The Nebraska Legislature has recently ended yet another session. There is a lot to be hopeful about as some progress has been made for families, women and overall gender equity. As always, however, not everything was a “win.”
Below is a summary of recent celebratory bills that passed, those that we can feel relief about not advancing and finally, those that we could consider setbacks in the advancement of overall equity.
Here’s The Good News:
LB 233
This bill passed with a vote of 46-3. This bill will essentially help those families who have the greatest need. In the past the state collected ADC support for those in its welfare system and then sent half of that to the Federal government and state programs. With this bill, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – a federal grant) recipients will receive child support which means more money will go to families & children in need.
LB 840 which includes LB 1046 and LB 530
Senators McKinney & John Cavanaugh
These bills protect our public housing families who need stable, accessible and affordable housing. Since we know that women, especially women of color, face profound barriers in their struggle to secure housing, these bills are a step forward in advancing this cause.
LB 856
This bill supports childcare employees (to include home based and smaller centers) by opening doors for them to receive childcare subsidies.
LB 857
This bill is a significant step forward in protecting mothers of limited economic means. Specifically, it aims to improve Medicaid prenatal services for at-risk pregnant recipients thereby reducing premature and/or low birth weight infants.
LB 870
This bill is a step forward in protecting sexual assault victims. It allows for notification, information and the control of the victim’s own evidence – it’s an amendment to the original Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill.
LB 904
This bill essentially secures greater access to affordable childcare by changing the Department of Health and Human Services reimbursement rates by allowing this agency more flexibility.
LB 1050 amended to 1284
This bill is a huge step for female students. This bill requires school districts to supply free menstrual products – hard to believe it wasn’t already happening. At McGill Law, we are especially happy to see this bill pass by a 42-7 vote since we hosted a menstrual product drive to try to get equal access to such products for all women and girls.
LBs 1106 & 1107
Another couple of bills to support at-risk parents. Specifically, LB 1106 requires Medicaid to cover lactation consultations to increase breastfeeding support, and LB 1107 would provide personal breast pumps to Medicaid recipients as long as they breastfeed. Similarly, LB 58 (Cavanaugh) was passed which allows more cost savings for at risk families by allowing a sales tax exemption for families who must purchase diapers for their young children.
LB 937
Senator Bostar passed the Caregiver Tax Credit Act. This protects families who care for their relatives with disabilities by paying them for their essential service.
There are bills that did not advance which we can consider a success for the advancement of women, families and gender equity:
LB 575
A huge win for trans youth and their families when it failed to advance. This bill was an attempt to ban trans youth from sports. Failure of this bill to pass sends a clear message that we should celebrate and support our trans youth and their families in our communities and schools.
LB 371
An attempt to criminalize drag shows and performers.
LB 441
This bill would have banned books and criminalizes teachers and/or librarians.
LB 810
This bill would have created a path to discriminate against patients.
LB 1109
This bill would have once again allowed politicians to insert themselves into personal health care.
LB 1330
This bill would have prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion trainings at postsecondary institutions.
LB 1357
This bill would have served to criminalize street homelessness.
LB 1382
This bill was an attempt to prohibit petition circulators from getting paid; and
LR277CA
This bill was an attempt to request voters to approve mandatory life imprisonment for certain crimes.
Here’s the Not So Good News:
LB 876
This bill creates a Newborn Safe Haven Act. This bill may have the negative effect of more surveillance of pregnant women and control over their pregnancy choices and outcomes.
LB 606
This bill was amended onto the bill that provides tax credits to donations made to anti-abortion centers or “crisis pregnancy centers.” This increased funding allows for the continuation of manipulation disguised as health care.
LB 1339
This bill was amended to LB 1329 and will allow school boards and districts in communities with less than 5,000 people to create policies that allow firearms in schools despite gun violence being the number one cause of death in children in the USA.
At McGill Law, we are proud to be fierce supporters of gender equity & inclusion as well as equal access for you and your family. Give us a call if we can help you advance your cause – we have your back with offices in Omaha and Lincoln.