LINCOLN — Nebraska senators have finished designating their personal priority bills, setting the stage for the remaining debates during the second half of the session.
Each senator receives one personal priority per session, standing committees get two, and Speaker of the Legislature John Arch gets 25 in addition to his personal priority. Where most bicameral legislatures order their daily agendas through party caucuses, Arch said Nebraska’s unique unicameral Legislature leaves priority designations as one of his key indicators of how floor debates should be scheduled.
The priority bills this session, set Friday, run the gamut, covering major policy matters like agriculture, criminal justice and the economy. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln remarked that fewer measures with hot-button social issues were prioritized than she had expected, but said the bills that were prioritized could arguably have a greater impact on everyday Nebraskans.
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The weight put on personal priority bills differs from senator to senator, though Conrad said most lawmakers understand the designation comes with a “modicum of seriousness.” That weight doesn’t always hold up in committees. Democrats have occasionally complained about Republican committee chairs holding up votes on advancing their priorities.
This year’s priority bills include measures that generated significant opposition from Nebraskans when they were heard in committee. Those bills include: Legislative Bill 3 from Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, which would restore a winner-take-all model in Nebraska’s presidential election; LB 89 from Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, which would impose sex-based restrictions on bathrooms, locker rooms and sports participation; and LB 258 from Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, which would freeze minimum wage increases for youths and workers in training.
When the full list of priority bills was complete, Conrad said she noticed multiple bills that she claimed would undermine the voices of Nebraska voters to benefit businesses. LB 258, she said, would undercut a successful 2022 ballot initiative that put in place yearly minimum wage increases Nebraska is still undergoing. And the Business and Labor Committee prioritized a bill that she said would undercut the mandatory paid sick leave initiative voters passed just last year.
Though bills like these are less likely to drum up the same passion that hot-button issues do, Conrad said they could have a big impact on working families and Nebraska’s economy. She said she expects these conflicts will be highlighted when the measures come up for floor debate.
Here are some other notable priority bills this session:
LB 298 — Create a new division of legislative oversight to address constitutional concerns the attorney general raised about government watchdogs. Arch introduced and prioritized the bill.
LB 170 — Apply sales taxes to candy and soft drinks, in order to bring in more revenues to the state budget. Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth introduced and prioritized the bill.
LR 19CA — Increase state lawmaker term limits to no more than three consecutive terms. Current limits are set at two consecutive terms. The measure would be put up to voters to approve in 2026 if the Legislature passes it. Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk introduced and prioritized the resolution.
LB 303 — Decrease the top levy school districts can impose from $1.05 per $100 of taxable valuation to $1.02, while increasing foundation aid from $1,500 to $1,590. It would also establish a commission of experts to advise state lawmakers on school finance changes, and set a base levy rate in Nebraska’s school funding formula at 30 cents. Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward introduced and prioritized the bill.
LB 632 — Require health care facilities to either bury or cremate the remains of terminated pregnancies. Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair introduced the bill, and Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings prioritized it.
LR 20CA — Put legalization of online sports betting on the ballot in 2026. An accompanying bill would regulate the practice if voters approve it. Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln introduced the resolution, and Sen. Jason Prokop of Lincoln prioritized it.
LB 556 — Lower the minimum age to charge juveniles as adults for various crimes, including some serious felonies. Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston introduced and prioritized the bill.
LB 383 — Prohibit social media companies from allowing minors to create accounts, unless they first receive consent from a parent. Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman introduced and prioritized the bill.
LB 316 — Ban hemp products in Nebraska that contain more than 0.3% of any strain of THC. Kauth introduced the bill, and Sen. Jared Storm of David City prioritized it.
Photos: Winner-take-all hearings draw support and dissent among Nebraskans
State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City speaks during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
A man holds a sign reading "the blue dot benefits all Nebraskans" as opponents queue outside the hearing room at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
Opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA queue outside the hearing room at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA wait for the start of a public hearing on both measures at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln on Thursday.
State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City speaks during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue speaks during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha asks a question of State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams speaks during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
Preston Love Jr. speaks in opposition during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
John Markle Rule speaks during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
Gail Rule holds up papers while speaking in support during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
Michael Tiedeman speaks during a hearing on the selection of presidential electors at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
Dozens watch the stream of a hearing on the selection of presidential electors in an overflow room at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Dozens of proponents and opponents of LB 3 and LR 24CA testified before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday.
