Nebraska senators debate rollback of voter-approved paid sick leave; motion to bracket pending

Lincoln — The Nebraska Legislature spent the floor session debating AM 7‑70, an amendment to LB415 that would revise implementation of Initiative Measure 436 (the voter‑approved paid sick leave law). Senators spoke for and against the amendment, with author Senator Jasen Stroman saying the language aims to protect small employers and opponents warning the amendment would strip enforcement and other protections enacted by voters.

Senator John Kavanaugh, speaking on the motion to divide the committee amendment, told colleagues the division lets them “vote down Senator Stroman's bill and vote for the other portions of the bill.” He framed the procedure as a way to separate Senator Stroman’s portion (described in committee as LB698) from the rest of the committee package for distinct votes.

Why it matters: Initiative Measure 436 was approved by a statewide vote last November and, as written on the ballot, grants accrual and use of paid sick time (40 hours annually for employers with fewer than 20 employees and 56 hours for employers with 20 or more employees) and includes anti‑retaliation and enforcement provisions. Several senators emphasized that the Nebraska Constitution’s Article III, Section 2 (amended in February 2004) raises the legislative threshold to change…