Latest Nebraska state government News

Nebraska's new law limiting abortion and trans healthcare is argued before the state Supreme Court

Mar. 05, 2024 16:51 PM EST

Members of the Nebraska Supreme Court appeared to meet with skepticism a state lawyer's defense of a new law that combines a 12-week abortion ban with another measure to limit gender-affirming health care for minors. Assistant Attorney General Eric Hamilton argued Tuesday that the...

Question of whether Nebraska public money can go to private schools still set for November ballot

Mar. 01, 2024 18:33 PM EST

Nebraska’s top election official has ruled that voters will get to decide this year whether to repeal a law that gives taxpayer money for private school scholarships. But both Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen and state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who authored the school choice law...

Lawmakers bidding to resume Louisiana executions after 14-year pause OK new death penalty methods

Feb. 29, 2024 16:28 PM EST

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Bidding to resume Louisiana executions after a 14-year pause, the state's Republican-dominated Legislature gave final passage to a bill Thursday to add electrocution and the use of nitrogen gas as means of administering the death penalty. The legislation...

Nebraska Republican gives top priority to bill allowing abortions in cases of fatal fetal anomalies

Feb. 14, 2024 19:12 PM EST

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who tanked an effort last year by his fellow Republicans to pass a near-total abortion ban has given top priority this year to a bill that would allow abortions beyond the state's 12-week ban in cases of fatal fetal anomalies. The bill by...

Lawmaker looks to make Nebraska the latest state to enact controversial 'stand your ground' law

Feb. 08, 2024 19:55 PM EST

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska would become one of the last Republican-led states to enact a so-called “stand your ground” law under a bill presented to a legislative committee on Thursday. State Sen. Brian Hardin, of Scottsbluff, said he brought the bill at the urging of his...

A Nebraska bill would hire a hacker to probe the state's computer, elections systems

Feb. 08, 2024 18:28 PM EST

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — One state lawmaker wants Nebraska to take measures to protect it from cyberattacks. His answer? Hire its own hacker. State Sen. Loren Lippincott presented a bill Thursday to the Legislature's government committee that would give the Nebraska State Patrol...

Conservative Nebraska lawmakers push bills that would intertwine religion with public education

Feb. 05, 2024 20:33 PM EST

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Conservative lawmakers who want to intertwine religion with school curriculum in Republican-dominated Nebraska presented a slew of bills Monday to the state Legislature’s education committee. The list includes a bill that would give parents more control over...

Lawmaker seeks to reverse Nebraska governor's rejection of federal child food funding

Feb. 01, 2024 18:31 PM EST

Weeks after Republican Gov. Jim Pillen announced Nebraska would not accept federal funds to feed children in need over the summer, an Omaha lawmaker is pushing her bill to require the state to accept the $18 million for children who might otherwise go hungry at times when schools are closed. ...

Nebraska lawmaker announces Democratic bid for Congress, says Republicans bend to 'vocal minority'

Jan. 23, 2024 18:20 PM EST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Democratic state lawmaker in Nebraska who unsuccessfully ran for governor two years ago is seeking a seat in the U.S. House. Sen. Carol Blood confirmed Tuesday that she will run to represent the 1st Congressional District, which includes Lincoln and all or...

Nebraska lawmakers should hit 'reset' button to avoid last year's rancor, legislative speaker says

Jan. 22, 2024 18:33 PM EST

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Almost a year after Nebraska lawmakers drew national attention for a bitter feud that saw left-leaning senators filibuster nearly every bill, the speaker of the Legislature vowed Monday to do more to avoid another quagmire this session. Speaker of the...