Government Relations & Advocacy
The 2025 Legislative Session began Wednesday, January 8,
and is schedule to conclude June 9.
As we inch closer to Day 90, here are the bills in play for the remainder of the session … All in various stages of debate, some good, some bad, but we’re engaging until the very end!
LB 89 LB 306 LB 440 LB 550 LB 645 LB 653 LB 677
- WATCH: Day 1 Recap - 1/8/25 (3:24)
- WATCH: Day 10 Bill Introduction - 1/22/25 (1:13)
- READ: Legislative Update - 2/13/25
- WATCH: Call to Action on LB 504 w/ Sen Bosn - 2/24/25 (3:35)
- READ: Mid-Session Legislative Update - Pages 4-6 - 3/26/25
- WATCH: Mid-Session Legislative Virtual Update - 3/28/25 (38:23)
- WATCH: Federal Advocacy Update w/ Reg Leichty - 4/23/25 (43:00)
- READ: Christmas Trees in April? - Pages 5-6 - 4/22/25
- READ: Down to the Wire - Page 7 - 5/20/25
- WATCH: Day 83 of 90 - 5/21/25 (1:02)
Your annual NASB Advocacy Handbook for the legislative session is now available.
2025 Advocacy Handbook
NASB Bills Page
YOUR 109th NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE LEADERSHIP
- Speaker of the Legislature - John Arch
- Education Chair - Dave Murman
- Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Chair - Rita Sanders
- Nebraska Retirement Systems Chair - Beau Ballard
- Revenue Chair - Brad von Gillern
COMMITTEE MAKE-UP
- Education: Murman, Conrad, Hughes, Hunt, Juarez, Lonowski, Meyer, Sanders
- Government: Sanders, J. Cavanaugh, Clouse, Guereca, Hunt, Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper
- Retirement: Ballard, Clements, Conrad, Hardin, Juarez, Sorrentino
- Revenue: von Gillern, Bostar, Dungan, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Murman, Sorrentino
KEY DATES
- January 15 - Governor Pillen’s State of the State Address
- January 22 - Last Day of Bill Introduction, Public Hearings Begin
- January 26-27 - Legislative Issues Conference
- March 17 - Priority Bills Announced
- March 28 – Final Day of Public Hearings
- March 31 - Full Day Floor Debate Begins
DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION (EFFECTIVE 1/1/25)
- District Classification: From 3 to 5
- School District Total Population Enrollment
- Class I = Population of fewer than 1,500
- Class II = 1,500 to 5,000
- Class III = 5,000 to 200,000
- Class IV = Lincoln Public Schools
- Class V = Omaha Public Schools
WHAT CAN THE BOARD DO?
- WATCH: Big Issues: What Can The Board Do? (17:16)
- A look at big issues that could come up in future Legislative Sessions like Parent Involvement, Curriculum Changes, Media Material, Transgender Students, Public Comment, & School Safety with Marcia Herring & Colby Coash.
OPEN MEETINGS ACT
Advocacy Handbook / Delegate Handout
Your Advocacy Handbook featuring NASB's
legislative and leadership objectives for the 2025 session and a guide for effective advocacy is now posted! This includes what your role is in the legislative process can be, tips for advocacy and engagement,
your 2025-26 State Senators, your 2025 NASB Legislation Committee, and NASB's Standing Positions. 2025 Advocacy Handbook
Call for Proposals
If there is anything you'd like to see added, amended or removed from the handbook in future years, submit your proposal at https://members.nasbonline.org/government-relations/legislative-proposals
Legislative Links
- NASB Bills Page
- Nebraska Legislature's Home Page
- Legislative Calendar
- Senator List/Contacts
- Glossary of Legislative Terms
What is Your Role?
Over the past few years, the Legislature has increasingly inserted itself into both the boardroom and the classroom. Decisions that have traditionally been left to local boards or the State Board of Education have been centralized at the State Capitol. In addition, the past years have seen an increase in efforts to divide public K-12 education and foster distrust between local boards and their constituents. There are things you can do:
- ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL CONROL: Talk to lawmakers about impactful decisions and how important it is that decisions remain local. Continue advocating for local control over local decisions. Let us help you!
- BUILD TRUST: Share your decisions with your constituents. Celebrate your successes! Show lawmakers and constituents your commitment to transparency. Use your meetings to educate your public on the decisions you are making.
- SHARE YOUR STORY: No one is more qualified to talk about your school district, your community, and your needs related to providing a quality education than you!
DID YOU KNOW: #weLIVEhere
79% of Nebraska’s 1,700 locally elected school board members serve at or within 100 miles of where they graduated ... with 51% serving in the district they graduated from. As a school
board member and community leader, you are in an excellent position to educate and influence the legislative process and are seen as a key resource on education policy for your district.
We encourage all boards to include a legislative update at their meetings and to discuss/share key legislative information within your community. Advocacy is year-round, not just during the session.
What Can NASB Do for you?
Assist you in preparing testimony, talking points, emails, or Op-Eds; facilitate Senator introductions and meetings in your district or the Capitol; feature your district visits with Senators; brief your board at a meeting in your community; and more ... Just ASK!
Your NASB Legislative Team
Colby Coash -
ccoash@NASBonline.org
Associate Executive Director, Director of Government Relations
Matt Belka -
mbelka@NASBonline.org
Director of Marketing, Communications & Advocacy
John Spatz -
jspatz@NASBonline.org
Executive Director
Lindsey Headrick -
lwooton@NASBonline.org
Administrative Specialist
*NASB does not endorse candidates and does not make recommendations to members, or anyone, on whom to support for election. NASB may, from time to time, provide opportunities for candidates for elected office to meet with or communicate with its membership. Any NASB event allowing candidates for office to meet or communicate with its membership should not be considered a direct or passive endorsement of any candidate.