Government Relations & Advocacy
The 2027 Session begins Wednesday, January 6
NASB Bills Page
Download your 2026 Delegate Handout in preparation for the Delegate Assembly, Friday, November 20th in conjunction with the State Education Conference
2026 DELEGATE HANDOUT (pdf)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
NASB Member Virtual Candidate Forum w/ Governor Pillen & Lynne Walz
Wednesday, October 21
- READ: LR 455 - Teacher Recruitment & Retention Study from Sen. Juarez
- READ: NASB's End of Session Wrap-Up - 4/21/26
- LISTEN/READ: Nebraska Public Media Legislative Wrap 2026
- READ: Mandates - Updated 7/16/25
- DOWNLOAD: NASB Rack Cards on Advocacy, AI, and TEEOSA 101
Opportunities for members to engage with Senators and advocate for their district/ESU, communities, and all Nebraskans during the 2027 Session:
- January 24-25, 2027 - Legislative Issues Conference
- January & February - Testify during Committee Hearings
- Outbound Legislative Lunches
- Senator Calls
- Inbound Engagement = Come to Lincoln
GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FINANCE COMMISSION
MEMBERS, MEETINGS & ANNUAL REPORT ... LEARN MORE
YOUR 2025-26 NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE LEADERSHIP (2027-28 TBD January 6)
- 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
- *Term Limited Out
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
- 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
- January 6 - Legislative Session began (90-Day)
- January TBD - Public Hearings began
- January 24-25 - Legislative Issues Conference
- February TBD - Priority Bills Announced
- March TBD - Full Day Floor Debate Began
- June TBD - Final Day of Session - Sine Die
- July 1 - Call for Legislative Proposals for the 2028 Session
- November - Delegate Assembly
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
OPEN MEETINGS ACT
Advocacy Handbook / Delegate Handout
Your Advocacy Handbook featuring NASB's
legislative and leadership objectives for the 2026 session and a guide for effective advocacy is posted! This includes what your role is in the legislative process can be, tips for advocacy and engagement,
your 2025-26 State Senators, your 2026 NASB Legislation Committee, and NASB's Standing Positions.
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?
Engaging in advocacy happens all year. When the Legislature inserts itself into the boardroom or the classroom, lawmakers need to hear from YOU!
Advocating for LOCAL CONTROL is critical.
Here's what you can do.
STAY INFORMED
- Track the legislation that impacts your district
- Have the data that tells your story (Spending, Student Demographics, School Needs)
- Attend the Legislative Issues Conference
- Attend the State Education Conference
- Get updates from NASB's Advocacy Team
GET ENGAGED
- Engage in the process; Go on Record! (Come testify at the Capitol, Write a letter, Send an email)
- Come to Lincoln for a day at the Capitol
- Facilitate regular meetings with your representative
- Consider becoming one of NASB’s “expert go-to members” in an area where you can engage!
NASB CAN ASSIST YOU ... JUST ASK!
Become an advocate ... In addition to the NASB Board and Legislation Committee, we have an incredible list of "Go-To" members we can tap into as needs arise. To be part of our "Bench" please fill out the below link or let us know!
https://nasb.enviseams.com/become-an-advocate
DID YOU KNOW: We LIVE Here
79% of Nebraska’s 1,700 locally elected school board members serve at or within 100 miles of where they graduated ... with over half 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.
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 -
lheadrick@NASBonline.org
Policy Systems and Data Coordinator/ALICAP Associate
*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.