Senate adopts committee amendments and advances bills on riparian grants, second‑parent adoption, drug schedules and school access
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Summary
The Legislature adopted committee amendments and advanced multiple bills: AM 18‑28 to LB807 (riparian vegetation grants) adopted and LB807 advanced; AM 16‑60 to LB70 (second‑parent adoption) adopted and LB70 advanced; AM 17‑63 to LB877 (controlled substances update) adopted and LB877 advanced; LB429 (Equal Access Act) advanced. Most measures passed committee and advanced on unanimous or near‑unanimous votes.
After the LB669 cloture vote failed, the Legislature proceeded to a series of committee amendment adoptions and recorded votes across several topic areas.
LB 807 (Senator Iba) — water and riparian vegetation: The body adopted the committee amendment AM 18‑28 (which narrows the transfer to the riparian vegetation management program, authorizes grants from the Water Resources Cash Fund, and prioritizes projects within interstate compacts) on a recorded vote reported as 31–0 and then advanced LB 807 to E & R initial on a 33–0 recorded vote. Sponsor Senator Iba and Agriculture Committee Chair Kaye said the amendment was drafted with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water, Energy and Environment and that both agencies support the change; eligible applicants will continue to apply through local NRDs for grant awards.
LB 70 (Senator DeBoer) — limited second‑parent adoption: The Judiciary Committee amendment AM 16‑60 narrowed LB 70 to a narrowly defined set of cases allowing a biological second adult parent to adopt in limited circumstances (requirements include consent of the sole legal parent, a parent‑child relationship with the adoptive parent and a completed home study). The amendment was adopted 32–0 and the bill advanced 32–0. Proponents described the bill as a measure of permanency and stability for certain children.
LB 877 (Senator Hallstrom) — Uniform Controlled Substances Act updates: The bill is the Legislature's regular annual update to align the state's controlled substances schedule with federal changes. The Judiciary Committee amendment AM 17‑63 removed a kratom‑derivative provision after stakeholder feedback; AM 17‑63 was adopted 27–1 and the bill advanced 35–1.
LB 429 (Senator Merman) — "Equal Access Act" for professional employee associations: Sponsor Senator Merman said the bill ensures school boards do not give a single professional employee association exclusive access to mailboxes, bulletin boards or new‑teacher orientation privileges, allowing parity for organizations providing professional liability insurance and development. The bill advanced to E & R initial on a recorded vote reported as 30–0; committee support was unanimous (8–0) with more than 100 supporters registered online and in person.
Clerk's items, committee notices and adjournment: The Clerk read committee notices and other items for the record. The Legislature adjourned until Thursday, Feb. 5 at 9:00 a.m.
What changed: For practitioners and local governments, LB 807 expands the uses of the Water Resources Cash Fund to allow the Department of Water, Energy and Environment to administer riparian grants previously under the Noxious Weed Control Act; LB 70 adds a narrowly confined pathway for some second‑parent adoptions; LB 877 updates the state controlled substances schedule to conform with federal changes; LB 429 would change school board practices around access for professional employee associations.
Next steps: Each advanced bill will move through the legislative process (E & R and potential further floor action) as provided by chamber rules. The transcript records adoption votes and recorded tallies but not final gubernatorial action.
