The 2018 legislative session is officially in full swing! This year I’ve introduced 19 bills, which is keeping my office very busy. My legislation this year spans topics from ensuring equal access to education for deaf and hard of hearing students to opening our state’s market to new and emerging businesses, and from reinforcing worker protections to restricting the use of juvenile detention. Below you can learn a little bit more about the bills I’ve introduced  this year:

LB783 –
Reinforces and clarifies existing law that guarantees qualified education interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing students

LB784 –
Prohibits contractors and business with unpaid fines for violating the Employee Misclassification Act to the Department of Labor from entering into contracts with political subdivisions

LB785 –
Updates terminology in statutes relating to marriage to align with federal law 

LB786 –
Modernizes language relating to elected and government officials

LB 826 –
Reaffirms and clarifies existing law that permits judges to make findings concerning the wellbeing of juveniles

LB 904 –
Closes a loophole that would allow payday lenders to obtain a new license as a credit service organization, which are intended to help improve a consumer’s credit

LB 922 –
Creates a new program that would extend health care benefits to all Nebraska children, regardless of immigration status

LB 974 –
Prohibits political affiliation, demographic information other than population figures, and results of previous elections from being considered in the drawing of legislative district boundaries

LB 999 –
Provides timelines and clarifications around student disciplinary actions and allows students to complete coursework during suspension or expulsion

LB 1074 –
Adjusts income tax bracket by lowering taxes on middle income earners and creating additional brackets for higher earners with increased rates of 1-3%. Increases the Earned Income Tax Credit from 10% to 12.5%, providing additional tax relief for low-income earners

LB 1082 –
Requires law enforcement agencies who enter into agreements to enforce federal immigration law to provide notice to the political subdivision and the public

LB 1101 –
Increases the reimbursement rate for short-term residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and substance use assessment for behavioral health patients exiting correctional facilities

LB 1105 –
Changes the duration of a payday loan from a maximum of 34 days to a minimum of 34 days

LB 1110 –
Clarifies the intent of the Legislature to have public school and district scores reported annually

LB 1112 –
Restricts the use of juvenile detention and creates opportunity for alternative, community based resources

LB 1134 –
Expands upon federal law by requiring businesses who are closing or laying off more than 25 employees to notify the employees and the Nebraska Department of Labor at least 60 days in advance

LB 1135 –
Creates additional pathways to obtaining a Nebraska Teaching Certificate to address the shortage of full time and substitute teachers that exist across the state

LR295CA –
Increases Legislator salaries from $12,000 per year to 50% of the Census-reported median income, to be recalculated every two years