‘Don’t want to do that again’: Nebraska senators begin session, aim to avoid another 2023

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Senators met at the State Capitol on Wednesday for the start of Nebraska’s 2024 legislative session.

Last year’s session included debates over gender-affirming surgeries, abortion and permitless concealed carry.

The session was marred by filibusters, which caused lawmakers to scramble to get bills passed.

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch said the state doesn’t want to continue to see these divisions. 

“There was a general sense like, ‘We don’t want to do that again,'” he said.  “Over the summer, there’s been a lot of meetings, a lot of that attempt to build those relationships outside of policy, just human to human.” 

Sen. George Dungan said this year’s priorities will likely be addressing the housing crisis and easing the workforce shortage. 

“I think it’s very important that we continue to try to work on finding things where we all get together and agree on,” Dungan said.

This year’s session will only last 60 days and is tentatively scheduled to end on April 18.

Arch proposed a rule change to limit debate on the rules and procedures and focus debate time on policies.