New Legislative Update: What You Need to Know
March 31st, 2025
Hello Friends and Neighbors,
As we pass the midway point of his legislative session, I want to provide an update on some key bills we're working on, and how you can get involved.
The legislative process can be fast-paced, and due to time constraints, complex or controversial bills without priority designations are unlikely to be debated. View the full list of priority bills here. This is often when we see bills getting amended into one another—what’s commonly referred to as "Christmas tree bills" or "omnibus bills." One example of this is LB676, affectionately known as the "Momnibus" bill. This bill has been amended to include pieces from Senator Spivey’s LB701 and Senator Hansen’s LB374, illustrating how different pieces of legislation can be bundled together as we move closer to debate. The main rules are that amendments must be germane or relevant to the main bill, change a similar area of statute, and keep within the single-subject rule per bill.
I want to bring your attention to a very concerning bill that has been introduced by Senator Hansen and prioritized by Senator Lonowski - LB632. This bill is a cruel and unnecessary attempt to shame and burden those who seek abortion care in Nebraska. It would require the individual burial or cremation of fetal tissue after every procedural abortion, placing burdensome and costly logistical demands on clinics that are unrelated to health or safety. This is a backdoor abortion ban—designed to increase costs, limit access, and put up barriers to care for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our state.
This bill targets people who need procedural abortions—often due to rape, incest, or life-of-the-pregnant-person exceptions. It is designed to increase costs, limit access, and make it harder for providers to offer care. I stand firmly against this legislation, which interferes with personal medical decisions and goes against our shared values of dignity, privacy, and freedom.
I’m urging my colleagues to reject LB632, and I encourage all Nebraskans who believe in bodily autonomy to speak out and stand with me in opposition.
On a more positive note, I want to highlight LB287, a bill championed by my colleague Senator McKinney with support from the Urban Affairs Committee as a committee priority. This bill, which is currently moving through Select File debate, holds the Omaha Housing Authority (OHA) accountable for protecting residents from bedbug infestations and poor living conditions. It gives the City of Omaha more authority to oversee OHA and ensure timely pest control responses, with OHA—rather than tenants—bearing the responsibility of eradicating infestations.
This bill is about standing up for the health, safety, and dignity of low-income Nebraskans in public housing. For too long, city and housing officials have passed the buck, while vulnerable residents have suffered. LB287 finally provides the tools necessary to address these persistent issues, and I’m proud to stand with Senator McKinney, Senators Cavanaugh, Spivey, and others to ensure this bill becomes law.
As important bills like LB632 and LB287 - and so many others - are debated, it’s essential for Nebraskans to make their opinions known. I encourage you to write letters to the editor, mobilize your neighbors and community, contact your senators, and volunteer with organizations that align with your values. The issues we face this year are too important to sit on the sidelines. Get involved, educate others, and be part of the change you want to see. Together, we can make a difference.
Best,
Meg
Paid Sick Leave Update
Last November, Nebraskans spoke loud and clear. Nearly 75% of voters approved the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act to ensure every worker in our state has access to earned paid sick leave. Not a single legislative district had less than 63% support. Voters made their priorities clear—they want policies that protect working people and strengthen our workforce. This week, the Legislature debated LB415 and the underlying amendments, which will gut the will of the voters. Instead of respecting the clear mandate from the ballot box, these measures attempt to roll back key parts of the new paid sick leave law by carving out massive exemptions and stripping protections from workers who need them most.
Under the amendments being debated, thousands of Nebraska workers would lose the very benefit they voted to secure. It exempts small businesses with ten or fewer employees, leaving out the waitress at a family diner, the cashier at a small-town gas station, or the farmhand at a local dairy—all people who deserve the basic dignity of a few paid sick days that they have earned. It also excludes young workers under 16 and seasonal agricultural workers, some of the most vulnerable and hardest-working people in our state.
This isn’t a “clarification” or a “tweak” to the law. It’s an effort to weaken it, delay it, and protect corporate interests at the expense of working Nebraskans. And this isn’t new—we’ve seen this pattern before. Whether it’s raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid, regulating medical cannabis, or enacting paid sick leave, Nebraska voters lead on these issues, and too often, the Legislature tries to walk it back.
As a small business owner myself, I know that paid sick leave isn’t just good for workers—it’s good for businesses. It keeps workplaces healthy, reduces turnover, and strengthens our economy. The voters have spoken. It’s our job to implement their decision in good faith, not water it down to serve special interests. You can view more of my comments on my Youtube page.
On Friday, LB415, as amended by AM545, advanced to Select File debate. You can view the full vote here.
I urge you to get involved. Write letters to the editor in your local paper and share why paid sick leave matters to you, your family, or your community. Talk to your neighbors and friends—educate them about how this policy will make Nebraska stronger, healthier, and more compassionate. And most importantly, contact your state senators today. Tell them you expect them to stand up for working people and pass paid sick leave protections. Together, we can create a Nebraska where no one has to choose between their paycheck and their health.
Education Committee Update
I want to update you on two deeply troubling bills introduced this session by Senator Loren Lippincott — LB551 and LB552 — both of which are part of a national political movement to undermine public education and suppress academic freedom in Nebraska.
LB551 would completely eliminate tenure for university faculty. Tenure isn’t just a job perk — it’s a safeguard for academic freedom. It protects faculty from political retaliation and allows them to research, teach, and speak out without fear of losing their jobs. This bill would replace tenure with annual performance reviews controlled by political appointees, opening the door to censorship, intimidation, and a chilling effect on education in Nebraska. Even Senator Lippincott admitted in the hearing that his bill would discourage free expression and academic freedom — that's the goal.
LB552 would ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices at our public universities. These programs exist to make sure all students — including women, students of color, disabled students, LGBTQ+ students, and others who face systemic barriers — have the resources they need to succeed. Eliminating DEI efforts won’t make our campuses better or more competitive. It will only make them less welcoming, less diverse, and less prepared to meet the needs of students today.
These bills aren't about academic excellence — they’re part of a larger, national culture war agenda designed to discredit higher education, intimidate educators, and push young people out of Nebraska. Students, faculty, and advocates from across the state showed up to testify against these bills because they know what’s at stake: the future of free thought, innovation, and opportunity in our state.
We should be investing in our universities — not dismantling them for political points. I will continue to fight against these dangerous proposals and stand with Nebraska’s students, faculty, and academic community.
Government Committee Update
The committee voted 5-3 to advance LB89 (introduced and prioritized by Senator Kathleen Kauth) out of committee, with Senators Sanders, Andersen, Lonowski, McKeon, and Wordekemper voting yes. This bill is a direct attack on trans, nonbinary, and intersex Nebraskans. It is cruel. It is unnecessary. And it is fundamentally un-Nebraskan.
LB89 would force schools and state agencies to define "male" and "female" in an outdated, rigid, and biologically reductive way—ignoring science, medical expertise, and, most importantly, the real, lived experiences of trans Nebraskans. This bill would restrict trans students’ participation in sports, dictate which bathrooms people can use, and impose invasive verification requirements on kids. It would legally reduce people to the body parts they were born with—ignoring who they are. This is government overreach, plain and simple, aimed at singling out and stigmatizing a vulnerable community.
And let me be clear: No amendment, no polite language, and no empty claims about "common sense" can disguise what this bill is. It is a hateful political stunt, pushed by people who want to score points at the expense of trans kids’ safety and well-being. You deserve better than politicians who spend their time inventing new ways to hurt people.
The senators pushing this bill may be relentless in their cruelty—but we are relentless in our commitment to justice. I know that the overwhelming majority of Nebraskans believe in fairness, inclusion, and respect for all people—not government-sanctioned discrimination.
What We've Been Up To
Legislating isn’t just about what happens in the chamber—it’s about showing up for Nebraskans every day. Whether I am welcoming students to the Capitol, engaging with our community, or pushing policies that make a difference, my office is always working to connect, uplift, and fight for Nebraska values. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to lately!
I had the opportunity to attend the University of Nebraska Legislative Dinner—a great evening spent with some of the brightest, most passionate students from across our state. I’m grateful for every chance to connect with young leaders who aren’t afraid to use their voices.
Had the best time speaking with these incredible Girl Scouts over lunch at the Capitol! They came prepared with thoughtful, well-researched questions about my work, the legislature, and what it means to lead. The future is bright with young leaders like them stepping up.
District 8 Events
Benson Neighborhood Assoc. Meeting
- April 28th - 7 p.m.
- Benson Baptist Church (6319 Maple St.)
Dundee-Memorial Park Assoc. Meeting
- Brownell Talbot School (400 N. Happy Hallow Blvd.) at 7 p.m.
- Held quarterly on the 2nd Monday of the month
- May 3rd from 9am-2pm
- Omaha Home for Boys (4343 N. 52nd St.)
Benson Community Center Open Skate
- Free Youth Open Skate: Every Thurs.-Sat. 3-8 p.m., skateboards & helmets provided (waiver required)
- Adult Open Skate: Every Sunday 3-8 p.m.
DIVISIBLE: The Omaha Redlining Documentary
- April 8th 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Omaha Conservatory of Music (7023 Cass St.). Registration via this link is required.
- FREE screening explaining the history, mechanics, and lasting impacts of redlining in our city. A 30-min panel discussion will following the screening.
Easter Egg Hunt
- April 12th from 11am-1pm
- Gallagher Park (ages 0-11)
- Hotdogs, chips, and water provided
Dundee-Memorial Park Assoc. Garage Sale
- Friday, May 9th - Sunday May 11th
- Sign up online or call Mickey Harrington at 402-553-3143
Our Office in the News
Nebraska Public Media - NIL bill would allow Nebraska colleges to pay athletes directly under NCAA settlement
KETV - College athlete advocate urges Nebraska to update name, image, likeness laws; senator says it's needed to give competitive edge
On3 - Nebraska bill would amend state NIL law, target House v. NCAA settlement terms
Nebraska Examiner - Debate delayed on proposal to more frequently change Nebraska lawmaker compensation
Nebraska Public Media - Legislature edges toward key vote on paid sick leave
KETV - Nebraska lawmakers debate amendment to voter-approved paid sick leave
Omaha World-Herald - Nebraska lawmaker again pursues bill to hold schools accountable for sexual assaults
KETV - Bill would put limits on DHHS making youth pay for their own foster care
