Yesterday, the Legislature adjourned sine die, meaning the body has concluded its work for the session.
Several Appleseed priority bills came up for Final Reading last week. Here’s an update on what happened:
LB192 (SNAP access) passed on Final Reading
✅ LB192 (Quick) passed 41-8 on Final Reading. (See how your senator voted here.) This critical bill maintains our state’s current SNAP income eligibility level, preserving access to food for 10,000 Nebraska families. As the cost of living continues to rise, this bill makes sure that our state can continue to offer food assistance to individuals and families who need it. LB192 is now on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
LB275 (Foster youth SS benefits) passed on Final Reading
✅ LB275 (Hunt) passed 29-19-1 on Final Reading. (See how your senator voted here.) This bill provides more transparency, opportunities for engagement, and access to benefits for young people in foster care receiving social security benefits – ensuring that foster youth receive the support and resources their rights entitle them to. It will also give back almost $1 million more per year in benefits owed to foster youth so that they can adequately prepare for their futures. LB275 is now on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
LB415 (Paid sick leave) passed on Final Reading
❌ LB415 (Ballard) passed 33-16 on Final Reading. (See how your senator voted here.) This bill removes 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.
This bill substantially weakens the paid sick leave policy that was overwhelmingly supported by Nebraska voters, and it will prevent thousands of Nebraskans from being able to access the good life. LB415 is now on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
LB89 (Anti-trans legislation) passed on Final Reading
❌ LB89 (Kauth) passed 33-16 on Final Reading. (See how your senator voted here.) This bill creates harmful definitions of “male” and “female” that K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions would be required to follow, and it would deny equal access to school activities for trans Nebraskans. LB89 is now on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
We know that Nebraskans care about our youth and don’t want to be divided or forced into false barriers. We stand with trans youth in Nebraska and believe ALL young people should feel safe to exist and participate as they are.
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Thank you for your advocacy throughout this session!