates, and news stories.
In our previous legislative update, we shared several important ways for you to share your voice on legislation that’s important to you. 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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