Nebraska State Senate (Unicameral)

Nebraska State Senate
General Information
Party control:	Republican
Session start:	January 8, 2025
Session end:	May 30, 2025
Term length:	4 years
Term limits:	2 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:	Legislature-dominant
Salary:	$12,000/year + per diem
Members
Total:	49
Democrats:	14
Republicans:	33
Other:	2
Vacancies:	0
Leadership
President:	Joe Kelly (Nebraska) (R)
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026

The Nebraska State Senate forms the legislative branch of the Nebraska state government and works alongside the governor of Nebraska to create laws and establish a state budget. It is unique in that it is the only state legislature in the country that is unicameral. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Nebraska State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Nebraska State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Twenty-five of the chamber's 49 seats were up for election in 2024. The chamber's Republican supermajority increased from 32-17 to 33-14 with two independents.

Twenty-four of the chamber's 49 seats were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Republican supermajority remained 32-17.

Nebraska has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and the upper chamber of the state legislature. Nebraska's legislature does not have a lower chamber.

This page contains the following information on the Nebraska State Senate.

• Which party controls the chamber
• The chamber's current membership
• Partisan control of the chamber over time
• Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
• A district map
• How redistricting works in the state
• Legislation currently under consideration
• Legislative session dates
• Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
• A list of committees

Party control[edit]

Partisan affiliation[edit]

There are no formal party alignments or groups within the Nebraska State Senate. Coalitions tend to form issue-by-issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background, and constituency. However, almost all of the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats. Senators and candidates are listed as officially nonpartisan, but in most cases the individual has a direct party affiliation. As an example, in most cases if a sitting senator runs for Congress, the individual runs on either the Democratic or Republican line on the ballot.

Click here for more information on how Ballotpedia determined the partisan affiliation for Nebraska senators. »

Current partisan control[edit]

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Nebraska State Senate as of April 2025:

Party		As of April 2025
	Democratic Party	14
	Republican Party	33
	Other	2
	Vacancy	0
Total		49

Members[edit]

Leadership[edit]

The speaker presides over the legislature in the absence of the lieutenant governor, but the day-to-day matters of the body are dealt with by the Executive Board. The board includes the speaker, a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and six other senators. The chairperson and vice-chairperson are chosen for two-year terms by the legislature as a whole. Senators are classified into three geographically-based caucuses; each caucus elects two board members. Finally, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee serves, but cannot vote on any matter, and can only speak on fiscal matters.^[1]

Leadership and members[edit]

• Senate president: Joe Kelly (Nebraska) (R)
• Legislature speaker: John Arch (R)

The Nebraska State Senate is officially a nonpartisan chamber; click here for more information about why sitting members have political party affiliations listed.

Salaries[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024[2]
Salary	Per diem
$12,000/year	For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $55/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $151/day.

Swearing in dates[edit]

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Nebraska legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.^[3]

Membership qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

A candidate for the Nebraska Legislature must meet the following qualifications:^[4]

• Be registered to vote
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Be a resident of Nebraska, and specifically a resident of the legislative district he or she wishes to serve, for at least one year prior to the general election

Historical party control[edit]

Republicans maintained control of the Nebraska State Senate in 2024. That year, they won a 33-14 majority with two independents.

While Nebraska's Unicameral is officially nonpartisan, most of its lawmakers are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party. In 2015, Ballotpedia began to identify the party affiliation of the Legislature's 49 members. Ballotpedia assigned party affiliation based on voter registration, member lists provided by the Nebraska Democratic Party and Nebraska Republican Party, as well as information provided by nonprofit organizations.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Nebraska State Senate following the 2014 general election.

Nebraska State Senate election results: 2014-2022

Party	14	16	20	22	24
Democrats	12	15	17	17	14
Republicans	35	32	32	32	33
Other	2	2	0	0	2

In 1934, Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment that transformed Nebraska's bicameral, or two-chamber, state legislature into a unicameral, or single-chamber, Nebraska State Senate. The amendment also established the state legislature as a nonpartisan body. The new unicameral Legislature met for the first time in 1937.^[5]

Trifecta history[edit]

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Nebraska was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 1992-1998
• Republican trifecta: 1999-2023
• Divided government: None

Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2024
Seven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Elections[edit]

Elections by year[edit]

Nebraska state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Nebraska holds elections for its legislature in even years.

Members are selected in nonpartisan elections. Rather than separate primaries held to choose Republican, Democratic, and other partisan contenders for a seat, Nebraska uses a single nonpartisan primary election, in which the top two vote-getters are entitled to run in the general election. There are no formal party alignments or groups within the Legislature. Coalitions tend to form issue by issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background, and constituency. However, almost all the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats. In short, while Senators and candidates are listed as officially nonpartisan, but in most cases the individual has a direct party affiliation. For more information about the partisan affiliations of the members, please click here.

2026[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was May 14, 2024. The filing deadline for an incumbent was February 15, 2024. The filing deadline for non-incumbent candidates was March 1, 2024.

In the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained their 33-14 majority with two seats nonpartisan officeholders.

Nebraska State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	15	14
	Republican Party	33	33
	Nonpartisan	1	2
Total		49	49

2022[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 10, 2022. The filing deadline for incumbents was February 15, 2022. The filing deadline for non-incumbent primary candidates was March 1, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Republicans maintained their 32-17 majority.

Nebraska State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	17	17
	Republican Party	32	32
Total		49	49

2020[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for May 12, 2020. The filing deadline was March 2, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Nebraska State Senate from 30-18 to 32-17.

Nebraska State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	18	17
	Republican Party	30	32
	Independent	1	0
Total		49	49

2018[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2018. A top-two primary took place on May 15, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline for incumbents was February 15, 2018. The candidate filing deadline for non-incumbents was March 1, 2018.^[6]

In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Nebraska State Senate decreased from 30-16 to 29-18.

Nebraska State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	16	18
	Republican Party	30	29
	Libertarian Party	1	1
	Independent	1	1
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		49	49

2016[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016, for incumbents. Challengers were required to file by March 1, 2016.^[7] A total of 25 seats were up for election.

The officially nonpartisan Nebraska Unicameral maintained a Republican majority after the 2016 elections. Democrats did take three seats, altering the partisan balance slightly in the process.

Nebraska Unicameral
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	12	15
	Republican Party	35	32
	Independent	1	1
	Libertarian Party	1	1
Total		49	49

2014[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day.

2012[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 15, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 15, 2012, for incumbents and March 1, 2012, for non-incumbents. A total of 26 seats were up for election.

The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012.

2012 Margin of Victory, Nebraska State Senate
District	Winner	Margin of Victory	Total Votes	Top Opponent
District 21	Ken Haar	0.6%	13,653	Mike Hilgers
District 29	Kate Bolz	1.8%	17,823	Larry Zimmerman
District 2	Bill Kintner	2.3%	15,969	Paul Lambert
District 45	Sue Crawford	2.8%	13,840	Richard Carter
District 43	Al Davis	3.6%	16,887	John Ravenscroft
District 31	Rick Kolowski	4%	17,534	Acela Turco
District 37	Galen Hadley	4.3%	14,148	Josiah Woodward
District 23	Jerry Johnson	7.3%	14,966	Vern Barrett
District 1	Dan Watermeier	11.6%	15,663	Jerry Joy
District 3	Scott Price	12.1%	12,487	Suzanne McNamara

During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,167,514. The top 10 contributors were:^[8]

2012 Donors, Nebraska State Senate
Donor	Amount
Nebraska State Education Association	$322,829
Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce & Industry	$86,414
Nebraska Bankers Association	$84,793
Nebraska Realtors Association	$80,250
Nebraska Telecommunications Association	$65,130
Nebraska Hospital Association	$54,750
Nebraska Farm Bureau	$51,972
Nebraska Optometric Association	$50,660
Nebraska Cooperative Council	$49,560
Nebraska United Transportation Union	$48,500

2010[edit]

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 11, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 15, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state Senate raised a total of $1,597,466 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:^[9]

2010 Donors, Nebraska State Senate
Donor	Amount
Nebraska Education Association	$80,347
Union Pacific Railroad	$67,500
Nebraska Bankers Association	$66,682
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry	$61,584
Nebraska Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors	$53,643
Nebraska Realtors Association	$49,850
Nebraska Optometric Association	$49,242
Nebraska State AFL-CIO	$37,929
Associated General Contractors of Nebraska	$37,765
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys	$35,500

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2008[edit] See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 13, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. A total of 25 seats were up for election. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $3,705,260. The top 10 contributors were:[10] 2008 Donors, Nebraska State Senate Donor Amount Nebraska Education Association $105,845 Nebraska Bankers Association $100,960 Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce & Industry $92,198 Jeffers, James Arthur $89,081 Nebraska Realtors Association $76,125 Public Fund $67,930 Union Pacific Railroad $65,000 Nebraska Association Of Insurance & Financial Advisors $62,076 Nebraska PAC $58,482 Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys $53,500 2006[edit] See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 9, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. A total of 24 seats were up for election. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 1, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $3,446,671. The top 10 contributors were:[11] 2006 Donors, Nebraska State Senate Donor Amount Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce & Industry $109,285 Nebraska Bankers Association $94,100 Greater Omaha Chamber Of Commerce $72,300 Nebraska Realtors Association $59,563 Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys $59,238 Nebraska Education Association $53,373 Nebraska Association Of Insurance & Financial Advisors $49,350 Kaschke, Marc $40,000 Associated General Contractors Of Nebraska $38,636 Nebraska United Transportation Union $35,000 2004[edit] See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 11, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 1, 2004. A total of 24 seats were up for election. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,591,117. The top 10 contributors were:[12] 2004 Donors, Nebraska State Senate Donor Amount Nebraska Education Association $60,863 Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce & Industry $50,796 Nebraska Bankers Association $44,050 Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys $39,000 Nebraska Realtors Association $34,267 Nebraska United Transportation Union $27,530 Greater Omaha Chamber Of Commerce $24,903 Nebraska Farm Bureau $24,006 Nebraska Cooperative Council $23,550 Highway Improvement PAC $23,400 2002[edit] See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 14, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. A total of 27 seats were up for election. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,346,267. The top 10 contributors were:[13] 2002 Donors, Nebraska State Senate Donor Amount Nebraska State Education Association $71,915 Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce & Industry $59,033 Nebraska Bankers Association $52,700 Nebraska United Transportation Union $31,664 Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys $29,250 Nebraska Realtors Association $27,750 Nebraska Association Of Insurance & Financial Advisors $27,500 Nebraska Farm Bureau $26,200 Nebraska CPAs $22,250 Union Pacific Railroad $20,200 2000[edit] See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 9, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. A total of 26 seats were up for election. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $2,040,637. The top 10 contributors were:[14] 2000 Donors, Nebraska State Senate Donor Amount Nebraska State Education Association $107,973 Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce & Industry $64,595 Nebraska Bankers Association $44,205 Nebraska United Transportation Union $41,134 Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys $40,500 Nebraska Realtors Association $38,400 Union Pacific Railroad $31,900 Nebraska CPAs $27,121 Nebraska PAC $26,235 Anheuser-Busch $24,195

Term limits[edit]

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Nebraska State Senate is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Nebraska Term Limits Act in 2000. That initiative limited senators to terms of no more than two four-year terms.^[15]

The first year that the term limits enacted in 2000 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2008.

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Nebraska State Legislature, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. If the vacancy occurs after May 1 of the official's second year in office, the replacement must serve the remainder of the unexpired term. If the vacancy happens before that date, the replacement serves the remainder of the unfilled term before the next general election when a new representative is elected.^[16]

See sources: Nebraska Rev. Stat. §32-566

District map[edit]

See also: Nebraska state legislative districts

The state of Nebraska has 49 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska

In Nebraska, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority is required to approve a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.^[17]

The Nebraska Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous and compact, and they keep to county boundaries 'whenever practicable.'"^[17][18]

On April 8, 2011, the state legislature approved the following redistricting guidelines:^[17]

1. Congressional districts should be held to the same aforementioned constitutional requirements as state legislative districts.
2. Both congressional and state legislative districts should be "understandable to voters, preserve the cores of prior districts, and keep to boundaries of cities and villages when feasible."
3. District boundaries "should not be established with the intention of favoring a political party, other group or any person."

The legislature is entitled to amend these guidelines at its discretion.^[17]

2020[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2020 census

On September 30, 2021, the Nebraska State Legislature approved a new state legislative map, 37-7. Gov. Pete Ricketts signed the map into law shortly afterwards.^[19] This map took effect for Nebraska's 2022 legislative elections.

District map before and after 2020 redistricting[edit]

Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

2010[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2010 census

On May 26, 2011, the state Senate approved congressional and state legislative district maps. These were signed into law by the governor on the same day.^[20]

Sessions[edit]

Legislation[edit]

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Nebraska State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in Nebraska by year[edit]

2025[edit]

See also: 2025 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2025, and adjourn on May 30, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024[edit] See also: 2024 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on April 18, 2024. 2023[edit] See also: 2023 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2023, and adjourn on June 1, 2023. 2022[edit] See also: 2022 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2022, and adjourn on April 20, 2022. 2021[edit] See also: 2021 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2021, and adjourn on May 27, 2021. 2020[edit] See also: 2020 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2020, and adjourn on August 13, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic[edit] See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Nebraska State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 16, 2020, through July 20, 2020. The legislature adjourned on August 13, 2020.[21][22] 2019[edit] See also: 2019 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2019, through May 31, 2019. 2018[edit] See also: 2018 Nebraska legislative session and Dates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through April 18, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017[edit] See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 4, 2017, through May 23, 2017. 2016[edit] See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 6 through April 20. Major issues[edit] Major issues in the 2016 legislative session included a $110 million state budget shortfall, taxes and prison reforms, school finance, and infrastructure finance and planning.[23] 2015[edit] See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 7 to May 29. Major issues in 2015[edit] Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included school funding, prison reform, the budget, and taxes.[24][25] 2014[edit] See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 through April 18. Major issues in 2014[edit] Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included tax cuts, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, and electronic cigarettes.[26] 2013[edit] See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 9 to June 5. Major issues in 2013[edit] Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included addressing a projected $194 million budget shortfall, expanding Medicaid and increased state aid to the University of Nebraska system, and state colleges.[27] 2012[edit] See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 4 through April 18. Major issues in 2012[edit] At the top of the list for the legislature was reforming the state's child welfare system, while Governor Dave Heineman's (R) priorities were job creation and maintaining fiscal discipline.[28] 2011[edit] In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 5 through June 8.[29] 2010[edit] In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 6th to April 14th.[30]

About legislative sessions in Nebraska[edit]

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.^[31] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Article III of the Nebraska Constitution establishes when the Senate is to be in session. Section 10 of Article III states that the Senate is to convene annually on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January. In odd-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to ninety days. In even-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to sixty days. Sessions in any year can be extended by a four-fifths majority of the Senate.

Legislative roles and procedures[edit]

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, term limits, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

Veto overrides[edit]

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Nebraska are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Three-fifths of members.

Three-fifths of members in Nebraska's unicameral chamber can vote to override a veto, which is 30 of the 49 members. Nebraska is one of seven states that requires a three-fifths vote from the legislature to override a veto.

Authority: Article IV, Section 15 of the Nebraska Constitution.

"Every bill passed by the Legislature, before it becomes a law, shall be presented to the Governor. If he approves he shall sign it, and thereupon it shall become a law, but if he does not approve or reduces any item or items of appropriations, he shall return it with his objections to the Legislature, which shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider the bill with the objections as a whole, or proceed to reconsider individually the item or items disapproved or reduced. If then three-fifths of the members elected agree to pass the bill with objections it shall become a law, or if three-fifths of the members elected agree to repass any item or items disapproved or reduced, the bill with such repassage shall become a law."

Role in state budget[edit]

See also: Nebraska state budget and finances

Nebraska on

Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[32]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July.
2. Agency requests are submitted to the governor by September 15.
3. On or before January 15, the governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Nebraska State Senate. The deadline is February 1 for newly elected governors.
4. The Senate adopts a budget in May. Two-thirds of elected members must vote for the budget in order for it to pass.

Nebraska is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.^[32][33]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is statutorily required to adopt a balanced budget.^[32]

Committees[edit]

See also: List of committees in Nebraska state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

• Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
• Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
• Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Nebraska State Senate has 14 standing committees:

Constitutional amendments[edit]

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Nebraska Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article XVI and Article III of the Nebraska Constitution, and Laws governing the initiative process in Nebraska

Nebraska Constitution
Preamble
Articles
I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • XV • XVI • XVII • XVIII

Nebraska offers three different paths to amending its constitution:

• The legislature can propose legislatively referred constitutional amendments, which are defined in Section 1 of Article XVI.

• Sixty percent of the members of the state legislature must vote for the proposed amendment.
• The legislature can call a special statewide election to present the proposed amendment to the voters if 80 percent of the members of the state legislature vote for any such special election.
• If no special election is called, the proposed amendment must go on the next general election ballot that includes elections for members of the state legislature.
• The amendment becomes part of the constitution if a majority of those voting on the measure vote for it and if it wins favorable votes from at least 35 percent of those voting in the election for any office.

• A constitutional convention can be held to "revise, amend, or change" the constitution if 60 percent of Nebraska's legislators agree to put a question about whether to have such a convention before the state's voters.

• A convention is held if the question wins by a majority vote as long as those voting in favor equal at least 35 percent of those voting in the election.
• Voters must ratify amendments or revisions proposed by the convention.

• An initiated constitutional amendment can be used by the state's citizens to propose constitutional amendments.

• The rules for this are set out in Sections 2 and 4 of Article III.
• The number of signatures required to qualify an amendment for the ballot is 10 percent of the state's registered voters.

See also[edit]

Elections	Nebraska State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Nebraska State Senate elections, 2024 Nebraska State Senate elections, 2022 Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020 Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018	Governor of Nebraska Nebraska Supreme Court	State legislative elections: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links[edit]

• Nebraska Legislature

Footnotes[edit]

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