Capitol Updates
Thursday, March 20, 2025
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Support LB440: Paid FMLA Needs Your Voice Now!
NSEA members are rallying behind a transformative bill offering six weeks of paid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for all Nebraska teachers. LB440, the Education Leave and Support Act, prioritized by Sen. Ashlei Spivey, throws a lifeline to educators facing family or medical challenges by funding six weeks of paid FMLA leave through a modest 0.35% payroll deduction, matched by the school district. Imagine the relief— time to bond with a newborn, care for an ailing loved one or recover from illness without exhausting sick days or leaving your classroom in disarray. Districts receive reimbursement for substitute costs, and surplus funds bolster an Education Retention Fund to combat teacher shortages and enhance professional development.
The clock is ticking; on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Education Committee will convene in a closed executive session to deliberate on this and other bills, with hopes of advancing them to the full Legislature. LB440’s priority status ensures floor debate if it clears committee—a critical milestone for supporting teachers’ well-being. LB440 isn’t just legislation—it’s a commitment to making teaching a sustainable career. No educator should face the impossible choice between personal health and professional responsibility.
Call to Action: NSEA members, your voice is powerful! Reach out to Education Committee senators before Tuesday, March 25, and urge them to advance LB440 out of committee for a full debate. Share your stories—perhaps the struggle of juggling life without paid leave—to highlight its impact. Act swiftly and contact these senators today—together, we can forge a brighter, stronger future for Nebraska’s teachers and students!
Sen. Dave Murman, Chair, Glenvil
Sen. Jana Hughes, Vice Chair, Seward
Sen. Danielle Conrad, Lincoln
Sen. Megan Hunt, Omaha
Sen. Margo Juarez, Omaha
Sen. Dan Lonowski, Hastings
Sen. Glen Meyer, Wayne
Sen. Rita Sanders, Bellevue
NSEA Opposes Bills Upending Postsecondary Education
The NSEA is sounding the alarm over two bills introduced by Senator Loren Lippincott that could dramatically and negatively reshape the climate of postsecondary education in the state. Heard before the Education Committee on March 17, 2025, LB551 and LB552 target foundational elements of Nebraska’s higher education system—tenure and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—prompting strong opposition from NSEA members and leaders.
Eliminating Tenure in Higher Education – LB551 seeks to abolish academic tenure at Nebraska’s state universities, colleges, and community colleges for all employees not already tenured by the bill’s effective date. The bill replaces tenure with employee agreements, mandating annual performance evaluations and establishing grounds for dismissal such as “just cause,” program discontinuance and financial exigency. Proponents argue it enhances accountability, but critics, including NSEA, warn it jeopardizes faculty retention, recruitment and academic freedom.
Dismantling DEI Efforts – LB552 takes aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, prohibiting public postsecondary institutions from maintaining DEI offices, requiring participation in DEI programs or spending public funds on such initiatives. The bill defines DEI broadly, targeting efforts that address race, gender identity or sexual orientation beyond strict legal compliance. Senator Lippincott frames this as a cost-saving and ideology-neutral move, but NSEA members argue it undermines efforts to support marginalized students and foster inclusive campuses.
NSEA Voices in Opposition – During the March 17 hearing, NSEA representatives delivered compelling testimony against both bills, emphasizing their detrimental impact on educators and students.
On LB551, Jami Holbein Swanson, a professor of teacher education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and an executive committee member of UNK’s Education Association, highlighted tenure’s role in faculty stability and free inquiry. “The removal of tenure would simply do grave damage to our ability to retain quality faculty to Nebraska or recruit them to begin their careers in our state,” Swanson warned. She added, “Tenure ensures that the free speech of all our faculty is protected—whether they are advancing causes to strengthen protections for transgender athletes or actively seeking to prevent them from participating in sports.”
Addressing LB552, an NSEA Board of Directors member from Nebraska passionately opposed the dismantling of DEI initiatives, drawing from personal experience. “When I chose my undergraduate institution, it was with the hope of embracing my identity within a supportive community. However, I was met with a harsh reality: deep-seated hatred towards Black individuals in that town,” they recounted. Reflecting on the stakes, they urged, “We must advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion ensuring that our educational institutions remain vibrant, inclusive, and capable of fostering a diverse range of voices and perspectives. The future of higher education depends on it.”
Senator Lippincott’s push to overhaul Nebraska’s postsecondary education system through LB551 and LB552 has sparked fierce resistance from the NSEA, which sees these bills as threats to academic integrity and student success. As these proposals linger in committee, NSEA members are urged to stay engaged, contact legislators and advocate for a higher education system that values faculty expertise and embraces all students. The fight to preserve Nebraska’s colleges and universities as places of learning and growth continues.
LB689 Shifts Retiree Work Limits, Raises Concerns
Nebraska educators, here’s an important update: the Retirement Systems Committee will hold a public hearing on LB689 on Friday, March 28, 2025. This bill affects retirees and school districts across the state, and a recent amendment has changed its direction. The Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) encourages you to stay engaged and share your perspective with lawmakers.
LB689 originally aimed to eliminate the eight-day safe harbor provision, which allows retirees to work up to eight days per month as substitutes or temporary employees during the 180-day post-retirement period without risking their benefits. Senator Lonowski’s Amendment AM734 adjusts this to permit up to 40 days per semester of intermittent work. While we appreciate the intent to increase retirees’ ability to help with staffing shortages, this shift raises concerns.
The current eight-day limit is a clear, IRS-compliant standard that supports retirees and schools alike. In the past, when no safe harbor existed, vague terms like “intermittent” led to uncertainty. Districts such as Millard Public Schools barred retired teachers from substituting during the 180-day period to avoid compliance risks. AM734’s 40-day provision—potentially 80 days annually—could revive this ambiguity and exceed IRS thresholds for a bona fide separation from service, risking audits or penalties that threaten the tax-qualified status of Nebraska’s retirement plans. NSEA supports keeping the proven eight-day safe harbor.
How You Can Weigh In – We encourage members to contact senators on the Retirement Systems Committee to share your thoughts on LB689 and AM734. Your experiences as educators and potential retirees can shape this conversation. Reach out before the March 28 hearing:
Sen. Beau Ballard, Chair, Lincoln
Sen. Tony Sorrentino, Omaha
Sen. Robert Clements, Elmwood
Sen. Danielle Conrad, Lincoln
Sen. Brian Hardin, Gering
Sen. Margo Juarez, Omaha
You can also submit comments online now via the LB689 page (deadline: 8 a.m. on March 28) or attend the hearing at the State Capitol. NSEA opposes LB689, even with the amendment, and advocates retaining the eight-day safe harbor. Let the committee know why clarity and security matter to you and your school community.
LB258 - A Threat to Fair Wages and Nebraska's Future
As the Nebraska Legislature begins its first round of floor debate on General File, the NSEA stands in strong opposition to LB258. This bill, amending the Wage and Hour Act, undermines the will of Nebraska voters who approved Initiative 433 in 2022 to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026 and tie it to cost-of-living increases. The bill caps annual minimum wage increases at 1.5%—far below typical inflation rates—while creating a subminimum wage for youth and introducing a temporary training wage, with a committee amendment adjusting some timelines and age ranges. For educators dedicated to preparing students for successful futures, this bill represents a direct threat to economic fairness and opportunity.
LB258 hits hardest young workers, a group that includes many of our students. It sets a fixed wage of $13.50 per hour for 14- and 15-year-olds with no annual increases, effectively freezing their pay as costs rise. For 16- and 17-year-olds, it allows a $13.50 training wage for the first 90 days through 2026, rising to 75% of the minimum wage thereafter, while the amendment extends this to 19-year-olds and adds gradual 1.5% increases every five years for youth wages and annually for training wages starting in 2027. These changes create a two-tiered system that devalues young workers’ contributions, making it harder for students balancing school and jobs to afford essentials or save for college—challenges educators see firsthand in their classrooms.
Beyond its impact on students, LB258 disregards the democratic process. In 2022, 58.7% of Nebraskans voted for Initiative 433 to ensure wages keep pace with inflation, reflecting a clear public mandate. By capping increases at 1.5%—well below the historical Consumer Price Index average of 3-3.5%—and carving out exceptions for youth, this bill erodes that decision. For educators, who teach civic engagement and the power of democracy, this legislative overreach sends a troubling message to students: their votes and voices can be overturned. The NSEA believes Nebraska’s lawmakers should honor, not undermine, the will of the people.
Committee Hearings Scheduled - Final Week
Committee hearings are a crucial component of the legislative process, offering lawmakers an avenue to directly engage with educators, parents, and other stakeholders regarding the potential consequences of proposed legislation. Your voice holds significant influence in shaping the outcome of these bills. We will keep you informed about the scheduling of hearings throughout the session. Unless otherwise indicated, all hearings commence promptly at 1:30 p.m. and will be live streamed on NET. For your convenience, you can watch the hearings online here.
Friday, March 28, 2025
NSEA Position: Oppose (submit online comments by 3/28/25 at 8:00am)
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