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Dist. 40 R eport
Dist. 40 Report
Now that the Legislature is over two thirds of the way through this year’s 90day regular long session, progress on the floor is beginning to slow down.
More bills are being filibustered, delaying debate on other bills further down on the agenda.
One measure considered was LB632 by Senator Hansen. LB632 would require healthcare facilities to dispose of fetal tissue following an elective abortion via cremation, interment by burial, or as directed by the Board of Health.
Approximately 15 states currently have laws in force that dictate the disposal of this tissue, including Texas, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
Supporters of LB632 pointed to cases in other states where fetal tissue obtained after an abortion was disposed of in the trash or sewer system. Opponents of LB632 argued that the bill is vague and would further restrict access to abortion.
Following a filibuster, Senator Hansen moved to invoke cloture, whereupon the motion passed and the bill was advanced to Select File by a 34 to 11 vote. I voted in support of LB632.
Senators then debated LB322 by Senator Clouse. LB322 would add licensed pharmacists and employees of hospital or health clinics to the list of emergency responders, law enforcement officers, and other healthcare employees that are protected from assault when they are engaged in official duties. An assault on one of these individuals would result in enhanced criminal penalties. This bill is intended to address the growing incidence of workplace violence against healthcare workers statewide. For example, one Lincoln hospital submitted testimony that their staff reported being physically assaulted 780 times in 2024 compared to 253 times in 2021.
Meanwhile, opponents of this bill argued it would contribute to prison overcrowding. LB322 was filibustered for eight hours before being advanced to Select File on a 37 to 8 vote.
School employee retirement was also the topic of discussion this week. Earlier this year, Senator Ballard introduced LB645 which would gradually reduce and eventually end the state’s contributions to the statewide school employees’ retirement plan as the plan gets closer to being fully funded.
Under the current law, teachers and other eligible school staff contribute 9.78% of their monthly payroll to the pooled school employees’ retirement plan. School districts match this at 9.88% of the amount they pay their employees, while the state contributes 2% of statewide school employee payroll each year. This system was put in place in a 2013 compromise and has been successful in getting the plan 99.91% funded.
Following a contentious public hearing, the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee engaged in negotiations so the contribution levels of all three groups—teachers, schools, and the state—would change at four stages based on predetermined levels. Once the school employees’ retirement plan is fully funded, school employees would contribute 7.25%, school districts would contribute 7.32%, and the state would contribute 0%. If the plan were to no longer be fully funded, the contribution levels of all three groups would begin to rise back up until the plan is fully funded again.
The idea behind this compromise is to try to keep the plan financially stable, give school employees more take-home pay, and create a pathway for other education-related legislation to pass.
This compromise language made up the version of LB645 that was ultimately brought to the floor.
Following some debate, LB645 was ultimately advanced to Select File by a 38 to 0 vote after Senator Ballard agreed to hold a public hearing on a new amendment filed to the bill to give the education community and the public another time to provide feedback.
