This week, on February 24th, the Judiciary Committee heard three pieces of pro-life legislation– LB 933, LB 1086, and my LB 781. These three bills will protect the most innocent among us from murder.

LB 933, introduced by Senator Albrecht will completely erase the scourge of abortion in our state after the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Currently, eight states have abortion bans that were in place prior to Roe. When Roe is overturned, abortion will be illegal again in these states. Since the State of Nebraska repealed our abortion ban in response to the Roe decision, we now need to join the twelve states that have laws in place that will ban abortion when Roe is overturned. LB 933 would do just that as a “trigger bill.”

Senator Geist’s LB 1086 would protect both women and babies from the dangerous drugs that induce abortions by adopting regulations to these prescriptions. These regulations include an in-person screening of women before dispensing the drug, a follow-up after abortion appointment to ensure treatment for serious complications, and a prohibition of sending abortion-inducing drugs through the mail. This bill would also require abortion providers to report any complications that occur due to the abortion-inducing drugs. Finally, LB 1086 would prohibit physicians from providing abortion-inducing drugs to women who are more than seven weeks pregnant because, by this time, the risk of complications to the woman is dramatically increased. 70%  of abortions in Nebraska are committed using these underregulated drugs. LB 1086 would protect women from harm, and save countless lives in the meantime.

LB 781 is my Heartbeat Bill. This piece of legislation requires an ultrasound be performed before an abortion to determine whether a fetal heartbeat is detectable. If a heartbeat is detected, this bill would make it illegal to perform an abortion. We often hear of the emotion parents feel when they get to hear their baby’s heartbeat for the first time. When we hear his sound, we know that we are listening to the rhythm of life coming from a tiny human being in his or her earliest moments. This bill is in response to what we all know to be true– at just 6 weeks gestation, a baby’s heart is formed and beating. Abortion stops this beating heart and kills that baby. 

Abortion has killed over 63 million babies nationwide since Roe v. Wade, and over 200,000 here in Nebraska. Nebraska is a pro-life state, and it’s long overdue that our laws reflect it. In addition to these bills, we must continue to support pro-life and pro-family policies to streamline adoption and support women and families.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.

We will officially be halfway through our legislative session on February 23rd. This column will highlight some of the bills that I presented to committees in the past couple of weeks that will directly benefit rural Nebraska and District One.

First, LB 942 was heard in front of the Judiciary Committee on February 10th. This bill would help our rural law enforcement agencies by changing some of the certification requirements for rural law enforcement officers. This is in response to the negative effect last year’s LB 51 had on our rural law enforcement agencies. LB 942 is still in committee and has not yet been voted on.

On Valentine’s Day, I introduced three different bills to three different committees. The first committee was Education, where I introduced LB 887, a bill that would authorize Peru State College to offer graduate programs. Currently, Wayne and Chadron State are able to offer a wide variety of graduate programs, while Peru State is only able to provide master’s programs in two different areas. LB 887 has already been voted out of the Education Committee unanimously and is currently on General File.

I also introduced LB 1110 to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on the 14th, which would make ATVs and UTVs street-legal statewide. This bill would be a huge benefit to our rural communities where many people use side-by-sides just as much as they do cars. There is no reason why Nebraskans should be labeled as criminals for driving their preferred vehicles, especially when we already allow the use of bikes on our state highways. The committee has not voted on LB 1110 yet, but I am hopeful to see what happens with this bill.

The last of the Valentine’s Day bills was LB 1210, a bill before the Appropriations Committee that would give American Rescue Plan (ARPA) dollars to revitalize main street businesses in rural areas across the state. This ten million dollar investment would allow businesses located in old, historical buildings to do any structural work they might need. It also would promote businesses moving into these downtown areas that are vital to our rural communities. So much money goes to Lincoln and Omaha, and it is time that we are able to invest in our small towns.

Finally, just this past Thursday, the Appropriations Committee held a hearing on LB 977, a bill that would allocate ARPA dollars to Falls City to help them upgrade their electrical infrastructure. Falls City has almost everything going for it to be the next site to grow Nebraska’s economy. However, their electrical grid has kept away many potential development prospects because of their inability to secure reliable access to power. By investing ARPA dollars in this program, we will be able to bring more business to Richardson County, creating countless jobs and strengthening our district’s economy as a whole.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.

South Dakota offers some of the best ATV and UTV tourism in the United States, thanks in part to their legal framework to balance safety and freedom of use. Nebraska could soon follow suit if my bill, LB 1110, passes. On February 14th at 1:30 p.m., LB 1110 will have its public hearing in front of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. This bill would clarify our laws on ATVs and UTVs with a regulatory framework like South Dakota’s.

The idea for LB 1110 came from you, District 1. ATVs and UTVs are critical to Nebraskans in our rural areas. They are used for checking fields, plowing snow, recreational activities, and taking quick trips into town. Current laws make ATVs and UTVs street-legal for some ag-related tasks and in some towns, but it is a confusing and inconsistent legal patchwork. LB 1110 would keep well-intentioned Nebraskans from being labeled as criminals for driving their preferred vehicles.

Allowing ATVs and UTVs on the streets would also increase our state’s tourism. Currently, Nebraskans leave our state to go to South Dakota or other states with looser restrictions on these vehicles for vacations. By opening our roads to ATVs and UTVs with reasonable safety measures, we would also be opening our doors for any tourists that are wanting to get outdoors in their ATV or UTV.

Safety is at the heart of this bill. Under LB 1110, there would be requirements in place to make sure that Nebraskans are driving their vehicles safely, including mandating headlights, tail lights, and helmets. Also, ATVs and UTVs would not be permissible on the interstate, freeways, or expressways. Finally, counties and municipalities would be able to pass resolutions to forbid the street use of these vehicles in their jurisdictions.

If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in testifying in support of LB 1110 at the public hearing on February 14th, please contact my office with the contact information below. We would love to have you share your opinion either in-person or online.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.

Our law enforcement officials are absolutely vital to our security and safety as Nebraskans. We should be doing whatever we can as a Legislature to give our law enforcement the support necessary to carry out their roles. 

On January 26th, the Judiciary Committee sat through over five hours of testimony on “criminal justice reform bills.” This includes Senator McKinney’s LB 980 and Senator Wayne’s LB 918. LB 980 would make anyone with a lengthy prison sentence, including mandatory life sentences, eligible for parole after only serving 25 years. This means that the most violent criminals such as rapists and murderers would have the opportunity to leave prison early and victimize more people. 

LB 918 would double the cash values required for a crime to be considered a felony. The argument for this bill is that inflation is creating felons out of people committing small-scale crimes. However, this is not true. There are only six states that have a felony theft threshold higher than us, and, if this bill were to pass, it would put us at number one. Currently, our felony theft threshold is even higher than in California. This is simply a bill that softens Nebraska’s response to crime and makes our state vulnerable to “smash and grab” robberies that plague other cities. I opposed LBs 980 and 918. Being soft on crime does not keep crime from happening, and it will exacerbate the issues our agencies are facing.

There are better ways to deal with criminals than by letting inmates out early. Though LB 920 has many problematic parts to it, there are a few ideas in there worth pursuing. One of these ideas is to expand problem-solving and drug courts. These courts operate within judicial districts and are established for the treatment of problems related to substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and inmates reentering society after incarceration. They are an innovative way to address the root causes of incarceration and recidivism. We have one of these courts in Nemaha County, and it has been an absolute blessing to our community. People are less likely to recommit crimes after participating in these courts, which helps our law enforcement protect our communities.

We should still go even further in helping our law enforcement agencies. That is why I brought LB 942 this session. After surveying law enforcement agencies across the state, I found some key issues that they are facing in staffing their agencies. LB 942 would give law enforcement agencies in rural areas the opportunity to utilize non-certified and reserve officers for law enforcement purposes. It also would remove the reciprocity program for law enforcement statewide. I look forward to getting this bill passed and giving our officers the resources they need to best protect us.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov. 

The second week of the 2022 legislative session wrapped up Friday, and senators only have a few more days to introduce new bills. This column will highlight one of my bills this session that will have a direct, positive impact District 1– LB 887.

LB 887 authorizes Peru State College to provide a larger selection of master’s degree programs. Currently, Peru State offers two graduate programs: a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Organizational Management. However, these two programs are the only programs that Peru State is authorized to offer under our state’s laws.

This bill has an interesting backstory to it, as all other public state colleges and universities in Nebraska are free to authorize new master’s degree programs as they see fit, while Peru State is forced to seek approval through the Legislature for any new advanced degree programs. That restrictive language was added decades ago to prevent Peru State’s programs from overlapping with other higher education institutions in Southeast Nebraska, like the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Lincoln. The reasoning was Peru State should remain strictly a “Teacher’s College.” A Peru State alum reached out to me this interim to explain the quirk in statute, and I introduced LB 887 to ensure Peru State has the same freedom to offer advanced degrees as any other public state college or university.

Our office worked closely with Paul Turman, the Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, representatives from Peru State, and with the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education to get the research needed for us to draft the language for LB 887. Peru State is a key economic driver in District 1, and we will continue to work to get this bill across the finish line.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.

On January 5th, the 107th Nebraska Legislature convened for its second regular session. The Legislature’s second session is a bit different in that all bills from the first session carry over to the second. Instead of considering around 700 bills, we will likely be considering over 1,200.

Four senators have already prioritized bills from 2021, and this column will focus on the first piece of legislation up for debate early this week– Senator Halloran’s LR 14– a Resolution to Congress for convention of the states to propose a narrow set of amendments to the United States Constitution. This resolution would give Nebraska a seat at the table during the Convention of States. LR 14 brings up three specific amendment proposals: limiting the size and scope of the federal government, spending limits on the federal government, and term limits for Congress.

The federal government’s power has rocketed to the front of everyone’s minds with COVID-19, when we have seen multiple examples of the federal government destroying individual liberties for the sake of a perceived “common good.” An overreaching federal government is an affront to the foundation of the United States.

LR 14 calls for the Convention of States to consider putting fiscal restraints, like a balanced budget requirement, on the federal government. As I write this, the US National Debt is over 29 trillion dollars (you can always see the current national debt at www.usdebtclock.org). The federal government’s reckless spending threatens the financial stability of our country for now and for future generations.

Finally, LR 14 calls for the Convention of States to consider term limits for U.S. Representatives and Senators. Don Young of Alaska is currently the longest-serving congressman, serving for nearly 49 years. Patrick Leahy of Vermont follows right behind as the longest-serving member of the Senate, serving for 46 years. Former President Harry S. Truman is famously quoted as saying “term limits would cure both senility and seniority– both terrible legislative diseases.” Entrenched federal representatives lack the basic life experiences needed to serve their districts well. The last few decades of dysfunction in Washington underscore the need for term limits.

If LR 14 passes, the Convention of States could address many of the structural issues in our country. LR 14 fights for the rights of individual states and the freedoms Americans enjoy by setting clear limits on the federal government’s power, balancing our country’s budget, and stopping career politicians in their tracks.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.

As I write this, we are officially less than two weeks away from starting our legislative session. Since 2022 is the second session of our 107th Legislature, our session will only be 60 legislative days. We are currently projected to finish this upcoming session on April 20th. This column will highlight what we might expect over the next couple of months. 

Short sessions are traditionally a sprint through the spring. Our short sessions are two-thirds the length of our long ones, and every bill from the first session carries over to the second. Senators can introduce as many bills as they choose during the first ten days, meaning that by the end of our time for introduction, we will likely have over 1,000 bills to consider. 

Some COVID-19 protocols may still be in place at the Capitol in January. Last year, we had all-day hearings as a response to COVID-19, and only switched over to debate after most of our bills had their hearings. We also had more ways for the public to testify, so they would not have to put themselves at risk by coming to the Capitol. We will keep everyone posted on the Legislature’s COVID-19 rules so that everyone will get a chance to make their voices heard on topics important to them.

As far as legislation goes, our state is in a very unique situation. Due to the passing of the American Rescue Plan and a very successful year for Nebraska’s economy, there is a record amount of funds available for tax relief and other projects. We will certainly see many pieces of legislation to spend this money along with our regular budget adjustments. Debates over spending extra funds will take most of the session. Senators must remain mindful that these funds are taxpayer dollars and mostly one-time revenues. We must not throw money at unsustainable plans to increase our long-term spending. I would like to see these funds returned to the taxpayers as tax relief, invest in broadband expansion and rural main streets, and consider one-time investments on projects that will draw additional tourism to Nebraska. 

Personally, I will be introducing bills important to our region and rural Nebraska as a whole, including a bill to make ATVs and UTVs street legal through a statutory framework similar to South Dakota’s, a bill to cut red tape for our rural sheriff’s departments, and a bill to expand advanced degree offerings at Peru State College. I will provide bill numbers once these pieces of legislation are officially introduced in January and look forward to working with my colleagues to get these bills across the finish line.

If you’re so inclined, please pray for wisdom and strength for our senators to stand up for what is right for Nebraska and Nebraskans during this short session. Heaven knows we could all use it.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov. 

Merry Christmas, District 1! The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, exchange gifts, and eat Christmas treats. For those in the military, first responders, or essential workers who are unable to be with family and friends during this season, thank you for your service. Almost every community in District 1 hosts holiday events throughout the month of December from Christmas pageants to soup suppers, and I’d encourage you to join me in exploring the wide range of offerings throughout our region.

Christmastime also means we are just a couple of short weeks away from the start of the legislative session. You can rest assured that I will work to protect the freedoms of all Nebraskans, promote rural economic development, and push to further cut property taxes. My next column will preview what we might expect from this upcoming session.

Although the challenges of these past three years might make it challenging to have holiday cheer, there is still an amazing reason for celebration. The true joy of Christmastime has never been the gifts around the tree, but rather, something far more valuable– the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.  

“…[D]o not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:10-14).

Merry Christmas, District 1.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov. 

Happy Thanksgiving, District 1!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to visit our close friends and family, eat a glorious amount of food, and remember the things we are thankful for in our lives.

There is much to be thankful for in the United States, especially Southeast Nebraska. We have more freedoms and opportunities in the United States than any other country in the world, granted through our groundbreaking Constitution and protected by the brave men and women serving our country’s armed forces. In Nebraska, we can be thankful we have the country’s lowest unemployment rate ever at 1.9% (which is the lowest rate for any state nationwide since record-keeping began) and for a booming economy, even amidst the turmoil the nation is facing.

Thanksgiving is not simply a government-proclaimed holiday. Ronald Reagan said in his 1984 Thanksgiving proclamation, “We can be especially thankful that real gratitude to God is inscribed, not in proclamations of government, but in the hearts of all our people who come from every race, culture, and creed on the face of the Earth. And as we pause to give thanks for our many gifts, let us be tempered by humility and by compassion for those in need, and let us reaffirm through prayer and action our determination to share our bounty with those less fortunate.” 

As Reagan’s quote suggests, it is not the government that makes Thanksgiving a special holiday- it is the thankfulness in our hearts. So, as you spend this holiday with your friends and family and fill yourself with turkey, stuffing, and pie, please don’t forget to remember all that you have to be thankful for this year. 

This year, I am thankful for many things- first and foremost being the opportunity to serve you. I’m also grateful for my family, my upcoming wedding in December to Andrew La Grone, and our communities in Southeast Nebraska, who came together in force to support those facing loss this year. Thanksgiving was first officially celebrated in the aftermath of the Civil War. President Lincoln declared the holiday so, even in the face of unimaginable loss, Americans could look towards gratitude to heal the country. That spirit is still alive in our country today. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, District 1!

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.