Contentious bills dealt with, first bill passed at Nebraska Legislature

By Becky Uehling

High Plains News

After a busy week of dealing with the contentious bills of LB 574, which would ban gender-affirming care for minors, and LB 626, which would ban abortion once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, the Legislature is moving into a more focused week this week, according to District 44 Senator Teresa Ibach.

Both LB 574 and 626 advanced to the second round of debate last week, Ibach said during her weekly call-in with constitutes on Tuesday, April 18. 

first bill passed

On Monday night, the Legislature actually passed their first bill of the session, LB 376, which was introduced by State Sen. John Lowe of Kearney and will make some changes in the law allowing the Liquor Control Commission to better track alcohol brought into the state. Provisions from other bills were also incorporated into the original bill.

Infrastructure added

Ibach announced Tuesday she was, on request from a constituent, able to help secure an amendment for infrastructure within LB 249, which is a Rural Workforce Housing bill. This will allow smaller towns and villages to apply to use the funds for such infrastructure as water and sewer. 

“There are some good things happening to continue workforce housing efforts,” she said. 

voter id progresses

Student ID was included in the state’s Voter ID legislation that is passing through the legislature. Senators continue to grapple with several bills to put voter ID into place after it was voted in by Nebraska residents last year. 

Ibach said that with the law, mail-in ballots will still be allowed, but the person requesting the mail-in ballot must have a signature from a person who testifies that the person has a valid ID to vote. 

Many of the stringent proposals dealing with the  Voter ID legislation have been backed off so something can be put in place in the state, she said. 

Days left in session

There are only 26 days left in the 90-day session. Ibach urges those in District 44 to contact her with comments or concerns related to the session.