[{"_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",6054148,"mediaKeyId","3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab","parentId",3339431,"title","Nebraska senators spar over bill creating state-level foreign-adversary registration and penalties","audioSeconds",5163,"startMs",5022000,"endMs",10185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab&start=5022&end=10185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab/thumbnail_5022000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6054148/Nebraska/Nebraska-senators-spar-over-bill-creating-state-level-foreign-adversary-registration-and-penalties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6054148-e31cf48451e29feca4ce0d1f6ebe90e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201218&Signature=oIpJcoRl2Qmv571DGzOVW4qxERL~DPNOXrQgniKtMfrcmRC-hzOeUu90aNNvrDBhQZUshvjGB4yNdaNY4gj5vlmBlp6JXrlcFZAIe5R5FWF7G7DnuUVCzRxFIf81omxSegxilwS5K9nQBSBBTZahnlQvmRHk9pSwjpxp4iJchafRZD5j8wzEsH5v8INg0F9TXzoaZVVnS210n1Zpitm99FF47j9eG49AVpFNhUGyGGAFyT6MifcnnL3EYOoa20~-mMMUGkp-ii8Qg4~tZqY7SbJ4b1pu3Y2zjQg8e7hmvntKTgFJDhUEmV7OP0-hEAXIsiGeOsqtWzgn6Mw2pmyoUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","Lincoln — Lawmakers spent much of the floor session debating LB644, a bill that would create a Nebraska registration regime for persons and organizations acting on behalf of foreign adversaries or designated terrorist groups, and would add civil penalties and reporting requirements.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Brett Bostar, said the measure is meant to create transparency about foreign influence in state affairs and to align some state reporting with federal standards. “There’s a number of differences, probably the largest difference. Is there are carve outs for lobbyists in federal Farah,” Bostar told colleagues while explaining differences with the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

Supporters said the measure would give state officials more visibility into influence operations; critics warned it is broad, risks chilling protected activity, and may exceed legislative authority over postsecondary institutions.

Many senators voiced constitutional and practical concerns centered on a provision that would require postsecondary institutions to dismiss and ban individuals found in violation. Senator Ben Dungan argued the provision would amount to an unconstitutional intrusion on university governance under the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Board of Regents v. Exxon line of cases. “That is problematic, colleagues. That is us literally stepping in and going into the day to day governance of the university,” Dungan said.

Senator John Cavanaugh (John Cavanaugh) and others pressed whether the attorney general’s office is the right home for registration filings. Cavanaugh said many tasks the bill contemplates — maintaining public registration records and handling disclosures — are functions already handled by the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. He said he plans a cleanup amendment to move many filing duties to that agency and to limit the attorney general’s prosecutorial role.

Senators also debated other technical and policy points: how the bill would treat media organizations and foreign-owned outlets, whether the law would capture routine trade or educational exchanges (Senator Mike Conrad asked about trade missions to Cuba as an example), how broadly the definition of “covered activities” might sweep, and whether ordinary social-media behavior could be implicated.

Some senators urged caution because a poorly drafted state law could prompt litigation and costly defense by the state. Senator Dungan said litigation risk matters both to the state budget and to civil liberties: “If somebody brings a lawsuit against a bill or a law that we pass, the attorney general, generally speaking, is gonna be defending that… it costs a lot of money to defend these cases.”

On amendments, the Legislature adopted a cleanup amendment from Senator Megan Anderson that removed drone-related language to avoid overlap with LB6060; that amendment passed. Senator John Cavanaugh’s AM 14‑55, which clarifies that any fines levied under the bill would be paid into the common school fund, was also adopted. A DURING-FLOOR university-focused amendment (FA 2‑30) that would have stripped mandatory dismissal/ban language and left institutions required only to adopt their own plans failed on the floor; proponents said the university supported the change but the amendment did not secure enough votes.

Senators repeatedly returned to the balance between national-security goals and civil liberties, and several said they want additional drafting and agency coordination before the bill advances further. Senator Bostar told colleagues he will continue to work with other senators and agencies on technical fixes. “The short answer is I didn't. It is language consistent with FARA, federal,” he said when asked why some definitions mirrored federal law.

The floor record shows ongoing negotiations and multiple withdrawn and filed amendments; at the time the body recessed for lunch the bill remained under active amendment and debate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Morning Session 5/14/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers spent much of the floor session debating LB644, a bill that would require registration and reporting for persons or organizations acting on behalf of foreign adversaries or designated terrorist organizations and would create civil penalties and disclosure duties.","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},6054139,"Legislature adopts committee reports to confirm multiple gubernatorial appointments",1838,1886000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab&start=1886&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab/thumbnail_1886000.jpg","/articles/6054139/Nebraska/Legislature-adopts-committee-reports-to-confirm-multiple-gubernatorial-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6054139-f779d011a6875c0561f1a07436281f97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201218&Signature=nOpaocto8TOWpvJTSWksPFi2Pj~5Wax2fV5dZXyXD94SxfJ5XJ9ZY4MF8Yck2~5GgiJ078Hznu90VIggJLTrwGw86BR-1m3zSZXQz8QuRPZCVzneVCrouBnRyRa0nt1u0T91k5Lc71SuAEr0TiL0iuB6X1TgDPuo7YwjBGnY6bCqsd1Ip3UfktVqkzqzHX1~JsvS3TJ7ynIxarkfFnUMQNV23pgGawx3Z2L0USVsSTT~8VYdpRdk~HkHePJYk15rFMpDsAicZIU2lz92G0RrZxDfmcTXfVcShSX4hSQfvSvBoDAfdkK9rSxtRIXpzpoS4zlBn0JgifABZOM6JEI3LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln — On the floor the Legislature unanimously adopted several committee reports recommending confirmation of gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions.

The Natural Resources Committee recommended the confirmation of Dennis Grennan to the Nebraska Power Review Board. Senator Brandt said Grennan has more than 50 years of power‑industry experience and previously served on the board. Brandt asked senators for a green vote; the committee report was adopted without opposition.

The Natural Resources Committee also advanced Jeff Kanger’s reappointment to the Nebraska Environmental Trust Board. Senator Brandt described Kanger as knowledgeable about the board’s work and recommended confirmation. Senator John Cavanaugh said he was not yet ready to vote on Kanger because he remains concerned about the trust’s recent practice of withholding grants and the Legislature’s use of trust monies to plug budget gaps: “We have in our budget right now $15,000,000 that we are scraping over the next 2 years from the environmental trust to fill our budgetary holes,” he warned.

Other confirmations or reappointments recommended by committees and adopted by the full body included Deborah L. Kelly to the Nebraska Tourism Commission (Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee); Lisonbee Muotri and Rui Yee to the Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee (Health and Human Services Committee); Clay Smith and Paul Terman to the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission (Education Committee); John Barrett and Chris Stinson to the State Racing and Gaming Commission (General Affairs Committee); and Tyler C. Ritz to the State Electrical Board (General Affairs Committee). Committee sponsors on the floor described each nominee’s relevant experience and urged confirmation; the Legislature adopted the committee reports by voice vote or recorded roll calls indicated in the chamber record.

Where floor debate occurred, senators generally offered personal endorsements based on acquaintance with nominees or experience with applicants’ prior service. No committee report was rejected on the floor and the confirmations move forward for final processing per statutory procedures.","Committees reported favorably on and the Legislature adopted reports supporting appointments to the Nebraska Power Review Board, Environmental Trust Board, Tourism Commission, Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee, Educational Telecommunications Commission, Racing and Gaming Commission, and State Electrical Board.",{"_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},6054143,"Senate advances LB48 after floor debate over pilot program funding and sunset language",4383,747000,5130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab&start=747&end=5130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339431-ee8293eafa9b7d7a020f80883cd32bab/thumbnail_747000.jpg","/articles/6054143/Nebraska/Senate-advances-LB48-after-floor-debate-over-pilot-program-funding-and-sunset-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6054143-88374493afbb80644263ed508236a501/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201218&Signature=ianhz7pfQQRZTiuZTpVJ9BVZYydCiAQU-ciBT7Os9sNMAGSRVmTYQKrqTNtsDql3OWt0S~ahUKDYSHylNkeNoFV3Y2R2P9UKJ-8ij1VdW4e82VU~GI8aVaO1aqH~JHM2b~wH3eKZosuIuThIrD4rr1OlGQ8s2fryb7DRPEGdy4oabeDapEntnB6g-RaVMonaQgfwYqKqOt474PsOy-PYVA8aypDfWzQhHdyoUgnyIV0Vr6BaJJrZ2gcoZ1oKymXWlnvi1hk-Y2aAt3rAEWlU3VSWxKRxxDFTuDRQCdfeZF6JdnJuWpR-NUHSbaRpX~S5nyzQujTUXGfTkMlfpz71ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln — The Nebraska Legislature advanced LB48 to E & R engrossing after a floor debate that centered on whether the measure — described by its sponsor as a pilot program — includes a sunset date and how much the program will cost.

Senator Tiffany McKinney, the bill’s sponsor, asked colleagues for a green vote on LB48. Opponents including Senator John Von Gillern and Senator Tim Anderson raised technical and fiscal questions before the bill advanced.

Senator Von Gillern said the bill is “labeled to be a pilot program for 5 years, but nowhere in the bill is there a sunset date.” He also highlighted a discrepancy between the sponsor’s description of the program and the fiscal note: “Senator McKinney reduced the size of the program down to $500,000 annually… the fiscal note addresses it as $500,000 per center, and there are 2 centers slated in the bill. So the fiscal note says $1,000,000 and $1,000,000 for $2,000,000.” Von Gillern also pointed to an administrative-costs line in section 10 that set administrative costs “no more than 10% of the funds, but it goes on to say up to $100,000 per year,” which he said is inconsistent with a 10% cap on $500,000.

Senator Anderson said she opposed the bill because “we don't have the money for it” and because the bill leaves unspecified who the grassroots organizations are and how the funds will be distributed.

Sponsor McKinney replied that many of the concerns stem from not reading the bill and reiterated that pilot programs frequently do not include sunsets because continuation requires a new bill from the Legislature. “Pilot programs don't need sunsets because after the year is up, somebody would have to bring a bill for the program to continue,” McKinney said.

The body placed the chamber under call during the vote and completed a roll call. The Clerk reported the result as 30 ayes and 13 nays to advance LB48 to E & R engrossing; the bill was advanced. Senators requested a record vote on the motion to advance. The session then moved on to other items.

The exchange shows lingering questions about the measure’s fiscal math and drafting clarity. Sponsors and opponents agreed the issues are technical: opponents asked for explicit sunset language and clarity on per‑center accounting and administrative caps; the sponsor said continuation beyond a pilot would require further legislation.","Senators advanced LB48 (and its A-portion) to engrossing after floor debate that highlighted disputes over whether the bill contains a sunset, how the fiscal note treats per‑center funding and permissible administrative costs, and whether the state can afford the program now.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nebraska senators spar over bill creating state-level foreign-adversary registration and penalties

Legislature adopts committee reports to confirm multiple gubernatorial appointments

Senate advances LB48 after floor debate over pilot program funding and sunset language