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