This week I would like to share an OpEd with you about what the Nebraska Legislature accomplished for schools in the 2023 session. Much of what you have heard has to do with LB753–Opportunity Scholarships Act. So much more took place and this OpEd (from the February 4th Omaha World Herald) gives you more information regarding what the Nebraska Legislature did for public schools in Nebraska.

Opportunity Scholarships Act provides choice, gives options to families

By ROB CLEMENTS, LOU ANN LINEHAN, DAVE MURMAN, TOM BREWER, BEN HANSEN, JULIE SLAMA, JOHN LOWE, STEVE ERDMAN, JONI ALBRECHT, CHRISTY ARMENDARIZ, BRAD VON GILLERN

     We are writing in response to an opinion printed in last Sunday’s Omaha World-Herald by seven former state senators. Their opinion echoes that of OpenSky and Stand for Schools, two groups who are active lobbyists in the Legislature and largely funded by progressive Nebraskans through their tax-exempt foundations.
     It is hard to overstate what was accomplished during the last legislative session. Of course, none of it would have happened if not for the leadership of both former Gov. Pete Ricketts and Gov. Jim Pillen. Further, as anyone who has served in the Legislature knows, every accomplishment is dependent on give and take. So, what did the 108th Legislature do last year regarding education funding?
     First, Legislative Bill 818 created the $1 billion Education Future Fund. The $1 billion Education Future Fund will ensure the Legislature will no longer adjust the school aid formula down when revenues are below estimate, which occurred six times between 2009 and 2019. LB 583 created $1,500 in foundation aid for every student pre K-12 public schools, and increased special education reimbursement from 42% to 80% for public schools. LB 583 appropriated $338 million in new state public school funding over and above the $1 billion already allocated to public schools, a 37% increase.
     LB 385 created a $5 million teacher retainment program, and LB 516 appropriated $870,000 in state funds to administer the Safe2HeipNE report line. Both LB 385 and LB 516 are available to all schools, public and private.
     Finally, LB 753 did create a tax credit to fund scholarships for disadvantaged children to access schools, including approved and accredited private schools, that best meet the needs of the students and their families.
     Several states have similar programs and the U.S. Supreme Court has found these programs constitutional.
     A tax credit to promote good policy is not new. Nebraska already has dozens of tax credits in law. They include tax credits for property taxes paid, school readiness, employment and investment, historic tax credit, financial institution tax credit and many others that represent hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits.
     Along with the passage of Opportunity Scholarships Act (LB 753), the Legislature passed a new $25 million childcare tax credit last session. No one is claiming that the $25 million tax credit for early childcare will hurt the general fund.
      Just in the first ten days of this session, nine state senators have introduced thirteen new tax credits to be considered this year.
     While it is true that many tax credits benefit the filer, that is not true with Opportunity Scholarships tax credit. The beneficiaries of these tax credits are children who, in order to succeed, need additional education options their parents cannot afford.
     Nebraskans believe in school choice. We have 244 different school districts, seven of which are located in Douglas County. Many Nebraskans purchase homes in the school district of their choice. Another 24,000 students in Nebraska access school choice through public school option enrollment, which the state funds at over $100 million per year (equivalent to the total sum of the Opportunity Scholarships fund). Ten percent of students in Nebraska attend a private school because, either through scholarship programs and family financial means, they can afford to do so. The only families who cannot access school choice are those without the means to do so. The Opportunity Scholarships Act balances choice for all Nebraskans, and increases hope and educational success for families who previously had no options.
      Rob Clements, Lou Ann Linehan, Dave Murman, Tom Brewer, Ben Hansen, Julie Slama, John Lowe, Steve Erdman, Joni Albrecht, Christy Armendariz and Brad von Gillern currently serve in the Nebraska Legislature. (Clements, R., Linehan, L., Murman, D., Brewer, Tom, Hansen, B., Slama, J., Lowe, J., Erdman, S., Albrecht, J., Armendariz, C., von Gillern, B. 4 February, 2024. “Opportunity Scholarships Act provides choice, gives options to families”. Omaha World Herald. https://shorturl.at/mtNV0)

Floor debate is moving right along. Once bills get to Select File, I will share more information on those bills with you in coming weeks. On Wednesday, February 7th, my bill, LB605 (Art Therapy bill), was heard on the floor in first round debate and passed on to Select File (2nd round). This is exciting as I have been working on this bill for the past 6 years with many others. This gets it one step closer to being passed into law.

As always, I invite you to let me know your thoughts, ideas, concerns, or suggestions by calling my office at (402) 471-2716 or emailing me at jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.