News

RELEASE: Nebraska Legislature advances bill to limit paid sick leave, despite overwhelming opposition

***For Immediate Release***
May 13, 2025

Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: 402-438-8853 x116
sierrasp@neappleseed.org 

RELEASE: Nebraska Legislature advances bill to limit paid sick leave, despite overwhelming opposition

LB415 removes paid sick leave protections from 140,000 Nebraskans

LINCOLN, NE – Today, 33 senators in the Nebraska Legislature continue to flagrantly disrespect the will of their constituents by advancing LB415 through its second round of debate. The bill is now headed to Final Reading, where it will require 33 votes to pass into law.

LB415, introduced by Senator Beau Ballard, would remove paid sick leave protections from 140,000 Nebraskans by:

  • Exempting several groups of workers from receiving paid sick leave, including seasonal and temporary agricultural workers, and workers under the age of 16;
  • Exempting businesses with 10 or fewer employees from having to provide paid sick leave; and
  • Removing important protections for workers who face retaliation from their employers for using paid sick leave.

The Paid Sick Leave coalition issued the following statement:

“Throughout the 2025 Legislative Session, Nebraskans have asked senators to respect the will of their constituents, and they have been ignored each time. Today’s vote is a continuation of that theme.

Nearly 75% of Nebraskans approved Initiative 436. That includes voters in 89 of 93 counties and a majority of voters in every single legislative district. More than 200 Nebraska businesses also supported allowing workers to earn and use paid sick leave.

Passing Initiative 436 was a huge step forward in support of hardworking Nebraskans, families, and communities throughout our state. We must protect the integrity of this law and the will of the overwhelming majority of Nebraska voters.

Everyday Nebraskans know that working families are the engine that drives our economy. Access to paid sick leave helps hardworking Nebraskans and businesses and means people won’t have to choose between the paycheck they need and their family’s health.” 

The coalition encourages Nebraskans to continue contacting their senators to ask them to oppose LB415 when it’s up for Final Reading.

The Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans coalition includes the following members:

ACLU of Nebraska
Heartland Workers Center
Mothers & Others: Mercy and Justice for Immigrants
Nebraska Appleseed
Nebraska Appleseed Action Fund
Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
Nebraska State AFL-CIO
Omaha Together One Community (OTOC)
OutNebraska
Second House Collaborative
The Women’s Fund of Omaha
Voices for Children in Nebraska

###

Scroll to Top