2025 Policy Updates
Join our policy team to learn about early childhood bills in the current session of the Nebraska Legislature at our next Policy Update on Tuesday, April 8, at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Early Childhood Policy
We help government officials make informed, strategic decisions.
Strategic Engagement
We bring more people into the early childhood conversation.
Research & Analysis
We illuminate the issues with credible information and insight.
Successful Children. Strong Families.
Prosperous Communities.
We promote policies that support the early care, education and healthy development of our state’s youngest children—and create opportunity
for all Nebraskans.
Latest Developments
Twenty-two citizen-advocates graduated from the 2024-25 Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy on March 12, joining a growing network of alumni helping to shape early childhood policy statewide.
First Five Nebraska will continue early childhood policy update meetings via Zoom in the coming months. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media for more information.
Stay Current
Legislative update on early childhood, maternal and child health bills
We are now more than halfway through the legislative session. Hearings have concluded, and full-day floor debate has begun. Speaker Arch, state senators and committees have identified their priority bills and will focus on debating these issues for the remainder of...
LB22 will allow home visiting programs to reach more new parents
Kelly Mackling is clinical nurse manager at the Visiting Nurse Association in Omaha. She testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee in support of LB22, State Senator George Dungan's bill to allow home visiting programs to bill...
Building a stronger future: Nebraska’s Policy Leadership Academy completes 2024-25 program
Nebraska’s premier early childhood leadership initiative, the Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA), recently celebrated the completion of its 2024-25 program in Columbus. This milestone marks another step forward in strengthening early childhood and...
Every response matters: Child Care and School Readiness Tax Credit surveys
Nebraska’s Child Care Tax Credit and School Readiness Tax Credit provide vital support to families, early childhood professionals, child care programs and communities. But to ensure their long-term success, we need input from those who have applied. Since the launch...
Home visiting can be a lifeline for families
Dez Brandt is program manager of Healthy Families America home visiting program in the Panhandle Public Health District. She testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee in support of LB104, State Senator Jane Raybould's bill...
LB41 increases maternal testing to address rise of babies born with syphilis
Dr. Ann Anderson Berry is a faculty member of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Medical Director of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC). She testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee on...