Monday March 6, 2023
Education
Room 1525 – 1:30 PM
SUPPORT: LB178
Introducer: Erdman
Description: Require display of the national motto in schools
“In God We Trust”
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Friday, March 3rd at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49800
ALSO Email the Education Committtee:
Sen. Dave Murman, Chairperson, dmurman@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Joni Albrecht, jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Tom Briese, tbriese@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Danielle Conrad, dconrad@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, llinehan@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Rita Sanders, rsanders@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lynne Walz, lwalz@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Justin Wayne, jwayne@leg.ne.gov
SUPPORT: LB372
Introducer: Murman
Description: Change provisions relating to part-time enrollment in public schools and extracurricular activities
LET KIDS BE KIDS!
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Friday, March 3rd at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50090
ALSO Email the Education Committtee:
Sen. Dave Murman, Chairperson, dmurman@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Joni Albrecht, jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Tom Briese, tbriese@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Danielle Conrad, dconrad@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, llinehan@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Rita Sanders, rsanders@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lynne Walz, lwalz@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Justin Wayne, jwayne@leg.ne.gov
SUPPORT: LB635
Introducer: Albrecht
Description: Provide requirements regarding access to digital and online resources provided for students by school districts, schools, and the Nebraska Library Commission
Keeping Parents in the Know!
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Friday, March 3rd at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50496
ALSO Email the Education Committtee:
Sen. Dave Murman, Chairperson, dmurman@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Joni Albrecht, jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Tom Briese, tbriese@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Danielle Conrad, dconrad@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, llinehan@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Rita Sanders, rsanders@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lynne Walz, lwalz@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Justin Wayne, jwayne@leg.ne.gov
Document: LB638
Introducer: Albrecht
Description: Adopt the Nebraska K-12 Cybersecurity and Data Protection Act
Secure our Children
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Friday, March 3rd at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50701
ALSO Email the Education Committtee:
Sen. Dave Murman, Chairperson, dmurman@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Joni Albrecht, jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Tom Briese, tbriese@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Danielle Conrad, dconrad@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, llinehan@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Rita Sanders, rsanders@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Lynne Walz, lwalz@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Justin Wayne, jwayne@leg.ne.gov
Tuesday March 7, 2023
Education
Room 1525 – 1:30 PM
NEUTRAL: LB632
Introducer: McKinney
Description: Prohibit the suspension of students in prekindergarten through second grade in a school in a city of the metropolitan class
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Monday, March 6th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50724
*NAGO is taking a neutral position. It seems reasonable that there is no valid reason to suspend a child of that age. To that effect, it seems unlikely that there are enough students in this age group that are being suspended that it warrants explicit legislation.
SUPPORT: LB340
Introducer: McKinney
Description: Change provisions related to expelled students under the Student Discipline Act
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Monday, March 6th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50070
NAGO supports allowing students, even those that were expelled, every opportunity to complete their high school education. For some students, likely a decent amount of the students expelled in any given year, that a classroom setting isn’t beneficial to their learning needs.
NEUTRAL: LB690
Introducer: Linehan
Description: Change provisions relating to powers and duties of the State Department of Education, State Board of Education, and Commissioner of Education
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Monday, March 6th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50663
Document: LR24CA
Introducer: Albrecht
Description: Constitutional amendment to eliminate the State Board of Education and provide for the Governor to appoint the Commissioner of Education
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Monday, March 6th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50236
From the Statement of Intent:
LB690 changes how the State Department of Education’s powers and duties operate. LB690 specifies that whenever the State Board of Education is referenced in statutes, it shall be interpreted to be in reference to the Commissioner of Education.
The State Board of Education cannot assume authority or direct the Commissioner of Education contrary to state law.
The Commissioner of Education will also be required to give annual reports on the status of Nebraska schools to the Governor, Legislature, and AttorneyGeneral.
OPPOSE: LR28CA
Introducer: Linehan
Description: Constitutional amendment to change the membership of the State Board of Education
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Monday, March 6th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50664
From the Statement of Intent:
LR28CA is a constitutional amendment that changes how membership to the State Board of Education is obtained. Board members would be appointed by the governor and approved by the legislature
LR28CA also establishes term limits on the Board of Education.
SUPPORT: LR29CA
Introducer: Linehan
Description: Constitutional amendment to provide term limits for the members of the State Board of Education
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Monday, March 6th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50665
*Limits members to two consecutive terms.
Wednesday March 8, 2023
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
Room 1507 – 1:30 PM
NEUTRAL: LR3CA
Introducer: Cavanaugh, J.
Description: Constitutional amendment to provide for nonpartisan nomination and election of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, and State Treasurer
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Tueday, March 7th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49986
NAGO supports one ballot for all voting Nebraskans. However, as the bill is currently written NAGO cannot support the removal of party affiliation from the candidates listed on the ballot. If it were amended as such, NAGO would support this Constitutional Amendment.
Thursday March 9, 2023
Executive Board
Room 1525 – 12:00 PM
SUPPORT: LR2CA
Introducer: Erdman
Description: Constitutional amendments to change from a unicameral legislature to a bicameral legislature, provide for election of members of the Legislature on a partisan ballot, require election of legislative officers and committee chairpersons by a public vote, and require all meetings of the Legislature to be open to the public
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Wednesday, March 8th at noon! *
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50002
From the Statement of Intent:
LR2CA converts the Nebraska Legislature from a unicameral legislative system into a bicameral legislative system. The bill provides for partisan elections for both chambers of the Legislature and requires public votes for committee chairs and officers. Each legislative district for the Senate would be comprised of three contiguous counties while each legislative
district for the House of Representatives would be determined by population. The bill also requires all meetings of the Legislature to be open to the public.
NAGO supports LR2CA for 2 reasons. All too often the unicameral is referred to as the unistupid, the uni-cant-get-sh*t-done, and so on. It is a system that far too many Nebraskans feel is flawed. Which leads us to reason two. NAGO strongly supports putting such issues to a vote by We the People. If Nebraskans majorly agree we should shift our government, then we support that decision.
Revenue
Room 1524 – 1:30 PM
Document: LB529
Introducer: Hansen, B.
Description: Change provisions of the Property Tax Request Act
* If you cannot join us in person, please submit online testimony, comments must be submitted by Wednesday, March 8th at noon! *
“Good Afternoon, Senator Hansen’s clean-up bill for Truth in Taxation and the pink post cards is going to be heard by the Revenue Committee on March 9th. We are looking for people to testify or comment online in support of LB 529 and the pink post card process.
Two main requests by the public were: More time after the hearing that would allow for the budget to be amended if needed and elected officials present at the hearings. This bill would require both.
Attached is further details on what the LB 529 would do.
Thank you for your consideration!”
View the bill and Submit online comments here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50330
Many Nebraskans, for the first time received proper notice of changes to their taxes as provided by Legislation previously passed by Senator Hansen. This legislation was extremely successful in its intent, which was to increase not only the awareness, but the engagement of the public in the policy making that directly effects their taxes. Senator Hansen’s office has asked that any of our members that received those pink postcards might consider providing a comment to the Record sharing your experience and encouraging their further support for LB529.
View the full schedule here.
This past week we saw LB77, Constitutional Carry, pass the first round of debate with a 36 – 12 vote!!! LB77 will now move on to Enrollment & Review.
For those unfamiliar with the process, Patricia Harrold, President of NFOA, explains:
General File is the first time the full Legislature has the opportunity to debate and vote on bills. We have won this stage! Many people consider General File to be the most crucial stage of the legislative process. It’s now in E&R – enrollment and review – a process by which previously adopted amendments are incorporated into a bill, and the bill is checked for technical and grammatical accuracy. After that, it will be scheduled for Select File: The second opportunity for debating and voting. Bills on Select File may be indefinitely postponed or advanced to the next stage. This requires 4 hours of time for debate. After Select File, bills are sent to E & R again to be rechecked. Bills then are reprinted for Final Reading. Before final passage, all bills are constitutionally required to be read aloud in their entirety by the Clerk of the Legislature, unless three-fifths (30 members) of the Legislature votes to waive the requirement. TA bill may not be amended or debated on Final Reading, but may be returned to Select File for a specific amendment. Bills may not be voted on for final passage until at least five legislative days after the bill is introduced, and one legislative day after it is placed on Final Reading.
After final reading, it would go to the Governor’s desk for signature. Typically, becomes law 3 months after the final day of the legislative session.
We look forward to the next steps for LB77 and, with 36 votes from the get-go, are feeling confident in the ability of our unicameral to pass meaningful legislation as we move forward!!!
We just have to endure the lunacy from the left as they drag out every effort before them.
We’ve heard many important bills and Constitutional Amendments so far this session!! Just this past week, we heard historical legislation pertaining to election integrity and the elimination of taxes through the EPIC Option.
You can see our updates on the NAGO Facebook Page.
Update on LB79, LR6CA and LR7CA
NAGO Founder, Allie French, interviewed with Channel 8 as a supporter of the EPIC Tax Option.
Facebook Update: Full Interview