As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, lawmakers leave Lincoln after months of debate shaped largely by budget constraints. Here’s a look at some of the key issues that defined the session.
Protecting Nebraska’s Elections
Election policy remained a central focus for Civic Nebraska this session. We testified on nearly a dozen pieces of legislation, advocating for policies that protect access to the ballot and uphold trust in our election systems.
One of the most notable proposals was LB884, introduced by Sen. Bob Andersen, which, among other things, would require Nebraska to use the SAVE program for citizenship verification of voters. While the bill ultimately advanced, the provision requiring the SAVE program was dropped. This outcome avoided the adoption of a system that has raised concerns about accuracy, reliability, and efficiency for voter verification purposes.
We also testified in opposition to LR283CA, a constitutional amendment from Sen. Barry DeKay, which would have asked voters to replace our current electoral eligibility with “every citizen” to “only citizens”. This proposed change reflects broader conversations about alleged fraudulent voting, despite a lack of evidence indicating non-citizen voting in Nebraska.
We also saw LR24CA prioritized by newly appointed Sen. Fred Meyer in an effort to eliminate Nebraska’s split electoral voting system. Neither LR283CA nor LR24CA were scheduled for debate this session, though similar proposals may be revisited in future sessions. We remain committed to engaging with policies that impact voter access, election administration, and the fair representation of Nebraskans’ voices.
Not all of our testimonies were in opposition though. LR284CA, a constitutional amendment introduced by Sen. Terrell McKinney, would ask voters to expand voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in Nebraska — a change that would strengthen democracy by helping young people build lifelong voting habits and better understand how the government works.
A Session Defined by Budget Pressures
This year’s legislative session was characterized by a $646 million budget deficit, shaping much of the 60-day legislative agenda. Debate focused heavily on income taxes, sales taxes, and spending levels.
After multiple rounds of debate and negotiation, the Legislature passed a balanced budget. However, differences between projected and actual revenue will continue to influence fiscal discussions in future sessions.
Key Policy Developments
Several notable policy changes and proposals emerged during the session:
- Childcare Policy: Legislation that enshrined our current childcare subsidy level passed with a bipartisan, resounding vote, securing childcare eligibility for thousands of families in Nebraska.
- Medicaid adjustments: Further changes to the state’s Medicaid program were adopted in response to federal funding shifts.
Other proposals did not advance:
- Medical Cannabis Implementation: Efforts to further clarify the voter-approved medical cannabis rules and regulations were unsuccessful after an anti-trans healthcare bill was attached to the legislation during debate.
Other continued topics of debate were increased criminal penalties, reading requirements for grade schoolers, rural workforce housing and tax incentives for corporations. However, one topic we heard very little about: property tax relief.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 session highlighted the intersection of fiscal challenges and policy priorities in Nebraska. While many issues remain unresolved, we know that election-related proposals will continue to be a theme in future sessions.
We will continue to monitor and engage on legislation that affects Nebraska’s election systems and voter access in the months ahead.