[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6099090,"mediaKeyId","2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24","parentId",2821510,"title","Senators split over bill that would restrict school bond elections to scheduled statewide or recognized local election dates","audioSeconds",5591,"startMs",4454000,"endMs",10045000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24&start=4454&end=10045","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24/thumbnail_4454000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6099090/Nebraska/Senators-split-over-bill-that-would-restrict-school-bond-elections-to-scheduled-statewide-or-recognized-local-election-dates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099090-c00c1077c17f5fb47aaf243e66bac9fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003717&Signature=Vzqv8MXo6oK56GMQguo8cuDLAOwvDXkMu4STiW7Ma3zbv~82atNsn-wfFPZQA~IE1sRoWvUVlCZtlrf8M6eybxtJjvpeDIoaLNHNtl5gE~S755B~TXZ4Rl8f~0f5uHi1o2kVqQD1D1gamGoTvtx5PeWGBz8wWGSOhfuC3yXA6BhpFa4ew3WUSoIbxBXFycLA396LBFOHr6RLJtiRAjefWIXEmrOoKxnowIj5MrWHC38~0qEy5zlJLl7Jmqc59YkwNo1e9qOsUzL8z~DUqN3BG65ajwPlKj6akUB7yW43JXXNvcFTTjJj-1g6GkwiUvREbQqfiOwAhVAqLD18P1RIWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nebraska Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","Senators debated LB135, a bill that would require bond and override elections for school districts and educational service units to occur only on established statewide election dates (primary or general in even-numbered years) or on specified, traditionally recognized dates in odd-numbered years. Proponents said the change would boost voter turnout and reduce the cost of holding separate special elections; opponents warned it could concentrate project bidding windows and raise construction costs.

Sponsor Senator Holcroft said special mail-in elections often draw lower turnout: Millard Public Schools held a bond vote two weeks after the general election and recorded 29% turnout, she said. AM779, a select-file change, removed a 10-month waiting/cooling-off period after a failed bond election so districts could re-run a question sooner.

Supporters argued the bill reduces the cost of stand-alone special elections (sponsors cited county estimates ranging from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand dollars for a special election). Opponents, including Senator Von Gillern, Senator Brandt and others with construction-industry experience, warned that synchronizing bond elections would cluster projects and reduce the supply of contractors, subcontractors and suppliers available at any given time—pushing prices higher and ultimately raising costs to taxpayers.

Senator Juarez said she opposed the bill because it would limit local control and could delay projects; she cited concerns that restricting dates could “delay school projects” and make it harder for rural districts to secure contractors. Several rural-school supporters said smaller districts already pay higher premiums for materials and mobilization, and concentrating projects could worsen that.

The body adopted AM779 (clerk recorded vote) but when the motion to advance LB135 to engrossing was put to a machine vote the bill did not achieve the necessary support and did not advance. The clerk recorded a result that left the bill short of the votes required to move forward; the presiding officer announced LB135 does not advance.

Why it matters: LB135 pits increasing voter turnout and cost savings for special elections against the construction-sector reality that concentrated project schedules can increase costs and strain contractor availability—potentially increasing the property tax burden LB135’s supporters want to limit.

Next steps: With the bill failing to advance today, proponents may rework the measure or seek alternative approaches to increase turnout and reduce special-election costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Morning Session 3/28/2025, 10:00:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","LB135, which would limit school and educational service unit bond elections to established statewide or traditionally recognized election dates, drew debate over turnout, planning and construction costs; the amendment was adopted but the bill failed to advance.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NE, Nebraska","taxId",77675,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6099093,"Senate adopts amendment to fund postpartum home visits using Medicaid excess profit fund; LB22A advances",487,6631000,7118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24&start=6631&end=7118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24/thumbnail_6631000.jpg","/articles/6099093/Nebraska/Senate-adopts-amendment-to-fund-postpartum-home-visits-using-Medicaid-excess-profit-fund-LB22A-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099093-786d2ef682d7eb108ab2a720848ed103/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003717&Signature=WLSy0S8wRvzcVw5sqSLgbwW8VFVKWsGwy-JkP3aKf19K2E-SnxmTzrd4f3Jy-8O0ICjI65fj6tJ-KwEF9oQaAb5sJ5CEG98kQQJN9D9HL6rEXjiU-6BvYxq1tpfuCDBZf3ofeOdAfIfEWr3JEeuRTgxACPMRvbjmV~zO35Cpmge7RldiV0vlUgBpjRfO2-rS1RDjnreskTUc01EOvnSHz49-YkknqotvV8mhjbTFKP6UfUzpwpuseKEJtEJp60ZU2XSCYtz5ENjQwy4tKSzOhq~btgPcghKmb6-Kfo5OP0nf2Yw5dw6YkIvlgVx18zLqh55Vw2XR4B~kWbzH5NYbXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Legislature on select file adopted AM780 to LB22A, which allocates a state appropriation drawn from the Medicaid excess profit fund to support a postpartum home-visiting program and clarified matching calculations for federal funds. Senators voted to advance LB22A to E & R for engrossing after debate and committee work.

Senator Duncan, sponsor of the measure on the floor, told colleagues the bill is intended to expand postpartum nursing visits and maternal supports: the program covers head-to-toe nursing services in the postpartum period and is intended to improve maternal and infant outcomes in the first six months after birth. Senator Spivey, who works in the maternal and child health space, described the bills as an investment in “moms and babies” and said many Nebraska counties are maternal-care deserts.

Senator Duncan said the state portion of the appropriation was negotiated with the Department of Health and Human Services and stakeholders; initial fiscal estimates had shown a higher state cost, but the sponsor said adjustments brought the state share “down to under a million.” He also noted an appropriation out of the Medicaid excess profit fund—about $40 million currently in the fund—and brought a floor amendment and a select-file amendment that added language clarifying that no general funds would be used if the excess profit fund were ever depleted. Senator Hansen specifically asked for that clarification; Duncan confirmed an amendment on select file prevents tapping the general fund for this program.

The body recorded the amendment’s adoption (clerk recorded 38 ayes, 0 nays) and then advanced LB22A to E & R for engrossing by voice vote. The bill’s proponents said the program will focus on at-home nurse visiting for postpartum families, with an initial state cash-fund appropriation to leverage federal matching funds.

Why it matters: The bill directs cash-fund resources to maternal and infant health services that sponsors and supporters say target the highest-risk window for maternal and infant deaths and will provide home-based nursing support in counties lacking services.

Next steps: LB22A will proceed through engrossing and subsequent legislative stages; sponsors and stakeholders said they will continue to monitor federal matching arrangements and implementation details with DHHS.","The Legislature adopted an amendment to LB22A clarifying calculations and limited state general-fund exposure, agreed to an appropriation from the Medicaid excess profit fund and advanced the A-bill to engrossing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6099097,"Nebraska senators debate changes to voter-approved paid sick leave; committee amendment adopted, bill advances",5690,775000,6465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24&start=775&end=6465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2821510-dd8320dbeae0395756c305d69ec7ac24/thumbnail_775000.jpg","/articles/6099097/Nebraska/Nebraska-senators-debate-changes-to-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-committee-amendment-adopted-bill-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099097-b42a1af33580caf557b87839c8abbce1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003717&Signature=jXpzQKzDEpHhvrqmcaeLFZjKbD48Esafe3yXgHCXyvX248P~wcYyKPsVnWOP7loZ6jr-4D0P4t6t63pHa5JnhILeEC4KkNsq-Odk7s88YQPn6WroWiJHNiyohCJCxNc9fbitnRg6JU3QUctmWJ4w1tJRmcl4vkwI2xGZjVejl4eNgnwUlnQZKWx1hm6gDsqJiDK4S2wv39FhXjQZV8RSsZqKIBdGHVLctNpZoIM2h5-Zkvux3ZSEPu2W~jMWa6RLv1zv51cfNocc2e96UmxUvds5Cnc~NHW0NibKnOwt9MZ9lbYUtcmJHPzh0khpjefb4SYmb8xRHJWjnNYUsFZ6rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature spent the morning and early afternoon debating LB415, the implementing bill tied to the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (Initiative 4436, 2024), with sharp exchanges over whether changes on the floor would undercut the will of voters.

The measure, introduced on the floor by Senator Ballard, had been returned from committee with a committee amendment. Senators debated a motion to bracket the bill, arguments over workforce impact, and whether the Legislature should alter a ballot initiative passed by more than 70% of voters last year.

The debate included arguments about the law’s practical effects on workers and small businesses. Senator McKinney urged colleagues to “consider workers and how this will affect workers from a policy perspective.” Senator Conrad said the initiative “hasn't even taken effect yet” and stressed that voters had approved the measure. Senator Juarez summarized how the initiative structures leave accrual: “workers could earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, earning up to 5 days off per year for small companies and up to 7 off per year for larger companies.”

Opponents, including Senator Stroman, cited small business survey responses and warned of potential hiring and cost impacts; Stroman read several small-business comments into the record saying the initiative could force reduced hiring or changes to existing benefits. Supporters including Senators Frederickson, Rountree and Spivey said the law protects caregivers, low-wage workers and survivors of domestic violence and that carving out groups—by age or industry—would harm those populations.

After Senator Ballard moved to invoke cloture, the Senate placed the chamber under call and voted to end debate. The cloture motion carried. A subsequent recorded vote on a motion to bracket the bill (m.o. 111, moved by Senator McKinney) failed. The body then voted to adopt the committee amendment (clerk designation AM545 on the floor) and later voted to advance LB415 to E & R initial.

Votes at a glance on LB415: cloture invoked (motion by Senator Ballard; successful), motion to bracket (moved by Senator McKinney; failed on roll call), committee amendment adopted (AM545; adopted by roll call), LB415 advanced to E & R initial (adopted by roll call).

Why it matters: Senators framed the debate as a conflict between implementing a voter-approved policy and the Legislature’s duty to refine statutory language. Supporters argued the measure prevents workers from choosing between pay and health; opponents said changes are needed to limit unintended consequences for small businesses, seasonal workers and certain industries.

Looking ahead: With the committee amendment adopted and LB415 advanced to E & R initial, the bill moves forward through the legislative process where additional amendments or later-stage votes could come.

","After hours of floor debate on LB415 and an attempt to bracket the measure, the Legislature invoked cloture, rejected the bracket motion, adopted a committee amendment and advanced the implementing bill tied to the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.","actionData","errors"]

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Senators split over bill that would restrict school bond elections to scheduled statewide or recognized local election dates

Senate adopts amendment to fund postpartum home visits using Medicaid excess profit fund; LB22A advances

Nebraska senators debate changes to voter-approved paid sick leave; committee amendment adopted, bill advances