Sen. Megan Hunt

District 8

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Legislative Update
February 25th, 2020

Legislative Update

As the 2020 legislative session reaches its halfway point, below is an update on bills Senator Hunt has introduced. You can get more information on each bill by clicking on the bill number.

LB 734 – Provide for regulation of charter bus services and licensure of special party buses under the Nebraska Liquor Control Act
- Signed into law on February 19th
LB 872 – Repeal LB209
- The committee hearing was held on February 21st and has yet to be voted on.
LB 935 – Allow officeholders to use campaign funds for childcare services related to official duties.
- The committee hearing was held on February 21st and has yet to be voted on.
LB 936 – Allow officeholders to use campaign funds for travel expenses for a child, related to official duties.
- The committee hearing was held on February 21st and has yet to be voted on.
LB 942 – Provide for Support the Arts license plates
- Seeking Speaker Priority
LB 943 – Establish creative districts under the Nebraska Arts Council.
- Seeking Committee Priority
LB 962 – Adopt the Nebraska Fair Pay to Play Act
- Senator Hunt has designated this as her priority bill.
- Advanced to Select File on February 25th
LB 1037 – Disqualify only the head of a household (HoH) from receiving SNAP benefits if requirements are not met.
- Health and Human Services Committee will vote on this bill on February 25th.
LB 1038 – Allow individuals with prior drug convictions to receive SNAP benefits
- Health and Human Services Committee will vote on this bill on February 25th.
LB 1068 – Adopt the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act
- Seeking Speaker Priority
LB1177 – Eliminate the required oath for teachers and other
- The committee hearing will be held on February 25th.

Note From Senator Hunt

In this session, 481 new bills were introduced as well as 15 substantive resolutions/constitutional amendments. Besides this new legislation, bills from the last session that were not acted upon do carry over to this session. In January, as people worked to select their priorities for 2020, floor debate mainly centered on bills from last year. In February, we began debating priority bills and other legislation introduced this session. On March 3rd, the legislature will begin full-day floor debate and no more committee hearings will be held.

Each senator is allowed to designate one bill as a personal priority bill and each committee can designate two committee priority bills. The Speaker designates another 25 priority bills. This session, I have prioritized LB 962, a bill that will allow student-athletes in college to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness rights. This will allow students to participate in the free market and earn money for their talents, just like every other student is currently allowed to do.

We only have 30 days left in the session with many difficult issues to debate. I hope that you will continue to stay in touch with me on any issue that is of importance to you.

February in Review

On February 4th, Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB 962. This bill would allow athletes at Nebraska’s colleges to earn money from their name, image, and likeness rights, or athletic reputation, over objections from the NCAA.

The bill advanced from committee to general file on February 13th, and has shown enough potential to be Senator Hunt’s priority bill for this session.

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On February 18th, Senator Megan Hunt attended the opening of the Black and Pink organization’s, “Lydon House”. The Lydon House will operate as a transitional living home for members of the LGBTQA+ community that are coming out of the correctional system.

“To be an urban city, to be a city that welcomes everyone, we need these kinds of services and these are the kind of organizations that we need.”

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Senator Megan Hunt has continued to make her rounds throughout the schools in Nebraska. This month, she has visited 5 different classrooms within Rosehill and Dundee Elementary to teach about the three branches of government and democracy.

Upcoming District 8 Events

February 27-19th – Omaha Jazz Festival
Held at the Holland Performing Arts Center Scott Recital Hall

February 29th – February Food Pantry Day
Held at Benson Baptist Church

March 6th – Benson First Friday
Two indoor artist markets will be held at Masonic Lodge and Citylight Arts Project. Petshop, Envy Tequila Bar, Lion’s Mane Vintage, Mercer Masonic Lodge, B-Side Theatre, and Infusion Brewing Company will all be participating from 7:00 – 10:00 pm.

March 7th – Soup Walk – 5k and 10k
Held at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

March 10th – Precinct Advisory Meeting
Held at the NW Precinct (10245 Wiesman Drive) from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. The meeting provides you with information on crime, apprehensions, statistics, and an opportunity to report your concerns to the police or an official who works at the Mayor’s office.

March 13th – Better Benson 2020
Held at Citylight Benson Church at 7:00 am

March 26th – Healing Arts Concert
Held at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at 12:00 pm

March 30th – Benson Neighborhood Association Meeting
Held at Benson Baptist Church
Senator Hunt will be speaking at this meeting

May 14-17th – Annual Garage Sale Weekend
Hosted by the Dundee Memorial Park Association

May 16th – Spring Honors Walk
A walk where we honor the memory of those who lost the battle against breast cancer and celebrate those who are still thriving. Held at Benson Park.

July 27-28th – Benson Days
Family-friendly summer festival that celebrates the neighborhood’s creative culture.