This past Monday we celebrated Presidents’ Day. Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U. S. presidents, past and present. (“Presidents’ Day 2024”. History.com. 7 February, 2024. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day)

Bill Updates

This past week I had LB1207 heard in the Agriculture Committee. LB1207 is just adding insect production to the definition of agricultural products. Neb. Rev. Stat. §2-3804 currently states “Agricultural product or commodity should include all products resulting from the conduct of farming or ranching activities, dairying, beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry or egg production, or comparable activities, and any byproducts resulting from such activities.” My bill will add insect production to this definition. We heard testimony that there is currently research being done in raising mealworms to be used in chicken feed and using Black Soldier fly larvae for use in pet food due to its high protein content. This looks to be a way to bring potential companies to Nebraska to incorporate this type of production into the agriculture industry. This bill was voted out of committee unopposed and moved on to General File.

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing many bills with you that have made it through Final Reading and are headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. We have really been moving things along in the process and I look forward to sharing what we have passed into law for the citizens of Nebraska.

News from the Governor’s Office

On February 13th, Governor Pillen held a press conference touting a “Nebraska solution” that will allow the state to take advantage of the federally-funded Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT) program, while ensuring that additional needs of children and their families are met. “My team has been in touch with the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has expressed interest and support for this plan. We simply must do better in Nebraska to enhance the quality of life and the quality of interaction with kids and their families during the summer months. This program will make sure that happens,” said Governor Pillen. DHHS, through the Office of Economic Assistance, will act as the coordinating agency for the implementation of theSEBT program. In addition to vendor issued EBT cards, the program will have touchpoints incorporated to ensure that kids are safe. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) will partner with DHHS to provide necessary student information to DHHS, so that eligible children are identified, and families are aware of the benefits and additional resources available to them. Supplemental features of the program include:

• Educational outreach that informs families about the types of nutritious foods that parents can purchase for their kids with SEBT cards.
• A website with information about the SEBT program that also provides connections to other summer programs with additional support and resources.
• When the SEBT card is mailed to families, trained staff with DHHS will follow up personally to assess any other needs and determine what resources would be of benefit.
• DHHS will send text messages to enrolled families, so they can easily apply for SEBT. This also provides another connection to trained DHHS staff who can help families identify and navigate access to additional resources in their communities.

“We are very excited about this program because we are going to implement it the Nebraska way,” said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi. “We are setting up the program to ensure kids are safe in the summer. Through our partnership with NDE, we are confident DHHS will be able to implement this in a timely manner, built upon the foundation already established with NDE to carry out the Pandemic-EBT program.” Nebraska will continue to participate in the summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also funded through the USDA. Like SEBT, it also provides no-cost food to children, usually in centralized locations where kids get access to nutritious meals and snacks. (Strimple, Laura and Schafer, Jacy. “Gov. Pillen Announces SEBT “Nebraska Solution”. 13 February, 2024. https://shorturl.at/kluJV)

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.