Nebraska senators introduced nearly 700 bills in the first 10 days of the current legislative session. Of those, we’ve identified six as priority bills and 90 others that have the potential to impact the earliest years of a child’s life.
To see the bills, visit our Nebraska Legislation website page. Bills considered priority are listed individually; the others identified as potentially affecting early childhood are in a searchable database with 10 categories: Budget/Taxes; Child Care; Child Safety; Child Welfare; Early Childhood Workforce; Economic Assistance/Public Benefits; Education; Physical & Mental Health; School Funding; and Systems/Governance.
Bill status is updated and a printable report is generated daily during the 90-day session. Among the bills we’re watching are:
LB91, introduced by Senator Robert Hilkemann of Omaha, which provides for all infants born in Nebraska to be screened for inherited or congenital infant or childhood onset diseases, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program to provide food supplements and treatments to those who test positive for such diseases. (FFN website category: Physical & Mental Health)
LB108, introduced by Senator Sue Crawford of Bellevue, establishes guidelines and procedures to be followed by Nebraska police departments when arresting a parent or guardian of a child. This legislation requires proper arrangement of temporary care and education on the effects of children witnessing violent crime. (FFN website categories: Child Welfare; Child Safety)
LB266, introduced by Senator Curt Friesen of Henderson, changes the standards for valuation of agricultural land beginning in 2018. Land currently valued at 75% of its market value would drop to 50% in 2018, 40% in 2019 and 30% in 2020 and after. This would have a significant impact on funding for local school districts in every corner of Nebraska. (FFN website categories: School Funding; Budget/Taxes).
