Good morning, Nebraska!

We kicked the week off with floor debate on bills for the first time this session. With the change in our daily schedule, we had been involved in all-day hearings for most of the session but on Tuesday, we opened the morning with General File debate on the floor.

We almost completed the entire agenda, eventually passing 22 separate bills onto select file. It was indeed an unusual break from all-day hearings. On Wednesday we returned to our normal schedule. We won’t be returning to floor debate until March 9. At that point, most of the committee hearings will be over (with the exception of Judiciary) and soon after that week, we’ll transition to all-day floor debate.

On Wednesday, I was in front of the Health and Human Services committee for the hearing on LB554, which is my third interstate compact bill this session. LB554 adopts the Licensed
Professional Counselors Interstate Compact in order to create better access for patients, offer telehealth alternatives and remove hurdles for employment for professionals including military spouses and family members. This is a brand new compact, though there are already several states looking to adopt it. Like the others of this kind, it will go “live” when 10 states join. We should be clear that our office also supports reciprocity, but that does not address our military spouse who must move every 2-3 years. We not only want them to be able to work into Nebraska without additional hurdles, but move to their next post and be able to get to work quickly as well. That’s why our office LOVES these compacts and enjoys working with our friends in the military families office at the DOD on your behalf. every year.

Next week I will have a hearing for LB5 in front of the Education Committee. The bill encourages but doesn’t require every school in the state to appoint a “military liaison” who will then create programming for students who might be recent transfers into the school district after moving to Nebraska with their military family. The liaison may also set up a website that demonstrates how to establish a “military-friendly” atmosphere at the school. Choosing to participate in the programming would then designate the school as a “Purple Star” school.

A reminder that if you want to participate in any of the hearings on my bills, there have been some changes to the way they are carried out this year. Because of the pandemic, Speaker Hilgers would prefer not to pack the room with testifiers but understands it’s a fundamental right to participate in the legislative hearings in Nebraska. To that end, only those who intend to testify on a bill will be allowed to sit in the hearing room. His office set up a system that will allow users to track the hearing online and enter comments on any bill being heard on the Legislature’s website. 

As always the committees are also accepting letters of support or opposition in lieu of testimony. Because of the added stressors that come from all-day hearings, those letters must now be submitted by noon the day before and they must be submitted to specially designated committee emails, rather than the clerk or the chairperson directly. 

In order to see exactly how you can participate in legislative hearings this year, you can go to this link.

For a full list and additional information about all the bills I’ve introduced and cosponsored, you can click the link here.

Food Pantry
The winter has been all the more difficult this year thanks to the extreme weather and the coronavirus pandemic. If you are someone in need, you can head out to the Glory Tabernacle church later this morning and pick up some food and winter clothing. You can also go and donate winter clothes or food, if you have some to share.
ENOA Meeting In March
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is going to be having a virtual meeting on March 1 to discuss changes they are making to their routes. The agency is no longer going to offering rides that are strictly inside an area that is defined as “Urbanized Areas” of Omaha. That includes most of Sarpy and Cass county. They will still allow for rides from Bellevue, Papillion and LaVista to rural areas, and will allow rides from rural areas to the Urbanized Omaha Area.

The changes are currently slated to go into effect on July 1.

If this plan does go into effect, it’s going to make things quite hard for Sarpy and Cass county’s aging population to get around. I would encourage everyone to listen in on this meeting and make your voice heard in hopes of convincing ENOA to change its plans.

This particular change was on the agenda two years ago but they were able to scrap it, after additional funding was made available. It can be changed again if enough people fight for it.

All the information on the meeting can be found on ENOA’s official website here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update
The Sarpy/Cass County Health Department issued an update on the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. The department has officially entered into Phase 1B.

Unfortunately for those with underlying health conditions who were hoping to be vaccinated sooner, Governor Ricketts announced this week that “High-Risk” individuals won’t be receiving their vaccinations during Phase 1B.

However, Sarpy/Cass residents born in 1951 or before are eligible to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination.

You do not need the Sarpy/Cass Health Department to schedule this appointment for you. Please visit this website to view all the vaccine clinic options in our communities. Select the clinic that works best for you, and click or call that individual clinic to schedule your appointment.

Please keep in mind that scheduling at this time is limited to those residents born in 1951 or before. Appointments made for non-residents or those outside the age range will be canceled by the individual clinics.

If you do have any questions there is a number you can call to get assistance. 402-339-4334 and press option 1.

In preparation for your name being called to get vaccinated, the state does offer a website where you can register to be notified when it’s your turn. You can sign up at this link.