Lawmaking Process in Nebraska

1. Idea: The process begins when a senator or their staff researches a problem and formulates a legislative idea. The research often happens during the interim period between sessions.
2. Introduction: The senator works with a bill drafter to put the idea into the proper legal form. The bill is introduced during the first 10 days of the legislative session and filed with the Clerk of the Legislature.
3. Committee: A Reference Committee assigns the bill to one of the 14 standing committees. Most bills require a public hearing where citizens can express their opinions. Committees can then vote to send the bill to General File, postpone it, or take no action.
4. General File: This is the first opportunity for full Legislature debate. Senators may propose amendments, and it takes a majority vote (25 votes) to adopt amendments or advance the bill.
5. Enrollment & Review (E & R): Amendments are incorporated into the bill, and the bill is checked for technical accuracy.
6. Select File: This is the second debate stage where further amendments can be made. Bills can be advanced or postponed at this stage.
7. Engrossed: The bill undergoes another review and accuracy check after being advanced from General File.
8. Final Reading: The bill is read in its entirety unless waived by a majority. No amendments are allowed at this stage, and a specific amendment can only return the bill to Select File. Voting is required for final passage.
9. Governor: After passing Final Reading, the bill is sent to the governor. The governor has five days to sign the bill, veto it, or take no action, in which case it becomes law. Veto overrides require a vote of 30 senators.

Effective Date: Most bills become law three calendar months after the Legislature adjourns unless they contain an emergency clause, which allows for an earlier effective date.

A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Nebraska by following these steps: 1. Suggest Ideas for New Laws: Anyone, including concerned citizens, special interest groups, state agencies, or the governor, can suggest ideas for new laws. Citizens can communicate their concerns or ideas directly to their elected senator. 2. Attend Committee Hearings: Most bills must receive a public hearing by a committee. Citizens have the opportunity to express their opinions at these hearings. It is important for the public to attend and testify during these hearings, as their input becomes part of the official committee record. 3. Contact Senators: Individuals can reach out to their elected senators to discuss legislation, share their views, and encourage them to support or oppose certain bills. This can be done through phone calls, emails, or by visiting their office. 4. Follow the Legislative Process: Stay informed about which bills are being debated and the outcomes of committee hearings. Understanding the legislative timeline and the progression of bills can empower citizens to engage more effectively. 5. Advocate for Amendments: During the General File stage, citizens can encourage senators to propose amendments to bills that align with their interests. 6. Participate in Legislative Sessions: Citizens can attend sessions of the Legislature to observe debates and discussions on bills that matter to them.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Nebraska every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

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1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

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7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.