Policy Archive
2025 Agenda
The following is a list of Voices for Children’s priority legislation for the 109th Legislature, 1st Session.
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Child Welfare
Adopt the Family Home Visitation Act
Introducer: Senator Raybould
Status: Provisions/portions of LB104 amended into LB22 by AM348
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Provide for benefits under the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act for young adults not lawfully present in the United States
Introducer: Senator M. Cavanaugh
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Require suicide awareness and prevention training for employees of child-placing agencies and child welfare workers
Introducer: Senator Fredrickson
Status: Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Require the State Department of Education to create a centralized education records system and employ registrars relating to students under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and change provisions relating to graduation requirements and the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund
Introducer: Speaker Arch
Status: Approved by Governor on March 11, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Provide for the Division of Legislative Oversight, the Director of Legislative Oversight, and the Legislative Oversight Committee and change provisions relating to the Public Counsel, the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare, and the office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System
Introducer: Speaker Arch
Status: Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Establish the Nebraska Youth in Care Bill of Rights
Introducer: Senator Hunt
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change reporting requirements relating to child abuse or neglect, parental rights, and juvenile court jurisdiction
Introducer: Senator McKinney
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Juvenile Justice
Establish a Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Center Pilot Program
Introducer: Senator McKinney
Status: Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Exempt individuals under nineteen years of age from payment of certain court costs and fees and change provisions of the Nebraska Juvenile Code
Introducer: Senator DeBoer
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Eliminate the prohibition on suspending a student in prekindergarten through second grade
Introducer: Senator Hansen
Status: Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
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Change provisions relating to reports on student achievement and discipline required under the Quality Education Accountability Act
Introducer: Senator Ballard
Status: Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change provisions relating to unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited juvenile offender and sealed records
Introducer: Senator DeKay
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
Provide for criminal proceedings against juveniles charged with felonies following unsuccessful juvenile court proceedings and provide for inadmissibility of certain statements
Introducer: Senator J. Cavanaugh
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Neutral
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Provide an additional exception to the prohibition on suspending a student in prekindergarten through second grade and change provisions relating to short-term and long-term suspension under the Student Discipline Act
Introducer: Senator Murman
Status: Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
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Change juvenile court jurisdiction relating to habitual truancy and provisions relating to compulsory school attendance
Introducer: Senator Conrad
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change jurisdiction of juvenile courts and adult criminal courts and change provisions relating to detention and hearings under the Nebraska Juvenile Code
Introducer: Senator Riepe
Status: Provisions/portions of LB556 amended into LB530 by AM1238
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
Click here for Voices for Children’s position and here for a one-pager with detailed information on why we oppose this bill.
Authorize school policies relating to community engagement
Introducer: Senator Quick
Status: Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change sentencing provisions for crimes committed by a person younger than eighteen years of age
Introducer: Senator Spivey
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Require schools to adopt a safety plan and provide and change requirements related to training for staff of child care and schools
Introducer: Senator Murman
Status: Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
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Transfer juvenile probation functions to a new Juvenile Probation Agency in the executive branch
Introducer: Senator Bostar
Status: Provisions/portions of LB684 amended into LB530 by AM1218
Voices for Children Position: Neutral
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Provide for confidentiality of prosecutions and adjudications of minors, extend jurisdiction under the Nebraska Juvenile Code, provide requirements for custodial interrogations of juveniles and young adults, prohibit use of certain statements, prohibit sending juveniles out of state, and provide for use and reimbursement of reporting centers
Introducer: Senator McKinney
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Economic Stability
Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendment relating to child care
Introducer: M. Cavanaugh
Status: Placed on Select File
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Provide for grants for job programs for historically underserved youth
Introducer: Senator McKinney
Status: Referred to Business and Labor Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
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Establish a Restaurant Meals Program under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introducer: Senator McKinney
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Provide for a pilot program under the federal Child Care Subsidy program
Introducer: Senator Fredrickson
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change requirements relating to the standard of need under the aid to dependent children program
Introducer: Senator Spivey
Status: Indefinitely postponed
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Adopt the Child Tax Credit Act
Introducer: Senator Conrad
Status: Referred to Revenue Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Eliminate a sunset date under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introducer: Senator Quick
Status: Approved by Governor on June 2, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change provisions relating to the minimum wage under the Wage and Hour Act
Introducer: Senator Raybould
Status: Failed on Final Reading
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
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Eliminate a sunset date for the federal Child Care Subsidy program
Introducer: Senator DeBoer
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change the maximum time limit for receipt of cash assistance under the Welfare Reform Act
Introducer: Senator Andersen
Status: Placed on General File
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
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Require the maximum level of monthly assistance to be tied to the annual inflation factor for aid to dependent children
Introducer: Senator Conrad
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introducer: Senator Andersen
Status: Provisions/portions of LB656 amended into LB192 by AM1225
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
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Increase the earned income tax credit
Introducer: Senator Bostar
Status: Referred to Revenue Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Health
Adopt the Hunger-Free Schools Act
Introducer: Senator M. Cavanaugh
Status: Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change blood test requirements for pregnant women
Introducer: Senator Riepe
Status: Approved by Governor on April 9, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Adopt the Stand With Women Act
Introducer: Senator Kauth
Status: Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
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Adopt the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act
Introducer: Senator M. Cavanaugh
Status: Referred to Business and Labor Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Eliminate a sunset date under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introducer: Senator Quick
Status: Approved by Governor on June 2, 2025
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Require the Department of Health and Human Services to implement express lane eligibility
Introducer: Senator Spivey
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendment under the Medical Assistance Act for incarcerated youth
Introducer: Senator Rountree
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introducer: Senator Rountree
Status: Vetoed by the Governor and failed a veto override
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Prohibit conversion therapy and provide for disciplinary sanctions and a deceptive trace practice
Introducer: Senator Hunt
Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children Position: Support
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Change provisions of the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
Introducer: Senator Strommen
Status: Provisions/portions of LB698 amended into LB415 by AM545
Voices for Children Position: Oppose
Click here for Voices for Children’s position.