Pillen signs bill eliminating Nebraska’s ‘school choice’ law ahead of November vote to repeal it
Governor also vetoed bill to allow tort claims in child abuse cases
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - Gov. Jim Pillen signed five bills and their corresponding funding Wednesday, including the bill that effectively eliminates a law that will be on the Nebraska ballot in November.
LB1402 was the very last item passed by the Legislature on Thursday — the last day of the session — provides the state a workaround to the “school choice” law that is already going to appear as a ballot intiative for Nebraska voters in November. Support Our Schools Nebraska submitted nearly double the amount of required signatures to put the issue in front of voters.
Passed last year, LB753, known as the Opportunity Scholarships Act, diverted public funds to private schools by way of scholarships; LB1402 eliminates the Opportunity Scholarships Act and instead allows the state to earmark $10 million of the General Fund for private school scholarships. And because it was passed with an emergency clause, it went into effect immediately after the governor signed it.
Opponents have called LB1402 an “end-run” around last year’s petition drive to repeal LB753. The effort not only yielded an overwhelming total of signatures but also survived Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan’s appeal to the Secretary of State to have it removed from the ballot.
The Nebraska State Education Association said last week that it intends to launch another petition drive to overturn LB1402 — and could mount legal action as well.
OTHER BILLS SIGNED
Also signed by the governor on Thursday:
- LB126 & 126A changes provisions relating to homestead exemptions and property assessment and tax rolls.
- LB937 & 937A provides for tax credits, tax exemptions, and certain grant programs and change provisions relating to tax credits and fuel taxes.
- LB1023 & 1023A providing certain business deductions and other incentives under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act.
- LB1317 & 1317A is a multipurpose appropriations bill, providing funds for several legislative initiatives from the session including sports arena financing, economic development in the “Good Life District,” nitrate sensors, and EV charging stations; making changes to health insurance for first responders to include their families; as well as changing provisions on things like rent-restricted housing projects. This bill passed with an emergency clause, putting it into effect upon receiving the governor’s signature.
The governor also vetoed LB25, which would have allowed claims to be made against government entities in child abuse and child sexual assault cases.
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