We, the elected officials of the Omaha metro area, are coming together today to urge you to increase the efforts made within the City of Omaha and Douglas County to protect residents and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The current orders to self-quarantine, if possible, and practice of social distancing are not sufficient. We are calling for a full stay-at-home order and the extension of social distancing requirements for all non-essential personnel through April 30, 2020, for the following reasons: Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and has led America's response to the COVID-19, has said that every state should have a stay at home order in place.

Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB504, a bill that would expand the current definition of hate crimes to include crimes based on gender identity. Gender identity refers to an individual's internal concept of their gender, regardless of their assigned sex at birth. State Legislatures across the country have been moving to include crimes based on gender identity in hate crime statutes. Nineteen states have passed legislation to include crimes based on gender identity in their hate crime laws, including Nebraska’s neighboring states of Missouri and Colorado. In 2009, the federal definition of hate crimes was updated to include gender identity. LB504 brings Nebraska statutes up to date with this federal standard. The bill also updates hate crime statutes to include strangulation.

Lincoln, NE— 1.22.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB501, a bill that would require insurers in Nebraska to provide coverage for in vitro fertilization procedures. With the current cost of in vitro fertilization for an uninsured patient reaching as high as $15,000 per procedure, it remains out of reach for many middle and lower-income Nebraska couples struggling to become parents. Currently, fifteen states have passed legislation requiring insurers to offer coverage for infertility treatment.

Lincoln, NE— 1.22.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB502, legislation that would limit the ability of law enforcement to inquire about the immigration status of individuals unless required by state or federal law. The purpose of the Limited Immigration Inquiry Act is to improve public safety by removing barriers that discourage immigrants from reporting crimes. According to a nationwide survey of prosecutors conducted by the ACLU and the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project (NIWAP), fears of deportation and immigration consequences have caused some immigrants to stop reporting crimes such as domestic violence, theft, and child abuse.

Lincoln, NE— 1.22.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB503, a bill that would eliminate the requirement for a physician to be physically present in the room during a medical abortion. Under current statute, telemedicine for abortion is banned, leaving many economically disadvantaged women and women in rural counties without access to safe and necessary care.

Lincoln, NE— 1.22.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB555, a bill to require emergency rooms to provide information about emergency contraception to all victims of sexual assault, and to dispense emergency contraception immediately upon request. Emergency contraception refers to a concentrated dose of hormone found in many regular birth control pills that can prevent pregnancy when taken shortly after unprotected intercourse. It does not cause abortion.

Lincoln, NE— 1.17.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB400, a bill to increase the “tip wage” for Nebraskan workers for the first time in 28 years, to 50% of the state minimum wage. The new wage would take effect on January 1, 2020, and would initially increase the wage to $3.60 per hour, and then to $4.50 per hour on January 1, 2021. “Nebraska’s ‘tip wage’ ranks significantly behind our neighboring states and leads many Nebraskans to seek employment and opportunities in other states,” Hunt said. “Colorado, Iowa and South Dakota all have a higher ‘tip wage’ than Nebraska. But the ‘tip wage’ in the Cornhusker State has been $2.13 an hour since 1991 – even as inflation continues to rise.”