Nebraska Committee Considers Harmonizing Hemp Regulation

A bill has been introduced to amend the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act to align with the federal 2018 Farm Bill.

Abortion Rights Group Says Fight ‘Far From Over' Involving New Restrictions In Nebraska

LB 626 would ban an abortion if a doctor can detect a heartbeat from a developing embryo, typically after six weeks.

Hard Feelings Aired By Citizens Denied The Opportunity To Testify In Nebraska Legislature

Legislative committee chairs had imposed a six-hour time limit on testimony.

Bill Would Create Two State Teams To Help Fight Nebraska Wildfires, But At Whose Cost?

The measure calls for spending $1.125 million a year in state funds to unlock about $3 million a year in federal grant funds.

Casinos Not Hurting Other Forms Of Gambling In Nebraska, At Least So Far

In the last quarter of 2022, Nebraskans wagered $97.2 million on keno, pickle cards, bingo and the state lottery.

Legislators Plan To Wait, And Listen, Before Deciding University Of Nebraska Budget

The university system had requested a 3% annual increase in its budget, but new Gov. Jim Pillen’s budget recommendation came in below that.

Nebraska Power Review Board Presented With Conflicting Arguments On Proposed Merger

Testimony is expected to continue into Friday.

Stricter ‘Right To Farm' Proposal Called A ‘Solution Searching For A Problem'

The bill would further limit nuisance lawsuits against large agricultural operations.

Nebraska Bill Would Ban Access To USF Funds For Cell Providers With Huawei Equipment

The bill would use the power of the purse to encourage cell phone service providers to ditch equipment from Chinese communications firms.

Proposed Restrictions On Nebraska School Bathrooms, Sports Teams Trigger Tense Hearing

The bill would define school bathrooms and sports teams as biologically male or female.

Civic Nebraska Says State's 2022 General Election Was ‘Safe' And ‘Secure'

The report cited the observations of 43 volunteers who observed 140 polling sites last year.

Pillen's Raid On Nebraska Environmental Trust Panned

In other budget news, the ACLU opposes building a new state prison unless significant criminal justice reforms are made.

Frustrated Parents Seek Middle Step In Treatment Of Nebraska Youths In Juvenile Justice

Under current law, many families complain that the people deciding the fate of their children hardly consider the parents’ input.

Committee Advances Nebraska Permitless Concealed Carry Bill, But Some Want Amendments

Police chiefs in both Omaha and Lincoln, as well as gun control groups, have opposed the measure.

Nebraska Lawmaker Renews Bill To Protect Physicians' ‘Right Of Conscience'

The proposal would allow doctors to decline to provide a service if it violates their beliefs.

Proposal To Help Dwindling Pheasant Population Panned As Wrong Solution

State Sen. Tom Brewer wants a $10 bounty on predators that prey on pheasants.

Year-Round Daylight Saving Time Has A Chance This Year In The Cornhusker State

State Sen. Tom Briese again proposed keeping Nebraska on DST if Congress and a third neighboring state join Nebraska in passing such a law.

Herbster Says He's Thinking About 2024 Senate Race, Other Political Options

If he runs, this would be the agribusinessman's third attempt at winning a statewide race.

Spotlight To Shine, In Nebraska And Nationally, On What Critics Call ‘Home Equity Theft'

About 300 private residences in the Cornhusker State were seized in this way from 2014 through 2021.

Nebraska Lawmaker Proposes Stronger Protections For Consumer Genetic Testing

Other states have adopted similar legislation.

Dispute Over Nebraska Inspector General Powers Appears Headed For Legal Interpretation

The constitutionality of allowing state-assigned special investigators to look into issues with stage agencies is being questioned.

Pillen Proposes $5 Million For Mentoring, Childhood Literacy Push

He says TeamMates will not get special treatment under the grant program.

Nebraska Lawmaker Revives Attempt To Support, Streamline Permits For Food Trucks

State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha says these small businesses have to navigate a "patchwork of regulations."

Nebraska's Costliest Governor's Race Left Wild Numbers In Its Wake

Nobody spent more than Charles Herbster, the second-place finisher in the GOP primary.

Fortenberry And Sasse Headline Unusual Year-End Campaign Finance Reports

Sasse, R-Neb., left the Senate in January for the University of Florida’s presidency with $2.7 million left in his campaign coffers.

Most Nebraska Legislative Races In 2022 Exceed $100,000 In Spending

This could be a new norm.

Battle Over Devoting Public Funds For Private School Scholarships Returns To State Legislature

Nebraska is one of only two states that doesn’t allow “school choice” by extending public state funds to private schools.

Pillen Tax-Cut Ideas Win Support Of Nebraska Business Groups, Prompt Criticism From Community Colleges

Critics rejected the idea that tax cuts would drive more people and businesses to move to or stay in the state.

Nebraska Voter ID Bill Revised Before Lengthy Public Hearing That Draws Mostly Foes

“It’s full of flaws and bureaucratic B.S.,” Jaden Perkins, a North Omaha community organizer with the Heartland Workers Center.

Cardiac-Activity Abortion Ban Bill Draws Hundreds To Nebraska Capitol

Those in an overflow crowd waited hours to testify for two or three minutes before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee.

School Officials Say Governor's Revenue Cap Would Harm Education, Efforts To Fill Staff Vacancies

Officials pointed out that school districts already deal with two caps that limit tax levy increases and budget increases.

Nebraska State Employees Union Approves Labor Contract Granting Raises Of 10%-27%

The contract contains the largest salary increases in at least 35 years for Nebraska state government workers.

Deb Fischer Named To U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Stays On Armed Services

Fischer, whose family owns a Cherry County ranch, also remains on the Agriculture and Commerce Committees.

Nebraska Lawmaker Proposes Creation Of ‘Human Breast Milk Bank'

Only 33% of all Nebraska babies and 10% of infants from low-income families are exclusively breastfed for the recommended first six months.

Lincoln Police Seek Special Prosecutor To Check GOP Headquarters Probe

At issue is whether anyone involved with an alleged break-in were still employees or people who otherwise had legal access to the building.

Nebraskans Offer Personal Insights On Bill To Create State-Funded Asian American Commission

Cornhuskers of Asian descent run the gamut from newcomer refugees to those who came in the late 1800s.

Nebraska Senators Expect No Action Against Brewer On Constituent's Residency Complaint

Valentine resident Sherri Bacon says State Sen. Tom Brewer doesn’t live in his Sandhills district and should forfeit his seat.

Proposal Slammed To Transfer $14 Million From Nebraska Environmental Trust To Water Fund

Former official W. Don Nelson said Thursday that the trust was not created as the "governor's piggy bank."

Nebraska Bankers Say Proposal On ‘Environmental, Social And Governance' Too Broad, Amendments Needed

Conservative critics of ESG call it “woke capitalism” and contrary to the goal of maximizing investment returns.

Nebraska State Senator Proposes Legal Framework For Pet Insurance

The bill’s consumer protections mirror those for health insurance policies.