Spring has finally sprung. The first day of spring was on March 19th. I am looking forward to the weather changing, being able to get outside with my grandkids, seeing the baby calves frolicking in the pasture, and working in the yard. I always enjoy this time of the year.

Bill Update
     This past week we debated my personal priority bill (LB441) on the floor for three days. LB441 was to close an unintended loophole in Nebraska obscenity law. Currently it is against the law for anyone in Nebraska to present materials considered criminally obscene or harmful to minors except in K-12 schools and libraries. This means it is lawful to present criminal obscenity to any age of schoolchildren. It makes no sense that schools and libraries, of all places, should be given a pass to expose children to material the law already would recognize as criminally obscene to children.
     The drafters of the original legislation never intended that loophole to exist. The 1977 obscenity law was particularly and expressly intended to protect school children from obscenity. The exemption from prosecution was intended for postsecondary educational institutions only, NOT K-12 schools.
     LB441 would not have changed a thing about the definition of obscenity (found in Nebraska State Statute §28-808) as applied under Nebraska law. It simply would make Nebraska’s obscenity statutes applicable to K-12 educational institutions just as these obscenity statutes are applied everywhere else in Nebraska.
     This became abundantly clear in debate when Senator Halloran read a portion of hearing testimony on the floor. It created a problem for the adults in the room, but these same adults want this available to school children in K-12 schools. If it is hard for them, why would we want to create the same problem for children in Nebraska schools?
     LB441 garnered 30 votes but not the 33 votes required to overcome the filibuster. This bill’s intent was to include K-12 in Nebraska state statutes to protect children from what is “criminally harmful to minors” as it is throughout the great state of Nebraska.

Governor Pillen property tax relief plan
The Revenue Committee is getting closer to putting out their property tax relief package. There has been much discussion on what is the best way to meet Governor Pillen’s goal of a 40% reduction in property taxes in Nebraska. The committee is working up to the wire to make this goal a reality. More information will be coming soon as we get closer to submitting our package to the floor for debate.

Severe Weather Awareness Week
March 25-29 is Nebraska Severe Awareness Week. This week gives Nebraskans an opportunity to review their plan when severe weather strikes. “The devastating impacts of extreme events can be reduced through improved readiness,” said NEMA Assistant Director Erv Portis. “In addition to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, we need to prepare for hazards that could happen due to drought conditions impacting the state.” “In a time of drought, wildfires are a top concern,” Portis said. “Even the smallest spark could ignite and threaten entire communities. If you are ordered to evacuate, know where you would go and what route you would take to get there.”
Every Nebraskan should make a safety plan, create a preparedness kit, and review proper safety precautions with your family.

• Make a Plan–Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster.
• Build a Kit–Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget the unique needs of each person or pet. You can find a list of items to help you get started here: https://nema.nebraska.gov/assets/files/preparedness/preparedness-kit.pdf
• Prepare for Disasters–Know the risk of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards.
• Teach Youth about Preparedness–Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.
• Get Informed–Find out what disasters could impact your area, and where you would go if you and your family need to evacuate. Keep a NOAA weather radio tuned to your local emergency station and monitor TV and radio. Follow mobile alerts and warnings about severe weather in your area.

For more information on severe weather awareness, or preparing for severe weather, visit: nema.nebraska.gov/. (Sperl, Katrina. News Release. “Severe Weather Awareness Week”. 19 March, 2024. https://shorturl.at/fimEN)

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.