During the Nebraska State Legislative Session in 2023 we weighed in on 57 bills. Below are some of our top priority pieces of legislation and where they stand at the end of a hectic session.
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Economic Stability
LB 15: Change provisions of the Wage and Hour Act
Introducer: Senator Lipinncott
Status: General File
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 35: Change provisions relating to childcare assistance
Introducer: Senator Wendy DeBoer
Status: Amended into LB 227, General File
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 57: Adopt the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act
Introducer: Senator Machaela Cavanaugh
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 84: Change provisions relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introducer: Senator Jen Day
Status: Amended into LB 227, AM 1385 establishes a 2-year sunset date. LB 227 passed 47-0-2
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 290: Change standard of need requirements for the aid to dependent children program
Introducer: Senator M. Cavanaugh
Status: Carryover bill, Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 294: Adopt the Child Tax Credit Act
Introducer: Senator Danielle Conrad
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
Health
LB 99: Adopt the Hunger-Free Schools Act
Introducer: Senator Machaela Cavanaugh
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 285: Adopt the School Community Eligibility Provision Maximization Act
Introducer: Senator Lynne Walz
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 374: Adopt the Parents’ Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act
Introducer: Senator Murman
Status: Indefinitely Postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read Voices for Children Testimony
LB 527: Provide reimbursements to school districts and educational service units for mental health expenditures
Introducer: Senator Fredrickson
Status: Indefinitley Postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Childrens testimony
LB 574: Adopt the Let Them Grow Act and the Preborn Child Protection Act and provide for discipline under the Uniform Credentialing Act
Introducer: Senator Kathleen Kauth
Status: Amended, passed, and approved by the Governor, May 22nd, 2023
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 575: Adopt the Sports and Spaces Act
Introducer: Senator Kathleen Kauth
Status: Indefinitely Postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 585: Change a duty of the state school security director and require behavioral and mental health training for certain school personnel
Introducer: Senator Hughes
Status: Indefinitely Postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 772: Create the Residential Youth Parenting Facility Grant Program
Introducer: Senator Hughes
Status: Indefinitely Postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Position
LB 855: Prohibit school districts from taking certain actions relating to outstanding debts on a school lunch or breakfast account
Introducer: Senator Conrad
Status: Indefinitely Postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 857: Create the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program, provide for use of the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund, and change provisions relating to coverage of glucose monitors under the Medical Assistance Act
Introducer(s): Senator Dungan, Bosn, Hughes, Conrad
Status: Approved by Governor on April 2, 2024
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 899: Exempt Class III school districts from the prohibition on suspending a student in pre-kindergarten through second grade
Introducer: Senator Hughes
Status: Indefinitely postponed
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 927: Require suicide awareness and prevention training for certain employees of child-placing agencies and employees of the Department of Health and Human Services
Introducer: Senator Fredrickson
Status: Indefinitely postponed
Voices for Children Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children
Child Welfare
LB 42: Change provisions relating to child abuse and neglect under the Child Protection and Family Safety Act and the Nebraska Juvenile Code
Introducer: Senator Ben Hansen
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 215: Provide, change, eliminate, and transfer provisions regarding the offices of Inspector General of Child Welfare and Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System
Introducer: Senator Aguilar
Status: Referred to Executive Board
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 271: Change reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect
Introducer: Senator Terrell McKinney
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 306: Create the Nebraska Youth in Care Bill of Rights
Introducer: Senator Hunt
Status:
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
Juvenile Justice
LB 14: Change provisions under the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act
Introducer: Senator George Dungan
Status: Amended into LB 50 and passed into law
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 34: Provide for a presumption of disposition under the Nebraska Juvenile Code for crimes committed by defendants under eighteen years of age and change the definition of juvenile under the code
Introducer: Senator Dungan
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Carryover Bill
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 60: Change provisions relating to room confinement of juveniles and required reports
Introducer: Senator J. Cavanaugh
Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Carryover Bill
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 127: Change sentencing provisions for crimes committed by a person under eighteen years of age
Introducer: Senator Jen Day
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 222: Prescribe requirements for the student application and admission process of public colleges and universities regarding criminal history and juvenile court record information
Introducer: Senator Fredrickson
Status: Provisions/portions of LB222 amended into LB705 by AM1529
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 231: Change provisions related to student attendance and require plans for excessive absences
Introducer: Senator Dungan
Status: Carryover Bill, Referred to Education Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read the Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 277: Adopt the First Freedom Act and authorize the wearing of tribal regalia by students
Introducer: Senator Brewer
Status: Carryover Bill, General File
Voices for Children Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s testimony
LB 507: Change provisions relating to truancy, juvenile courts, the Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program, and compulsory education
Introducer: Senator Danielle Conrad
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Support
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 620: Change provisions relating to arraignment and hearings for certain juveniles
Introducer: Senator Mike McDonnell
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony
LB 811: Change provisions relating to the Student Discipline Act and provide for use of physical contact or physical restraint or removal from a class in response to student behavior, provide for behavioral awareness and intervention training, and change provisions relating to lottery funds used for education
Introducer: Senator Dave Murman
Status: In Committee
Voices for Children’s Position: Oppose
Click here to read Voices for Children’s Testimony