The Nebraska Unicameral Legislature will convene for its short session on January 7, 2026. When State Senators return to Lincoln for the sixty-day session, their most important job will be to balance the state budget for the final year of the biennium. New bills will be introduced during the first ten days of the session, and carryover bills from last year will also be considered. Here’s what we’ll be watching.
NAPE/AFSCME union members have been sounding the alarm approaching this year’s session to protect public services. Legislators are entering the session looking at a $400+ million dollar budget deficit, and the Governor is calling for cuts to vital state services. Some state agencies have already laid off state employees and others are planning to eliminate even more positions. NAPE/AFSCME union members will stand united to educate our elected officials on the importance of our work and demand that vital public services be fully funded.
Hundreds of bills that were not indefinitely postponed during last year’s long legislative session will carry over and may be considered by the full legislature. The NAPE/AFSCME Government Affairs Committee (GAC), a bipartisan group of union members appointed by our President, reviewed these bills along with our legislative priorities and took positions on bills that affect state employees. We also testified on these bills. Testimony is available for viewing on our GAC webpage.
Carryover bills that we are watching closely include LB224, which was prioritized by Senator Dunixi Guereca (LD7, Omaha) would provide state employees with 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. LB233 introduced by Senator Danielle Conrad (LD46, Lincoln) would require the state to offer employee paid in vitro fertilization coverage in the state benefits program. The bill is currently in the Government, Military, and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
LB535 introduced by Senator Kathleen Kauth (LD31, Omaha) would include all employees in a behavioral health facility, such as a Regional Center, in protections against assault and allow criminal penalties for those who assault any employee who works at the facility.
We also expect LB258 from Senator Jane Raybould (LD28, Lincoln) to resurface during the short session. This bill would lower minimum wage increases that were passed overwhelmingly by Nebraska voters. Although state employees are exempt from minimum wage protections, we stand in solidarity with the Nebraska State AFL-CIO opposed to this attack on workers. We’re also monitoring a host of bills that would weaken workers compensation protections.
The GAC will meet to review and take positions on new bills that are filed this session. Since 2026 is an election year, the GAC will also invite all candidates running for the Nebraska Legislature to interview with the committee to discuss their views and reasons for running for legislature. NAPE/AFSCME members will receive a summary of all of the candidate interviews, and the GAC may make endorsement recommendations to the NAPE/AFSCME Board of Directors. The primary election is May 12 and the general election is November 3.