Hello friends,

This past week was the beginning of all day debate, and it has been productive for the state. Senator Linehan’s omnibus bill, LB754 has seen the largest share of attention because an omnibus bill is a combination of multiple bills put together. Luckily, my bill LB38 is a part of this omnibus bill. LB38 will provide a tax exemption for federal annuities for Nebraska’s federal retirees. Previously LB873 provided vital tax relief on Social Security, and this year’s LB641 (included in this package) will further expand Social Security Tax Relief. However the tax relief is not equitable for Federal retirees. The debate about the overall omnibus has been good for the body. Being wrapped up in culture war debates can be exhausting for all involved and I am happy to see things start to move forward.

Inflation Reduction Act

With today being the deadline for early applications for IRA funding, it was nice to see Governor Pillen and NDEE respond to my letter that requested they take advantage of the available funding! Since it’s the early stages of obtaining funding, there are going to be more opportunities. I will continue to push that we take advantage of all available funding. Our state desperately needs to improve energy efficiency within homes. Insulation of homes would see a net decrease in the cost and usage of heating and air conditioning. We also would see a significant increase in job opportunities if we were to request as much of the IRA funding as possible with 10,000 possible new and good paying jobs. I’ll be looking at the actions of NDEE with great interest moving forward and will continue to challenge them to apply for as much available funding as possible.

Upcoming Community Events

• Coffee With a Cop
• Spaghetti Feed
• Sarpy Easter Egg Hunts
• Unicameral Youth Legislature

All event flyers are posted below.

If you have any questions or concerns about legislation, please feel free to contact my office by calling 402-471-2627. You can also contact my staff directly:

Gabriel Hinrichs, Administrative Aide: ghinrichs@leg.ne.gov
Alex Maycher, Legislative Aide: amaycher@leg.ne.gov

Sincerely,

Senator Carol Blood, District 3

Nebraska Legislature

Friends,

This past week was made up of highs and lows. I wish to start this by discussing the lows of the week and what happened on the floor this past week. LB 574 had debate from Tuesday morning until 11:30 am yesterday. The cloture motion never would’ve happened if a senator wasn’t forced back to the capitol who’s recovering from sickness. Senator’s on the floor pleaded to have this bill reconsidered. I pointed out the inadequacies within the bill and how it fails to consider the ramifications such as cosmetic procedures and other medicinal practices. It also opens the state of Nebraska open to a long list of potential lawsuits. I’ll continue to fight tooth and nail for the trans youth and population of this state. This bill is about big government control and is unrelenting in its pursuit of controlling parental rights.

Campaign Finance

Yesterday, LB 9 and LB 559 were presented back-to-back in the Government, Veteran and Military Affairs committee. Dark money is a bipartisan issue. Politicians from both sides of the aisle despise dark money because the entities that create advertisements that are false can’t be corrected nor tracked. It undermines the will of the voters by giving voters factually incorrect information on candidates. LB 559 was received positively by the committee members as well. Having C-1 financial disclosure documents required for elected members of First Class cities to fill out is of great importance for the democratic values that this nation espouses. It’s an important thing for the electorate to know where people’s interests are. The bill also implements digital submissions for all C-1 one forms reducing costs and staff time and creating immediate transparency online for Nebraskans.

A Thank You

Some of you may have seen my post on Facebook about the wonderful piece of art sent to me by Andrea Tellechea, a 4th grader from my district. I wish to thank her once again. It’s now hanging up in my office.

Unicameral Youth Legislature

Another thing you may have seen on my Facebook was about the Unicameral Youth Legislature. This is a great opportunity for the youth of this state to be educated on the legislative process of the unicameral. Please notify the young people in your lives about this opportunity. You can find the information about the Unicameral Youth Legislature below.

Thank you all, it’s a honor to represent legislative district 3.

Friends,

Happy Monday! This past week the legislature has seen a huge amount of time dedicated to debate on LB 753. I wish to broach upon a few other topics that need to be addressed at the legislature but also in our own communities.

As some may know, on the 3^rd of March I introduced LR5. It’s a legislative resolution to ratify an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to regulation of child labor.

The resolution wasn’t brought up out of thin air. Since 2018, the United States Department of Labor has seen a 70% increase in child labor violations, including in hazardous occupations. Just recently a meatpacking facility in Grand Island, Nebraska was found to be employing 50 child laborers, some as young as 13 years of age. Many of these children worked late hours and in dangerous environments that were inappropriate and unsafe.Their childhood and their education were placed on the backburner. This bill wouldn’t eliminate the infractions by these corporations, but it would send a strong message to the rest of this nation. The first state to ratify this amendment for the first time in the past 86 years is Nebraska! We value our children and we value our own workers, that’s what this is about.

An urgent priority for my office is LB560. Time is short for Nebraska to take advantage of the $91,000,000 available to the state to ensure long-term sustainable job growth that can create prosperity for our working families; to help our families benefit from rebates on weatherization and energy-friendly appliances that result in energy savings; to support tourism by providing more car charging stations across Nebraska, and so much more. From our agricultural community to our manufacturers, this is a win for all involved and this complicated act offers funds to help both our rural and urban areas, their residents and businesses. The state of Nebraska has a deadline of March 31st to apply for the funds from the IRA with a ‘notice of intent.’

Please feel free to contact the office by calling 402-471-2627 if you have any questions about legislation or need any help with a governmental issue. Thank you all. It’s an honor to represent legislative district 3!

Your Legislative Update

The 2020 Legislative session is over and the interim has officially begun. I fully expect to be back in January to serve alongside a new class of State Senators and I want to wish everyone who saw their terms come to an end last week, good luck in whatever they choose to do moving forward. It was certainly a challenging session, considering it was split into two separate sections, with a long layoff due to the pandemic. While the session was a challenge, I still consider it a success. The Unicameral passed good legislation and so did I, despite the fact that the governor vetoed quite a bit of what passed in the last week of the session.

At the top of the list was my priority bill, LB755. Originally, this bill would give those who cannot get to a barbershop or hair salon the ability to have a barber come to them. While it still contains that provision, I encouraged the Health and Human Services Committee to add important bills from their committee to my bill as a way to show bi-partisan support for all involved. The bill will accomplish many positive things for Nebraskans.

LB755 removes restrictions that are currently placed on Physician Assistants and will make it easier for them to help their patients while still adhering to rules, regulations, and laws of the medical profession and Nebraska. It will also allow PA’s to work with podiatrists for the first time.

As amended, 755 will add spinal muscular atrophy to the list of diseases that will be screened for in infants, and will make sure that pharmacists include specific information regarding patients with Parkinson’s disease in their semi-annual report to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The bill also allows architecture candidates to begin taking their examination in conjunction with completing educational and experience requirements. It will allow engineers to take one of two examinations prior to completing four years of post-accredited degree experience, and includes other beneficial changes in the way architects are handled in Nebraska.

Finally, I amended one of my bills to this package. LB752 began as a Veterans’ Bill of Rights, but after many discussions with stakeholders, including the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs, we pared it down. What we were able to accomplish was the addition of the “Ask the Question” part in the original B.O.R..  This allows service providers in various state agencies the potential to have a profound impact on service members, veterans, and their families, by connecting them to care and services. Service providers will ask the simple question: “Have you or a family member ever served in the military?” That question should be included on intake forms and interviews where appropriate, including, but not limited to, hospitals, mental health care centers, senior centers, employment offices, courts, and schools and in encounters with law enforcement. This bill was one of the yearly requests made by the DoD Military Community and Family Policy Office. District 3 works closely with this organization to help keep Nebraska a great place for our military veterans and their families to live and work.

In its final week of the year, the legislature also passed a very important piece of legislation that I believe will go a long way towards helping Nebraskans in a variety of ways. LB1107, introduced as a Speaker’s Major Proposal, it touches on various economic factors, including property tax relief for both rural and urban parts of the state.

1107 is the kind of bipartisan legislation the Unicameral is known for being able to produce. It is not perfect, but it will allow for some relief for property taxes, while also helping the state as it attempts to climb out of the economic hardships imposed on it by the coronavirus pandemic. There are also several incentives for the business community. The hope is that this will further entice companies to come to Nebraska and set up shop, further boosting an economy I think could turn around quickly thanks to this bill.

The Governor spoke about the bill during his Sine Die address and pointed out 1107 will be teamed with the existing $275 million a year tax credit program, for a total of $650 million in state funds that will help defray the cost of property taxes in the state. That is a four-fold increase in property tax relief since he took office.

Legislative Updates for the Remainder of 2020

As the session is over, we will not do a weekly update, we will still do updates throughout the interim on a monthly basis, or to give important information.

Another Successful Food Drive

We had yet another successful food drive at the Bellevue Farmers’ Market last Saturday. This time our collected fresh fruits and vegetables went to the Intercultural Senior Center. The Center provides food services and resources for aging Nebraskans in parts of Douglas & Sarpy Counties.

Since March, our office has worked closely with this organization to provide weekly food pantry deliveries and hot meals to area senior citizens in need. ICS serves those over the age of 50 by providing fresh fruits and vegetables. Donations received, compliments of all who donated, are greatly appreciated and we were happy to help another area non-profit.

The Bellevue Farmer’s Market has been key in helping area non-profits with food drives. This drive is the third of the season; each has been a success thanks to all who have contributed.

Stand and Be Counted

Over the last few months, the United States government has been counting citizens for the census, and we are coming closer to a very important date – the date the government will begin sending census takers door-to-door in order to get information from homes that have yet to submit their information.

If you received a census form and have yet to return it, make sure to do so soon!  You are also able to submit the information online at the official census bureau website at 2020census.gov. It only takes a few minutes, and is vitally important to our country. To insure you and your community are being accurately represented we ALL must do our part and be counted. UPDATE: The Census Bureau announced plans to officially stop counting on September 30, a month sooner than previously announced, and includes all forms of data collections. Please hurry with your responses so Nebraska can be adequately counted!

Early Voting Applications Arriving NOW!

The Sarpy County Election Commission began sending out vote by mail applications on August 3.  Anyone wishing to receive a vote by mail ballot should complete and return that application by October 23. The election commission has offered several different ways you can return applications, including scanning or emailing a photo of the completed application to earlyvote@sarpy.com. Additionally, there are four-drop boxes available where you can deposit completed applications.  For more information, contact election commission staff at 402-593-2167. Voters returning applications to the election commission can expect ballots to arrive beginning on September 28. UPDATE: The Secretary of State announced that applications will be sent to all registered, eligible voters in the state.

The main change in this newly signed Executive Order (EO) is the removal of a requirement that all previous employers be reviewed along with the most recent. The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) will only review the employer that issued the most current lay off to verify the information, and to determine if Covid-19 was indeed the reason for the lay off.  Those who became unemployed due to the pandemic will no longer be penalized for any voluntary quits or other issues regarding PRIOR employment. For those who have already had their claims adjudicated (and penalties assessed) those penalties will be removed and benefits will be paid.

This Executive Order retroactively changes the applicable period from March 22, 2020 backward to March 15, 2020. This allows individuals who filed the week prior to March 22nd to receive the same benefits as those who filed after.

This Executive Order on unemployment remains in effect until August 1, 2020

You are one phone call away from receiving the help you need!

If you, a loved one or friend, fifty years of age or older living within District 3 (Western Bellevue & Southeastern Papillion) and are struggling
with having enough food during the pandemic, please reach out to me and WE CAN HELP!

All you need to do is call me:
402-517-1446 or 402-471-2627

Available Resources for Fighting the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in District 3

As you know, the Nebraska Legislative session has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. While this is a difficult and uneasy time, I want you to know there are resources out there to help.

As the shutdown goes on longer than anyone hoped it can be tempting to relax our vigilance, but we have to fight that urge. It is critical that we do not let down our guard until the health experts tell us it is safe to relax these restrictions.

In addition to the resources listed here, my office continues to work while practicing social distancing. Please do not hesitate to call my office or reach out directly to me if I can be of any assistance to you.

Health Resources

NE Department of Health and Human Services
Click here for information on all things Coronavirus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Click here for information from the federal government on the disease

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Click here for information from UNMC

Sarpy/Cass County Health Department
Click here for information from county services

Medicaid and Economic Assistance
Click here for information on Medicaid Benefits and Economic Assistance

Individuals and Family Resources

Unemployment Benefits/Online Application
Click here for information

Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Click here for information

Free Legal Assistance (American Bar Association)
Click here for information

OPPD Assistance (Electricity)
Click here for information

MUD Assistance (Gas and Water)
Click here for information

United Way of the Midlands
Click here for information

Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
Click here for information

Salvation Army
Click here for information

Catholic Charities
Click here for information

Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office Helpline
Click here for information including how the sheriff’s office will deliver groceries to those who cannot venture out themselves.
Helpline number: 402-593-1593

Action for Healthy Kids
Click here for information

Area Catholic Schools
Click here for information

Bellevue Public Schools
Click here for information

Papillion Lavista Schools
Click here for information

Area Business Resources

US Small Business Administration
Click here for information

NE Department of Labor
Click here for information

NE Department of Economic Development
Click here for information

US Small Business Administration
Click here for information

Bellevue Chamber of Commerce
Click here for information

Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce
Click here for information

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce
Click here for information

NBDC Business Resiliency Resources
Click here for information

What’s Happening in Your Legislature

 First Round of Debate
The following bills were debated on the floor last week and moved to Select File for a second round of votes

LB774: Change requirements regarding credit for reinsurance
LB705: Provide for distribution of funds upon death from an achieve a better life experience account
LB1028: Change filing procedure for actions in Small Claims Court
LB1130: Change provisions relating to agreements and application deadlines under the Mutual Finance Assistance Act
LB911: Provide for acquisition of former Nebraska Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Grand Island
LB889: Change appeal provisions under the Administrative Procedure Act
LB1166: Change school district membership requirements as prescribed
LB1080: Require school policies that prohibit sexual conduct with students and former students
LB1185: Change provisions relating to criminal history record information checks for child care staff members
LB1060: Include hair textures and protective hairstyles within the definition of race under the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act
LB1183: Create the Health Information Technology Board and change prescription drug monitoring program provisions
LB912: Change provisions relating to examination of witnesses by telephonic, videoconferencing, and similar methods
LB835: Change provisions of the Nebraska Pure Food Act
LB912: Change provisions relating to examination of witnesses by telephonic, videoconferencing, and similar methods
LB1140: Provide requirements for youth rehabilitation and treatment centers
LB1144: Change provisions affecting the Public Counsel and the Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare
LB1188: Provide duties for the Office of Juvenile Services relating to education and change the definition of interim program school
LB1148: Change provisions relating to the Office of Juvenile Services and the placement of juveniles at youth rehabilitation and treatment centers
LB918: Create the Commission on African American Affairs and require a study
LB832: Provide immunity for removal of a child from a motor vehicle
LB247: Adopt the Advance Mental Health Care Directives Act
LB1152: Change licensing, cultivation, testing, transportation, violation and penalty, and powers and duties provisions relating to hemp
LB1055: Change provisions for voting by mail in certain counties
LB780: Change provisions relating to appropriations from the Nebraska Arts and Humanities Cash Fund
LB1198: Appropriate funds to the Department of Administrative Services
LB1003:  Provide annexation powers to cities of the second class and villages for relocation due to catastrophic flooding
LB1008: Provide, change, and eliminate provisions relating to appropriations (This is one of the legislature’s budget bills.)
LB247: Adopt the Advance Mental Health Care Directives Act
LB865: Change income tax provisions relating to the Nebraska educational savings plan trust and authorize employer contributions to the trust
LB797:  A city of the first class, city of the second class, or village which elects its city council or village board of trustees by district could not annex any territory during the period from five months prior to the primary election through the general election if such annexation would bring sufficient new residents.
LB848: Change Columbus Day to include Indigenous People’s Day

District 3 Bills Out of Committee and Ready for Debate
The following bills await floor debate by the full Legislature; scheduling handled by the Speaker’s office

LB751: Provide for a mental health exception for discussion of repeated absences between school officials and guardians of students helping to destigmatize mental health in our youth. (The Speaker has designated this one of his priority bills)LB745: Provide tools for law enforcement and prosecutors regarding federal forms relating to victims of violent crimes and creating a consistent program across the state.
LB755: Provide for and change home services permits so barbers may come to the home of clients with persistent conditions who are unable to go to barbershops as well as their caretakers. (This is my priority bill for the session)
LB752: Provides for a duty for the Nebraska Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services to better address the needs of Nebraska Veteran’s and their families

Would you like to watch the floor debates live? You can do so on your smart phone with the NETCapitol app, or on your computers at netnebraska.org 

Please NOTE: If you receive our newsletter via US Mail and would like to receive a paper copy of any of the above bills, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide those documents.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

COVID-19 Briefing
Tuesday, March 10^th, Senators and staff were briefed on the virus known as COVID-19. Presented by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine speakers included experts in emergency management and public health. Social distancing and pleas for those feeling ill to remain isolated in the home, was stressed by all. We were left with the feeling that Nebraska is prepared to handle whatever this infectious disease brings our way. UNMC is known worldwide for its biocontainment capabilities, but as was strongly urged, we must do our part to remain healthy and to help protect those with pre-existing conditions that may leave them more vulnerable to this virus.  As always, if you feel ill, contact your physician or a member of the medical community and STAY HOME! 

For More Information see the websites for the CDC and Nebraska Medicine, both have excellent information regarding Covid – 19

Students from Peter Sarpy Elementary Visit the Capitol
Another Wednesday, another group of excited and well-informed 4th graders visit the Capitol. Every question the students were asked regarding our Unicameral, the Three Branches of Government, the Nebraska State Senators, were answered correctly. These young people from Peter Sarpy Elementary know their Nebraska Legislature almost as well as those of us who work here do. It is always fun to watch young minds at work!

Lunch with members of the Nebraska Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Three students and their adviser came to our office bearing the gift of a delicious sack lunch to share, along with their gratitude for work we have done on past legislation and to stress the importance of other bills currently up for debate. Each one shared what drew them to seek a career as a Speech-language pathologist, and their hopes for the future in this field of healthcare. Speech-Language Pathologists work with all ages from infant to the elderly, helping with feeding disorders, speech delays as well as voice and fluency disorders. We wish these students the very best as they continue their educations.
A Visit from the Nebraska Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has chapters in all 50 states, and it is always heartwarming to welcome Amie Nelson and Blivan Roman to our office. This year Amie and Blivan brought with them, Jason Orton, a part of the Lincoln chapter. Each shared their stories and brought us up to date on what they are doing to survive and to thrive. Finding light in their advocacy, the hope is to make sure Suicide Stops Here.

     Did you know March is Brain Injury Awareness Month?

UNICAMERAL YOUTH LEGISLATURE 2020
Join us in the Capitol for the ultimate lawmaking experience!
For more information visit: nebraskalegislature.gov

MEET OUR TEAM

Senator Carol Blood, District 3

Dee Austin – Administrative Assistant

Oliver VanDervoort – Legislative Aide

We are here to serve the residents of District 3

What’s Happening in Your Legislature

Tuesday began the first of what will be all-day debate on bills introduced in January and those laid over from last session.

First Round of Debate
The following bills were debated on the floor last week and moved to Select File for a second round of votes

LB1131: Serves as a school cleanup bill as well as adding requirements for multicultural curriculum and adds a suicide hotline.
LB931: Changes a harvested products maximum weight overload exception under the Nebraska Rules of the Road
LB461: Repeals the requirement that common and contract motor carriers obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity before they can lawfully operate in Nebraska.
LB1042: Amends portions of the 529 savings program to expand educational opportunity for students in Nebraska.
LB803: Creates the Pulse Crop Resources Act. The act is intended to create a checkoff for pulse crops which include field peas, lentils, chickpeas, faba beans, and lupine
LB43: Adopt the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act and change certain rules of procedure
LB755: Provide for and change home services permits for barbers, cosmetology, and nail technology
LB899: Provide certain powers to public power districts relating to biofuels and biofuel byproducts
LB848: Change Columbus Day to include Indigenous People’s Day
LB247: Adopt the Advance Mental Health Care Directives Act
LB865: Change income tax provisions relating to the Nebraska educational savings plan trust and authorize employer contributions to the trust
LB797:  A city of the first class, city of the second class, or village which elects its city council or village board of trustees by district, could not annex any territory during the period from five months prior to the primary election through the general election if such annexation would bring sufficient new residents.
LB832: Provide immunity for removal of a child from a motor vehicle
LB247: Adopt the Advance Mental Health Care Directives Act
LB1152: Change licensing, cultivation, testing, transportation, violation and penalty, and powers and duties provisions relating to hemp
LB1055: Change provisions for voting by mail in certain counties

Second Round of Debate
The following bills were debated on the floor last week and moved to Final Reading for a third and final round of votes

LB944: Change provisions relating to motor vehicles
LB909: Change provisions relating to banking and finance
LB1016: Explicitly states a prohibition on retaliation against employees who file a complaint and other provisions of employment law.
LB962: Allows college athletes to earn money off their image and likeness and hire agents to help with endorsement deals.
LB996: Will ensure that the State of Nebraska is accurately represented in federal broadband grant programs, including grants from the federal Universal Service Fund, the Broadband Data Improvement Program is created.
LB344: Adopt the Animal Health and Disease Control Act to update definitions, treatments and funds devoted to animal diseases.
LB870: Change provisions relating to direct borrowing by cities and villages from financial institutions in order to fund repairs following calamities and disasters.
LB997: Avoids consumers being subjected to “surprise billing” in emergencies by out-of-network providers or facilities.
LB1061: Change the Child Protection and Family Safety Act including elimination of the sunset date, clearer definitions of response pathways for reports of child abuse and neglect.
LB1014: Creates the statutory authority for the Nebraska Department of Insurance to authorize and regulate group health insurance plans that allow self-employed individuals to participate in a multiemployer healthcare arrangement under Nebraska law
LB963: Change provisions relating to workers’ training to withstand and treatment of PTSD for first responders.
LB840: Adds the use of electronic smoking devices (Vaping) to the indoor clean air act so that vaping may not be done in public buildings and businesses

District 3 Bills Out of Committee and Onto the Floor for Debate

LB751: Provides for a mental health exception for discussion of repeated absences between school officials and guardians of students helping to destigmatize mental health in our youth.
LB745: Provides tools for law enforcement and prosecutors regarding federal forms relating to victims of violent crimes and creating a consistent program across the state.
LB755: Provides for changes to service permits to allow barbers, cosmetologists, and nail techs to go into the homes of clients with persistent conditions who are unable visit a salon/barber shop, to include caretakers as well.
LB752: Provides for a duty for the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services to better address the needs of Nebraska Veterans and their families.

Would you like to watch our floor debates live? You can do so on your smart phone with the NETCapitol app, or on your computers at netnebraska.org 

Please NOTE: If you receive our newsletter via US Mail and would like to receive a paper copy of any of the above bills, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide those documents. You can find all bills and laws online at nebraskalegislature.gov 

Did you know that there is a long list of items available free to the public relating to the Nebraska Legislature? Below is a list of only a few you may find interesting. To access these publications online, you can go to the nebraskalegislature.gov website where they can be found in the “For Citizens” section. To receive these items via mail, call our office at 402-471-2627 and we will be happy to send the requested items to your home.

The Publications:
1. Unicameral Update
2. About the Legislature
3. Unicam Kids
4. Inside Our Nation’s Only Unicameral
5. Poster of Nebraska Senators
6. Membership & Committees Card
7. Lines of Government

UNO Women’s Policy Forum
Monday, March 2nd, The UNO School of Public Administration  hosted a Women’s Policy Forum as part of UNO’s Women and Public Policy Week and invited the women of the Nebraska Legislature to take participate. I was honored to help kick off this exciting week. The Forum’s goal was to raise awareness regarding current bills and policy issues in the Nebraska Legislature that disproportionately affect women.

Photo Credit: Ryan Soderlin, UNO

For the Love of Reading
Also on Monday, I joined other community volunteers to be a “guest reader” to students at Chandler View Elementary in Bellevue. Our job was to nurture the student’s love of reading. When finished, we had the chance to answer student questions and to share what reading has meant to us. I enjoyed reading from a biography about beloved children’s television personality, Mr. Fred Rogers. I also had the great pleasure to donate “Grace Goes to Washington” a book by Kelly DiPucchio to the school library.

Anderson Grove 4^th Graders Visit the Capitol
Wednesday I had the pleasure of welcoming 52 excited fourth graders from Bellevue’s Anderson Grove Elementary. We talked about how a bill becomes law and I shared with them that I decided I wanted to be a Nebraska Senator on the very day of my school visit in 4th grade.

Bellevue Pastor Becomes the Legislature’s Chaplain of the Day
Thursday morning Pastor Joseph Gastineau of Revival Tabernacle Church in Bellevue led the body in thoughtful prayer to begin what was a very busy day. It is always a chance to reflect upon the work we do and the lives we touch. We extend a heartfelt gratitude to the Pastor for joining us.

Pastor Gastineau and Sergeant at Arms, Laurie Klosterboer

MEET OUR TEAM

Senator Carol Blood, District 3

Dee Austin – Administrative Assistant

Oliver VanDervoort – Legislative Aide

We are here to serve the residents of District 3