Sen. John Kavanaugh seeks to add snow, ice removal and flood management to emergency services

Sen. John Kavanaugh introduced LB1256 to add "snow and ice removal and flood management" to the statutory definition of emergency services under the Nebraska Emergency Management Act. Kavanaugh said the change is intended to clarify that public works employees who perform hazardous, time-sensitive tasks during extreme weather and flood events should be recognized as emergency workers under state law.

Kavanaugh told the committee that the bill is largely a clarification and "doesn't change the duties of Nebraska Emergency Management Agency or local governments," and he noted the fiscal note indicates no fiscal impact. Committee members asked how the change would affect eligibility for emergency funding or interaction with FEMA and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); Kavanaugh said he would follow up to identify specific funding or procedural benefits.

Scott Dombeck of AFSCME Local 251 testified in support, saying public works staff "routinely operate under declared emergencies" to protect infrastructure (for example, wastewater treatment plants) and to keep routes open for emergency vehicles during storms. Dombeck cited federal recognition of public works roles in emergency response and urged the committee to advance LB1256.

Kavanaugh closed by saying the bill simply recognizes existing response roles and would ensure public works employees are explicitly named in the state's emergency management framework. No formal vote was recorded in the transcript; the hearing closed after testimony and committee questions.