Bill Tracker
108th Nebraska Legislature
First Session (2023)
LB20 (Wayne)
Provides for the restoration of voting rights upon completion of a felony sentence
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm Feb. 22, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
Advanced to General File
More information 1, 2
LR2CA (Erdman)
Change from a unicameral Legislature to a bicameral Legislature, provide for election of members of the Legislature on a partisan ballot, require election of legislative officers and committee chairpersons by a public vote, and require all meetings of the Legislature to be open to the public
Track
Hearing: Noon CST March 9, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
LR4CA (M. Cavanaugh)
Remove felony convictions other than treason from being a disqualification for voting
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST Feb. 8, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB70 (M. Cavanaugh)
Eliminate the fee for certain state identification cards and certified copies of birth certificates for voting purposes
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST Feb. 8, Room 1507
LB225 (Dungan)
Change provisions relating to the committee on American civics
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST Jan. 23, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
LB228 (Erdman)
Create state holidays for statewide primary and general election days, require in-person voting, photographic identification to vote, counting of ballots on election day, and counting of ballots at the precinct level, and allow voting by mail for registered military personnel and residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST March 1, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
More information 1 , 2
LB230 (Erdman)
Require qualifying identification for voter registration and voting, require in-person voting, provide penalties, eliminate certain fees for state identification cards and certified copies of birth certificates, and change provisions relating to operators’ licenses and state identification cards
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST March 1, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
More information 1, 2
LB254 (Brewer)
Require the Legislative Council to develop and maintain a publicly accessible digital Internet archive of closed-captioned video coverage of the Legislature and change powers and duties of the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission
Track
Hearing: Noon CST Feb. 10, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
Advanced to General File
Advanced to Select File
LB364 (Hunt)
Provide for the election of election commissioners and eliminate certain deputy positions
Track
Hearing: 1:30 CDT March 15, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB365 (Hunt)
Permit all Nebraska counties to conduct elections by mail
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST March 16, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB390 (Clements)
Shorten early-voting period and add new restrictions to ballot delivery
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST Feb. 2, Room 1507
Advanced to General File
LB457 (Holdcroft)
Require video surveillance of voting and provide requirements for paper ballots, vote scanning devices, and vote tabulating equipment
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CDT March 22, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
LB535 (Slama)
Require valid photographic identification and change provisions relating to voting under the Election Act and certain identification documents
Track | 2.1.23 amendments
More information 1, 2
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST Feb. 1, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
Prioritized to General File
Withdrawn on 5.17.23 by bill’s author
LB604 (Raybould)
Change provisions relating to voting early under the Election Act
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST March 16, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB675 (Day)
Change provisions relating to elections and identification documents
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST March 1, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
More information: 1
LB742 (Vargas)
Change provisions relating to registration to vote and voting under the Election Act
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CDT March 16, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB764 (Lippincott)
Change provisions relating to the selection of and ballots cast by presidential electors
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CDT March 15, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB770 (M. Cavanaugh)
Require the Secretary of State to audit the offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the election commissioners, and the county clerks and all polling places for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CST March 8, Room 1507 ›› Our testimony
LB808 (Halloran)
Provide for counting and recounting ballots under the Election Act by hand count
Track
Hearing: 1:30 pm CDT March 22, Room 1525 ›› Our testimony
The legislative process in Nebraska:
How a bill becomes a law
The lawmaking process officially begins when a senator introduces a bill into the Legislature. State senators have the first 10 legislative days of each session to introduce bills. ››
Every bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature receives a hearing before one of its 14 standing committees. At hearings, Nebraskans can express their opinions to committee members. After the hearing, committees can vote to 1) advance the bill to the full Legislature; 2) indefinitely postpone the bill; or 3) take no action on the bill. ››
This is the first time the full Legislature debates and votes on bills. Senators consider amendments, which can be proposed by committees and by individual senators. General File is often the most crucial stage of the legislative process because it is when most compromises are reached.
Twenty-five votes are needed for amendments to be adopted and the bill to be moved to the next stage of consideration. ››
This is the second debating and voting stage, which allows for amendments, compromise, and review.
After Select File, bills are reprinted for Final Reading. ››
The final step of legislative approval. A Legislative Bill (LB) must be read aloud by the Clerk of the Legislature, unless 30 members waive the requirement. A bill cannot be amended or debated on Final Reading but may be returned to Select File for a specific amendment. Final passage can occur five legislative days after the bill is introduced and one legislative day after being placed on Final Reading.
A constitutional amendment (LRCA) requires 30 votes to place it on the general election ballot and 40 votes to place it on a primary or special-election ballot.
All other bills require a majority (25) before going to the governor. ››
The governor has five days excluding Sundays to decide what to do with a bill. If the governor signs a bill or declines to act on it, the bill becomes a state law. The governor may also veto a bill and has the authority to strike specific budget appropriations. The Legislature may override any gubernatorial veto with 30 votes.
Most bills passed and approved by the governor become law three months after the adjournment of the Legislature. Some bills may take effect before that date if they contain an emergency clause.
Civic Nebraska News
The 2023 Summer of Democracy Reading List
May 29, 2023
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We asked, and Nebraskans delivered by nominating more than 100 titles for our annual summer reading list on democracy, civics, history, and the social sciences. Here are our favorites from the bunch.
Round Two: Voter ID is back on the docket
May 28, 2023
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If you’re in the Lincoln area, join us Tuesday morning at the Capitol to see LB514 through to Final Reading.
On Give To Lincoln Day, donate to democracy.
May 23, 2023
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On Wednesday, May 24, Civic Nebraska is participating in Give To Lincoln Day, the capital city’s annual 24-hour community giving event.
