NAPE 2023-2025 Legislative Priorities
NAPE’s legislative priorities for the 2023-2025 biennium were adopted by delegates to the NAPE Delegate Assembly in August 2023. Our legislative priorities can be viewed below. [Download PDF]
NAPE strongly supports legislation that reinforces the rights of unions to organize and advocate for employees of the State of Nebraska.
NAPE WILL…
- Support legislation strengthening the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act
- Create a fair impasse procedure
- Ensure accurate and fair comparability
- Fight any effort to weaken or diminish the collective bargaining rights provided to employees in the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act
NAPE supports state budget and tax policies that ensure adequate funding for the vital services provided by state agencies.
NAPE WILL…
- Ensure state employees’ salary and benefits are fully funded
- Oppose any cutback to vital state services or layoff of state employees
- Advocate for measures that move Nebraska towards a fair tax system where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share
NAPE will advocate for legislation that ensures a safe working environment for all state employees.
NAPE WILL…
- Ensure all state employees are provided with necessary safety equipment, personal protective equipment, and health screening
- Advocate for legislation that protects employees from workplace risks
- Ensure that those who are responsible for workplace safety violations are held accountable
NAPE strongly opposes the outsourcing of State of Nebraska jobs currently provided by public employees.
NAPE WILL…
- Support legislation that returns work to state employees that has been previously outsourced
- Oppose legislation that results in the outsourcing of any jobs that should be performed by state employees
- Oppose the use of artificial intelligence to replace the important work of state employees
NAPE believes that rights granted to state employees should be protected and strengthened.
NAPE WILL…
- Oppose any efforts to diminish workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance benefits
- Support efforts to raise the minimum wage in Nebraska
- Support legislation requiring paid family leave for all employees
- Support anti-discrimination legislation, and oppose discriminatory legislation.
Government Affairs Committee
The NAPE/AFSCME Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is a bipartisan committee comprised of members appointed by the NAPE/AFSCME President to monitor pending legislation, advocate on behalf of members, and make endorsement recommendations for political candidates. Current committee members are:
Brian Koch
Labor, Beatrice (Chair)
Brandon Brown
Revenue, Lincoln
Brianne Bushlow
DHHS, Fremont
Daniel Buchanan
Corrections, Lincoln
Michael Henry
DHHS, Lincoln
Avery Hulse
DHHS, Lincoln
Adam Johnson
DHHS, Fremont
Michael King
DHHS, Kearney
Jamie Novacek
DHHS, Center
Anissa Rasmussen
Economic Development, Lincoln
Kris Rossman
DHHS, Scottsbluff
Ashlie Thompson
DHHS, Lincoln
Sharon Waters
Game & Parks, Lincoln
Melissa Haynes
DHHS, Fremont (Ex-officio)
Justin Hubly
Executive Director, Lincoln
People PAC
NAPE/AFSCME has its own Political Action Committee (PAC) called the NAPE/AFSCME PEOPLE PAC. PEOPLE stands for Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality. The PEOPLE PAC makes donations to candidates, committees, and ballot initiatives that support working families. Funds in the PEOPLE PAC are voluntary donations from union members. Members who do not wish to make a voluntary donation of $4.63 for 2024 can request a refund by sending a letter to NAPE/AFSCME PEOPLE PAC, 1230 O Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508. 2024 refund requests must be postmarked by August 31, 2024.
2023 Legislative session recap
To find your State Senator, visit the Nebraska Legislature site where you can search by your home address to locate your senator.
As the 2023 legislative session convened on January 3, 2023, the NAPE/AFSCME Government Affairs Committee (GAC) went to work to review newly filed bills, constitution amendments, and other matters that could affect the membership. The GAC uses the NAPE/AFSCME Legislative Platform as a guide to take positions on bills.
At the conclusion of bill filing, the GAC reviewed 78 bills that had the potential to impact our members. The GAC also reviewed six constitutional amendments. The GAC met on January 25, 2023, to finalize positions on bills.
After review, the committee opted to take positions and authorized the Executive Director to testify on behalf of NAPE/AFSCME at hearings on the following bills:
LB 5 (Sen. Carol Blood – Support) – Makes mental injuries suffered in an incident of workplace violence (shooting/hostage situation) compensable under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
LB 43 (Sen. Rita Sanders – Support) – Would require hearing officers and judges to apply a de novo review standard in cases brought under the Administrative Procedures Act, instead of deferring to an agency interpretation of laws and rules.
LB 57 (Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh – Support) – Would create Paid Family Medical Leave allowing for up to 12 weeks of paid FML funded by a payroll tax to create the Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance Fund.
LB 203 (Sen. Merv Riepe – Oppose) – Would require employees to submit medical records to their employer before being able to file a worker’s compensation claim.
LB 265 (Sen. Tom Brewer – Support) – Would allow DHHS employees to use justified force to defend themselves from serious bodily injury or death. DHHS would not be able to have a work rule prohibiting such action.
LB 272 (Sen. Tony Vargas – Support) – Would make workers’ compensation payments start after three days instead of seven, and if the disability continues for 2 weeks, rather than 6 weeks or longer, compensation will be computed from the date the disability began.
LB 327 (Sen. Jane Raybould – Oppose) – Would change the minimum wage passed by ballot initiative to limit CPI increases to 1.5% beginning on January 1, 2027.
LB 380 (Sen. Danielle Conrad – Support) – Would prohibit discrimination for exercising rights under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
LB 467 (Sen. Wendy DeBoer – Support) – Would require all employees of the Department of Correctional Services to complete mental health training.
LB 469 (Sen. Kathleen Kauth – Oppose) – Would remove Parole Officers from the C Bargaining Unit and place them in the P Bargaining Unit.
LB 479 (Sen. Justin Wayne – Support) – Would remove Parole Supervision from the Board of Parole and instead create a new agency called the Parole Supervision Agency.
LB 670 (Sen. Megan Hunt – Support) – Would make it illegal to discriminate in employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
LB 814 (Sen. John Arch – Support) – Appropriates funds to fund 2023-2025 labor contracts.
LR2CA (Sen. Robert Dover – Support) – Would amend the constitution to allow State Senators to be elected to three consecutive terms.
