The 108th Legislature adjourned sine die on June 1, 2023.
State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar was the lone "no" vote Thursday on a voter ID bill (LB514). Slama led efforts to get the measure on the ballot, but was critical of the exemptions allowed under the bill.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
"I am a woman. Please tell me what to do." Judy King of Lincoln protests as Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston (center) and Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward (right) walk past her on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday outside the Governor's Mansion.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln speaks Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
State senators applaud as Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Speaker John Arch of La Vista told senators on the final day of the 2023 legislative session that he hoped the year “would be an aberration, not a predictor of the future.”
Journal Star file photo
Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, who received this raccoon hat from Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordo, talks to other senators on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Grace Jacobson of Lincoln holds a rainbow umbrella over a coffin prop in front of the Governor's Mansion on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Grace Jacobson of Lincoln holds a rainbow umbrella over a coffin prop in front of the Governor's Mansion on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen embraces first lady Suzanne Pillen after making a speech to close out out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen greets state senators before speaking at the close of the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon (center) and others clap hands as Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to close out the 108th Legislature on Thursday at the Capitol.
A complaint alleging a Nebraska lawmaker had a conflict of interest during the Legislature's debate over gender-affirming care restrictions has officially been dismissed.
For an officially nonpartisan Legislature, the partisan division in Nebraska this year reached levels never seen before, according to former lawmakers.
Some Nebraska senators asked the attorney general to clarify his position opposing an effort to block state officials from obtaining health information about residents who seek abortions in other states.
The celebration of a $1 billion investment in education funding took place amid the backdrop of a fight between supporters and opponents of a tax credit for private school scholarships.
The state agency charged with enforcing Nebraska's campaign finance laws voted 7-0 Friday to promote David Hunter, who has worked for the agency for 23 years, to head the commission.
Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer secured more than $20 million for water infrastructure projects across the state — including $10 million for a project Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed state funding for.
An Omaha lawmaker has vowed to try to block Gov. Pillen's pick to lead HHS over the appointee's engagement with anti-LGBTQ social media posts, among other concerns.
Nebraska's new law allowing most people over 21 to carry concealed weapons without a permit took effect across the state Saturday — with numerous exceptions, particularly in Lincoln.
Passionate crowds of Nebraskans showed up at the State Capitol this year. Now the Legislature is studying possible changes to ensure citizens are heard and can engage productively with lawmakers.
Despite warning signs in civil court filings and Sunday's alleged assault in Air Park, police insisted they didn't have grounds to seize Brent Lopez's gun prior to Tuesday's shooting.
The fate of Nebraska's controversial law providing tax incentives for donors to private school scholarship funds will be in the hands of voters next November.
Though nearly 60,000 children in Nebraska are living in poverty, the state has amassed more than $125 million in untapped federal funds meant to help low income families.
Nebraska's government website provider halted new online development projects while asking the state to pay for software upgrades in what Auditor Mike Foley described as a "hostage" situation.
Nebraska's Department of Administrative Services is seeking legislation that would "provide a legal definition of sex" in the 2024 legislative session, documents show.
After state agencies limited access to information that had long been provided to government watchdogs, two Nebraska lawmakers took oversight into their own hands.
Gov. Pillen ordered state employees to return to the office Jan. 2, ending remote or hybrid work options with few exceptions and drawing the ire of the state employees union.
Pillen tabbed Fred Meyer — a longtime public servant who presided over the State Board of Education more than a decade ago — to represent District 41 in the Legislature.
Dozens of trans Nebraskans, LGBTQ+ rights advocates, parents of trans youths and medical professionals lodged opposition to the proposed gender-affirming care restrictions for minors at a 12-hour public hearing Tuesday.
Nebraska's public schools increased property taxes by a total of $85.7 million this year despite a $324 million infusion of additional state support and new school revenue caps.
Nebraska lawmakers questioned the state's 911 director over a series of outages that have disrupted 911 services this fall and are under investigation by state and federal regulators.
Fifteen lawmakers are urging Nebraska's executive branch to reconsider after DHHS said this week that it does not intend to apply for federal summer grocery aid for low-income families.
With just over a week left before the signature deadline, groups for and against a petition effort to repeal a Nebraska tax credit law continue to trade barbs and accusations.
A Nebraska lawmaker filed a defamation lawsuit against a local far-right political action committee after members claimed she was grooming her transgender son.
Fifteen lawmakers are urging Nebraska's executive branch to reconsider after DHHS said this week that it does not intend to apply for federal summer grocery aid for low-income families.