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Lawmakers offer ‘working families agenda’ as answer to Nebraska ‘culture war’ bills

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Lawmakers offer ‘working families agenda’ as answer to Nebraska ‘culture war’ bills

By Zach Wendling
Lawmakers offer ‘working families agenda’ as answer to Nebraska ‘culture war’ bills
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State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, center, leads a news conference unveiling a "working families agenda" with nine of her colleagues and other advocates at the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda. Jan. 23, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — Lawmakers seeking to avoid a “divisive culture war” unveiled a slate of legislation Thursday they said would help Nebraska’s working families and workforce development.

A bipartisan group of 10 state senators in the officially nonpartisan Legislature — eight Democrats, one Republican and one nonpartisan progressive — previewed a “working families agenda” at an afternoon news conference, led by State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, George Dungan of Lincoln, Dan Quick of Grand Island, Jane Raybould of Lincoln and Wendy DeBoer of Omaha. 

The issues highlighted Thursday included tax equity, education, housing, health care and child care.

“We need to grow our support, grow our economy, and we need to support families,” Conrad said.

Lawmakers offer ‘working families agenda’ as answer to Nebraska ‘culture war’ bills
State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, at podium, talks at a news conference highlighting legislation to support “working families.” Jan. 23, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Dungan said the lawmakers are focused on legislation to help all Nebraskans and bring them together, “not divisive culture war, wedge issues that divide us.”

State Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, Megan Hunt of Omaha, Margo Juarez of Omaha, Victor Rountree of Bellevue and Dave “Woody” Wordekemper of Fremont joined the announcement, as did Jon Nebel of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 22.

Nebel, a membership development coordinator for the local electrical workers union in Omaha, said he didn’t think a “big-ticket item” would get the job done.

“It’s a bunch of little ideas that come and help us at the margins,” Nebel said, such as the state covering daily school meals for children.

Lawmakers offer ‘working families agenda’ as answer to Nebraska ‘culture war’ bills
Jon Nebel, a membership development coordinator of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 22 in Omaha. Jan. 23, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

DeBoer described working families as the “backbone” and “economic driver” of Nebraska.

Quick, a retired blue-collar worker, including as a welder at a power plant, said he wants to ensure senators are working together “to bring good bills that are going to help the majority of people in Nebraska.”

Even with a looming budget deficit for lawmakers to tackle, projected at $432 million, Conrad said the identified proposals give senators “chips on the table when the negotiations happen” so the budget isn’t balanced on the backs of working families.

“We look forward to expanding the agenda with all of our colleagues to pick up key, smart solutions on child care, on workforce development, on education, on housing and on tax equity,” Conrad said. “We welcome all colleagues in the Nebraska Legislature to join with us in prioritizing working families.”

Among the legislation proposed and highlighted by senators at the news conference:

  • Legislative Bill 14, by Cavanaugh, would adopt the Hunger-Free Schools Act and provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students each school day.
  • LB 22, by Dungan, would direct the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal matching funds for evidence-based nurse home-visitation services for postpartum mothers and children up to three years old enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
  • LB 28, by Conrad, would eliminate the state income tax on tips.
  • LB 30, also by Conrad, would eliminate state income taxes on overtime compensation.
  • LB 71, by DeBoer, would increase tiered child care subsidy reimbursement rates for early care and education providers.
  • LB 157, also by Conrad, would implement a child tax credit for families up to $2,000 per child, aged 6 or younger, with a focus on low-income households.
  • LB 192, by Quick, would maintain current income eligibility levels for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which are set to return to lower pre-COVID-19-pandemic income eligibility levels beginning Oct. 1.
  • LB 272, also by Dungan, would allow partially disabled veterans to benefit from homestead exemptions equal to their disability percentage.
  • LB 304, by DeBoer, would maintain current income eligibility levels for the federal Child Care Subsidy program before a planned decrease Oct. 1, 2026.
  • LB 411, also by Dungan, would offer retention bonuses to all Nebraska teachers.
  • LB 566, also by Quick, would maintain income tax credits for the purchase of certain residential property if it is located in an “extremely blighted area,” is the individual’s primary residence and was not purchased from a family member. The tax credit is set to expire at the end of the year.
  • LB 710, by State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, would double the existing earned income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and couples.