Capitol Updates

Friday, January 30, 2025

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NSEA Legislative Priorities For 2025

The NSEA Government Relations Team has worked closely with state senators to introduce a legislative package aimed at strengthening public education by addressing teacher retention, compensation, and working conditions. These initiatives reflect the concerns and priorities of educators across the state, as identified through an NSEA survey of nearly 10,000 teachers. 

The survey results highlighted key challenges facing Nebraska educators, including concerns about workplace conditions, compensation, and the sustainability of their profession. Only a small percentage of respondents felt that the Legislature takes their perspectives into account when crafting education policy, and many expressed uncertainties about remaining in the profession without meaningful changes. These insights guided NSEA’s legislative agenda for 2025. 

Addressing Teacher and Student Needs - NSEA has collaborated with lawmakers to introduce key bills that will support educators and enhance Nebraska’s public education system: 

• Paid Family and Medical Leave (LB440 – Sen. Ashlei Spivey): Establishes a 0.35% payroll tax on teachers, matched by local districts, to provide six weeks of paid leave, ensuring teachers have the support they need for personal and family health matters. 

• Paraeducator Retention Bonuses (LB524 – Sen. Margo Juarez): Provides $1,000 retention bonuses for paraeducators working at least 28 hours per week, recognizing their critical role in schools. 

• Student Teacher Stipends (LB523 – Sen. Margo Juarez): Creates a statewide stipend program awarding student teachers $4,000 per semester, easing the financial burden of entering the profession. 

• Early Childhood Education Funding (LB161 – Sen. Margo Juarez): Increases state funding for early childhood education, ensuring equitable support for Nebraska’s youngest learners. 

• Teacher Supply Reimbursement (LB282 – Sen. Jason Prokop): Provides up to $300 in reimbursements for classroom supplies, alleviating the personal financial burden on teachers. 

• Retention Grants (LB411 – Sen. George Dungan): Establishes baseline retention grants starting at $2,500 for early-career teachers and increasing to $4,000 for those with 16+ years of service, incentivizing experienced educators to stay in the classroom. 

• Planning Time and Special Education Support (LB598 – Sen. Wendy DeBoer): Increases state funding for schools providing teachers with at least 60 minutes of daily planning time and enhances funding for special education programs and Section 504 plan support. 

• Substitute Coverage for Special Education Teachers (LB589 – Sen. Danielle Conrad): Allows districts to be reimbursed for substitute teachers when special education teachers take designated paperwork days, improving compliance and reducing burnout. 

Even amid projected budget constraints, these legislative efforts align with Nebraska’s long-term commitment to education. NSEA encourages members to stay engaged, provide testimony, and contact their state senators to support these initiatives, ensuring a strong future for Nebraska’s educators and students. 

Defending Public Education NSEA continues to advocate for policies that prioritize public education and oppose efforts to divert public funds to private schools. The association remains committed to supporting educators and ensuring that Nebraska's education policies align with the needs of teachers and students. 

Looking Ahead NSEA will alert members when hearings are scheduled on each bill. If you support a bill on the list, please go now and complete online comments for each one on the bill's individual website at nebraskalegislature.gov and contact your state senator expressing your support. 

Oppose Opportunity Scholarship Act Vouchers

NSEA members, we need your voice! Next Thursday, February 6, at 1:30 p.m., the Revenue Committee will hold a public hearing on LB509, a bill that would reinstate a tax-credit scholarship program that diverts public funds to private schools. This “Opportunity” Scholarships Act marks the third attempt to introduce public funds to private scholarship-granting organizations. Two previous referendum petition efforts successfully led to the legislative repeal of one bill, LB753 (2023), and the overturning of another, LB1402 (2024), through a decisive election held on November 5, 2024. 

The new scheme introduced by Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Omaha is a proposed bill that aims to redirect up to $100 million of public funds to private, non-governmental schools through tax credits for individuals and businesses. Key provisions include significant tax breaks for individuals and entities that donate to scholarship-granting organizations, which serve as intermediaries distributing scholarships to select students. The bill notably disadvantages public schools by fostering an exodus of students and resources, intensifying existing inequalities. 

Why LB509 Hurts Public Schools - Public schools serve all students, regardless of their needs, background, or financial status. Voucher programs like LB509 siphon critical resources away from public schools, undermining their ability to provide quality education, retain qualified teachers, and support students with diverse learning needs. Nebraska voters have repeatedly rejected efforts to fund private education with public dollars, affirming their commitment to strong, well-funded public schools. 

TAKE ACTION - Your voice matters in this fight for public education. Please take a moment to submit an online comment opposing LB509 before the hearing on February 6. Public opposition has successfully defeated similar voucher programs before, and we must continue to stand strong against efforts to undermine public schools. We urge you to visit the bill’s website here and submit online comments opposing this harmful legislation. If you plan to attend or testify at the hearing for LB509, please register here. 

Other Bills to Watch - In addition to LB509, several other private school voucher bills impacting education are being considered this session: 

• LB131 – Seeks to expand the state’s college savings plan to allow funds to be used for private K-12 tuition, further shifting resources away from public schools. 

• LB427 – Proposes the creation of educational savings accounts for K-12 expenses, diverting public education funds into private accounts with limited oversight. 

• LB481 – Would establish the Foster Care Child Scholarships Act, setting aside state funds for private school tuition for children in foster care, creating another avenue for voucher expansion. 

• LB557 – Proposes a $2,500 payout to families whose option enrollment applications are denied, diverting public funds without addressing systemic issues in public education. 

• LB624 – Would revive LB1402, a state-funded voucher program repealed by voters in November. This bill seeks to define its funding as an appropriation, attempting to bypass the referendum process. 

We will continue to monitor these bills and keep you informed about opportunities to take action. Thank you for standing with us in the fight to protect Nebraska’s public schools! 

Protecting Educators' Retirement Security

Nebraska’s educators work tirelessly to shape the future, and their retirement security must remain a top priority. However, LB645 poses a serious threat to the financial stability of the Nebraska School Employees Retirement System. This bill seeks to eliminate the state’s 2% contribution to school employees’ pensions, a move that would unravel a decade of progress and violate the 2013 agreement established by LB553(2013). 

A Decade of Progress at Risk - In 2013, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB553, a bipartisan compromise ensuring the long-term stability of school employees’ retirement plans. Educators agreed to increase their contribution rates from 7.28% to 9.78% while accepting reduced benefits for new hires. In return, the state committed to increasing its contribution from 1% to 2% of wages. This shared responsibility model successfully stabilized the system and addressed a $100 million annual shortfall. 

LB645 threatens to undo this progress. By removing the state’s 2% contribution, the bill would force the retirement system to rely solely on employee and employer contributions, which are already high. This shift could destabilize the fund and jeopardize retirement security for thousands of Nebraska educators. The bill represents a retreat from the state’s commitment to its educators. The 2013 reforms were a carefully negotiated agreement between school employees, employers, and the state. Reneging on this promise not only undermines trust but also signals to current and future educators that their retirement security is not a priority. 

Rule Changes Preserve Filibuster Protections

Last week, the Nebraska Legislature debated and approved several rule changes impacting legislative procedures. Among the most notable was a new requirement for senators to cast a definitive “yes” or “no” vote during final reading on key measures, including cloture and bill passage. Previously, lawmakers could opt for “present, not voting” (PNV), a tactic often used to remain neutral or avoid taking a public stance. By a 31-17 vote, the rule was approved, with Senator Kathleen Kauth of Omaha leading the effort, supported primarily by Republicans and Senator Wendy DeBoer, a Democrat. The change ensures greater transparency by requiring senators to clearly state their position unless they have a conflict of interest. 

While the rule aims to foster accountability, opponents raised concerns about its potential to stifle nuanced decision-making. Lincoln Senator George Dugan warned it could create challenges for lawmakers representing diverse districts, where personal opposition might not align with constituent views. Others noted this could heighten partisan pressures, especially for senators hesitant to support controversial measures. An earlier version of the proposal sought to lower the 33-vote threshold required to end filibusters when senators abstained, but this provision was removed, preserving the integrity of Nebraska’s unique legislative checks and balances. 

Additional rule changes approved included simplifying the reporting process for certain gubernatorial appointments and requiring earlier submission of bill intent statements. The Legislature opted to keep the 20-bill cap for individual senators unchanged. The session's early discussions underscore the balance between procedural reform and preserving fairness in Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature. 

Committee Hearings Scheduled Next 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. 

Monday, February 3, 2025 

LB143 (Rountree) Modify rules for student enrollment 

NSEA Position: Support (submit online comments by 2/3/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB306 (Education) Revise state college governance, scholarships, community college budget limits 

NSEA Position: Monitor (submit online comments by 2/3/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB353 (Lonowski) Allow school employees to join or leave labor organizations 

NSEA Position: Oppose (submit online comments by 2/3/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB390 (Murman) Require school policies on parental access to library information 

NSEA Position: Monitor (submit online comments by 2/3/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB538 (Hardin) Require schools to adopt policies and training on antisemitism and discrimination 

NSEA Position: Neutral (submit online comments by 2/3/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB625 (Dover) Create a statewide school district financial database

NSEA Position: Monitor (submit online comments by 2/3/2025 at 8:00am) 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 

LB31 (Conrad) Regulate student surveillance and tracking by schools 

NSEA Position: Oppose (submit online comments by 2/4/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB140 (Sanders) Mandate school policies on student electronic device use 

NSEA Position: Support (submit online comments by 2/4/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB428 (Murman) Modify school policies on parental and guardian involvement 

NSEA Position: Monitor (submit online comments by 2/4/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB567 (Quick) Authorize school policies relating to community engagement 

NSEA Position: Support (submit online comments by 2/4/2025 at 8:00am) 

LB670 (Murman) Require school safety plans and staff training updates 

NSEA Position: Support (submit online comments by 2/4/2025 at 8:00am) 

Thursday, February 6, 2025 

LB509 (Sorrentino) Adopt the Opportunity Scholarships Act and provide for income tax credits 

NSEA Position: Oppose (submit online comments by 2/6/2025 at 8:00am) 

Friday, February 7, 2025 

LB89 (Kauth) Adopt the Stand with Women Act 

NSEA Position: Oppose (submit online comments by 2/7/2025 at 8:00am) 

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