2020 Legislative Priorities

Senator Hunt has worked tirelessly over the interim to create her 2020 agenda, focused on protecting Nebraskans. Below is a list of the major bills she plans to introduce this session.

• Ban conversion therapy for minors.
• Introduce a more expansive Child Welfare Bill of Rights.
• Expand access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for individuals with prior drug convictions.
• Repeal LB 209, a bill requiring doctors to include information on the abortion pill reversal process when consulting with patients about abortion.
• “Pay the Players” bill, to allow student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness rights.
• Increase the tipped minimum wage to $4.50/hour.
• Amend the Mobile Tenant Act to change provisions relating to the return of rental deposits, damagers, and the period of time relations to a written notice of termination of a rental agreement

Moving Offices

New Office: 1523 (first floor)

At the end of this month, our office will be moving from the 11th floor down to a much more accessible spot on the first floor. Our new location will be in office 1523. We are excited to be able to more easily meet with constituents and visitors this coming session!

Experiences in the Interim

Senator Hunt spoke at the GenderWorks conference in early November. The conference is dedicated to providing medical and mental healthcare providers with education and training on how to competently serve transgender patients and clients. “Thank you to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for leading on this in Nebraska, for a future with quality of life and dignity for every person,” says Senator Hunt.

Senator Hunt congratulates, Steve Tamayo, a constituent, who was recognized in the Congressional Record for his contributions to the arts and his advocacy for Native American culture and conservation.

In mid-November, Senator Hunt visited Washington D.C. to attend the Victory Institute’s International LGBTQ Leaders Conference. Senator Hunt had this to share, “There are over 800 LGBTQ+ elected officials in the US today because of the support, mentorship, and network facilitated by the Victory Institute. This is a room of changemakers, groundbreakers, people I’m so grateful to learn from.”

Senator Hunt was thrilled to host Nebraska AIDS Project’s annual fundraiser, Night of a Thousand Stars. She said, “To change the world and continue moving in a direction that opens up equity and opportunity to people affected by HIV, we must lift up the facts, refocus our policymakers on science and research, and support the people at the Nebraska AIDS Project who do the work to put that evidence into practice.”

On November 23rd, Dominique Morgan – of Black and a Pink – opened the Lydon House, the first home for system-involved LGBTQ+ people in the country. Each room was dedicated with intention to an important voice in the movement, like Brandon Teena pictured here.

Senator Hunt spoke with representatives for Nebraska Medicine and Dr. Jean Amoura, who runs the transgender specialty care clinic in Omaha. Senator Hunt toured the clinic and discussed upcoming bills for the next session, addressing how we will organize at the Capitol for trans and gender-diverse Nebraskans. Nebraska Medicine has been at the forefront of care on this issue and we are so thankful for Dr. Amoura’s work.

Senator Hunt attended the Council of State Governments annual conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she served on the National Interbranch Affairs Committee.
“I’m delighted to have been named to this position and look forward to offering leadership and guidance to the organization on behalf of Nebraska.” – Senator Hunt

Our Office in the News

KMTV – TD Ameritrade announces sale, move to Texas

Lincoln Journal Star – Omaha Senator: Abortion reversal bill must be repealed

The Intercept – A Push to Repeal the Death Penalty Gains Ground Across the Western United States

VICE News – An ‘Abortion Reversal’ Study Left Women Hemorrhaging. State Lawmakers Still Support Doctors Telling Patients About the Treatments.

Connect With Me

• Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to stay up to date with my latest activities.
• I invite you to visit my office in Lincoln at the Nebraska State Capitol. Call my office to coordinate. (402) 471-2722
• You can watch the Legislature live on NET TV or find NET’s live stream here.

Upcoming Town Hall

Senator Hunt would like to invite you to her upcoming town hall on November 23rd from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. It will be held at the Rathskeller Bier Haus and appetizers will be provided. Drinks are available for purchase from Rathskeller.

The event is free and open to the public.

Constituent Survey

Senator Hunt would like to invite you to take a few minutes to complete her Constituent Survey. Click here to complete it.

“As your Senator, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to represent and serve you. To ensure my staff and I are doing the best we can to fulfill this responsibility, I am always interested in hearing your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions about how I can best represent you and the rest of District 8.”

The information you provide is confidential and will be used to help Senator Hunt and her staff to better serve the people of District 8. If you have any questions or if our office can be of additional assistance, please contact our office at (402) 471-2722.

Interim Studies Update

Introduced LR 135

In late September Senator Hunt introduced LR 135, a legislative resolution exploring food insecurity in Nebraska.
“Food insecurity” is the term used to describe the problem families face when they don’t have enough access to affordable and nutritious food, whether that’s financial or geographic. 11.6% of Nebraska’s population is food insecure, according to the Map the Meal Gap report from Feeding America. Over 200,000 Nebraskans struggle with food insecurity. That’s hard to reconcile with the fact that this is America’s breadbasket. We’re working so hard to bring food to everyone else. But even in a state with expanses of farmland and ranches, many families are worried about how to feed their kids. According to a report from the Center for Rural Affairs, enrollment for food assistance programs like SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is consistently lower in rural Nebraska. So these are people who are eligible for benefits and aren’t receiving them.

We can all agree that Nebraskans are in need, and as state lawmakers, we share the responsibility of identifying solutions. That’s why Senator Hunt has worked with stakeholders to identify a package of policy recommendations that vary in fiscal impact, which Senator Hunt will introduce next session.

Experiences in the Interim

Senator Hunt would like to share some personal and professional news with you:

“My partner Sarah and I are closing Hello Holiday, the clothing boutique we have owned for the past 7 years.

We are happy, excited, and ready to do what’s next. At the same time, today is tough and it’s starting to hit me. Although I’m confident about our decision and excited about growing a new project, being a Small Business Owner™—THIS kind of Small Business Owner—has been foundational to my self-image and identity for the past 15 years, and change this big is always emotionally challenging.⁣
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By following our instinct to use our business as a platform for social good and political engagement, Sarah and I built something that meant a lot to people. We had not seen a company like ours before, and working without a map or an example, we successfully grew a business that went beyond traditional retail. I know this because so many people have told us that the work we did at Hello Holiday motivated them to start a business of their own, to have confidence in their bodies, to quit a job they hated, to run for office, to go back to school, to move to a new city, to do any number of things that represent bravery, courage, and authenticity that comes when you choose to apply your most deeply held values to all aspects of your life.⁣
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I got to do something very rare and special with Hello Holiday. Time for the next chapter.”

New Americans Civil Leadership Academy Kickoff

Senator Hunt spoke at the kickoff party for the New Americans Civil Leadership Academy, coordinated by Lutheran Family Services and Civic Nebraska in September! Nebraska leads the nation in resettling refugees, and Senator Hunt’s purpose is to protect and support our newest neighbors who want to live the good life here in our state. We are glad you’re here!

Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Civic Engagement Institute

In early October, Senator Hunt spoke to this year’s participants in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Civic Engagement Institute. Each of these individuals are civic leaders in their own countries (including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam).

Health Policy Conference

Senator Hunt had a great opportunity to speak to student residents and physicians at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Health Policy Conference.

LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Summit

In October, Senator Hunt attended the Omaha Leadership Summit held by the LGBTQ Victory Institute. She had this to say about the event: “Seeing so many LGBTQ+ candidates and electeds in one room completely changed my perspective about the deep bench of talent and experience we have in our state leadership pool. I am so excited to work with MSHRC, Victory Institute, Huespring, and other local organizations to help mentor, train, and develop a pipeline of new leaders.”

Honor Roll Award

Also in October, Senator Hunt received an award from the Holland Children’s Movement, as a part of their Honor Roll Awards. She was recognized for her work to increase the minimum wage and expand access to SNAP.

Our Office in the News

WOWT – Nebraska State Sen. Megan Hunt to propose college athlete pay bill

NET Nebraska – NCAA Decision Could Bring Legislative Proposals In Nebraska

KGUN – A bill to pay college athletes will be proposed in the Nebraska Legislature