Public hearings scheduled for Nebraska’s three 2026 voter-led ballot measures

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office has scheduled a series of hearings in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts to let the public weigh in on three ballot measures before the Nov. 3 general election.

State law requires the office to host public hearings in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts on all voter-led ballot initiatives on the November ballot. One measure this year seeks a constitutional amendment for sex-based requirements for K-12 and collegiate sports. Two more proposals would together legalize and regulate online sports betting.

The two sports betting measures will be part of a combined hearing. 

Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office has prepared information pamphlets with the specific ballot language for each ballot measure and common arguments for and against. The information is available online in English and Spanish.

A separate constitutional amendment related to legislative term limits, Constitutional Amendment 1, will not be part of the hearing schedule.

Lawmakers in 2025 advanced the issue to voters to ask whether lawmakers should be able to serve up to three consecutive four-year terms, instead of two terms. The measure received a hearing during the legislative process in Lincoln. State law does not require separate hearings in other parts of the state for legislative-led ballot questions.

The hearing schedule:

1st Congressional District

Location: Nebraska State Capitol Room 1525, 1445 K St., Lincoln

Wednesday, Oct. 14

• 6-9 p.m. CDT, sex-based K-12 and collegiate sports constitutional requirements (Initiative Measure 442)

Thursday, Oct. 15

• 6-9 p.m. CDT, online sports wagering legalization and authorization measure (Initiative Measures 440 and 441)

2nd Congressional District

Location: Omaha Public Library’s Millard Branch Meeting Room 1, 13214 Westwood Lane, Omaha

Saturday, Oct. 24

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. CDT, sex-based K-12 and collegiate sports constitutional requirements
• 1:30-4:30 p.m. CDT, online sports wagering legalization and authorization measure

3rd Congressional District

Location: Buffalo County Extension Building Bison Room, 1400 E. 34th St., Kearney

Thursday, Oct. 22

• 2-5 p.m. CDT, online sports wagering legalization and authorization measure
• 6-9 p.m. CDT, sex-based K-12 and collegiate sports constitutional requirements

2026 ballot measures

Three voter-initiated measures will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot:

• Legalize online sports betting — Legalize online sports betting if conducted through vendors at Nebraska’s six licensed racetracks, in Grand Island, Ogallala, Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus and South Sioux City. (Initiative Measure 440)
• Regulate online sports betting — Define online sports betting and require the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission to adopt any needed regulations, no later than June 1, 2027. (Initiative Measure 441)
• Sex-separate requirements for K-12, collegiate sports — Make permanent part of a 2025 state law requiring public K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and any private schools or colleges in the state playing against those schools, to designate sports and athletic teams as male, female or coed. The ballot measure itself would not additionally define “sex,” instead relying on the 2025 law. (Initiative Measure 442)

More information on each ballot question for the 2026 election is available through the Nebraska Examiner’s 2026 General Election Voter Guide.

The general election is Nov. 3.