Omaha Public Schools legislative committee reports on bills including LB 937 and amended LB 507 affecting OPS

OMAHA — The Omaha Public Schools legislative committee updated the board on the state legislative session during the April 6 meeting, summarizing bills the district is monitoring and the committee's positions.

President Erdenberger reported that LB 937, a Nebraska Department of Education cleanup bill that now includes other measures, advanced to select file and that the district will continue to monitor additions that may be attached on select file. The committee said it opposed an earlier version of a truancy-referral bill (LB 1164) but welcomed subsequent amendments giving districts more discretion.

The committee reiterated opposition to LB 1050, a bill to retain third-graders who are not reading on grade level, which had been advanced out of committee and onto the general file; the committee said the potential impact on OPS would be significant and that the district will continue to oppose it when scheduled for debate.

Board members were also briefed on LB 507, which originally would have required districts to provide transportation to locations outside their boundaries; the committee said the bill was advanced with an amendment to make it apply only to Omaha Public Schools and would require transportation for special-education students eligible anywhere within Douglas and Sarpy counties. The committee said OPS opposed the original bill, has proposed alternative language to make any requirement more affordable, and will keep monitoring the proposal.

No formal board action or recommended changes were presented; the committee framed the update as informational and said it would continue to monitor developments through the Legislature's remaining days.