Health and Human Services Committee
March 5, 2025
Committee Chair: Sen. Senator Brian Hardin | Bills Heard: 4 | Full Transcript (PDF)
LB319: End Nebraska's lifetime ban on SNAP benefits for those convicted of certain drug-related felonies
Introduced by: Sen. Victor Rountree | Testimony: 10 proponents, 1 opponents, 0 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Nebraska could join 26 states in eliminating its lifetime SNAP ban for drug felons. LB319 would remove restrictions that currently bar individuals with certain drug convictions from receiving food assistance, affecting roughly 1,000 families. The bill strikes a treatment requirement that currently applies to those with one or two convictions.
Why it matters: Food insecurity is a documented barrier to employment and increases recidivism risk. Supporters argue the ban amounts to double punishment for children in households with a banned parent, since the parent's income counts against benefits while they're excluded from the household size calculation.
What they're saying: - Proponents: "When you cannot gain employment, you cannot pay for your basic necessities, and you may find yourself back in the same old habits," said Ryan Dale, Assistant Chief of the Lincoln Police Department. A mother who spent years unable to access SNAP testified: "Lifting the ban would alleviate a lot of the financial stresses of being able to provide for my family." - Opponents: DHHS Director of Economic Assistance Shannon Grotrian said the department "opposes removing this requirement for SNAP eligibility" because treatment completion is "imperative" to helping individuals return to productive functioning.
By the numbers: 186 online proponents, 13 opponents; 1,022 SNAP applicants per year denied due to drug felonies; 26 states have no ban; 23 states, including Nebraska, have modified bans.
What's next: No vote was taken. The bill remains in committee.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Meyer, Sen. Fredrickson Unclear: Sen. Quick, Sen. Ballard
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB268: Increase hiring wages for direct service providers for developmental disability services
Introduced by: Sen. Victor Rountree | Testimony: 5 proponents, 0 opponents, 2 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Nebraska's direct support professionals could see wages jump to $20.25 per hour under LB268. The bill would tie DSP hiring rates to 150% of the state minimum wage and index them to inflation, addressing what providers say is a crisis-level staffing shortage. The current average hiring wage is $15.56.
Why it matters: Nebraska has the highest DSP turnover rates in the nation. Without competitive wages, providers cannot staff group homes and community-based services for people with developmental disabilities—services that cost far less than institutional care. Providers testified they're operating at deficits and losing staff to gas stations and other employers.
What they're saying: - Proponents: "We're already in the midst of a care crisis," said Alana Schriver of the Nebraska Association of Service Providers. "We actually can't afford not to address this issue as a state." Matt Kasik, CEO of Apace, estimated the actual cost at $27 million (13% increase), far below the fiscal note. - Neutral: No opponents testified. DHHS submitted a fiscal note but did not appear to oppose.
By the numbers: 30 online proponents, 1 opponent, 2 neutral; current average DSP wage $15.56; proposed 2025 wage $20.25; MIT living wage for single adult in Nebraska $20.99; Beatrice State Development Center costs $230,000 per person annually versus $19,000-$134,000 for community-based services.
What's next: No vote was taken. Chair Hardin suggested Senator Rountree circle back to Fiscal Committee to clarify language before the bill reaches the floor.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Meyer, Sen. Quick, Sen. Riepe Skeptical: Sen. Hansen
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB239: Ensure protections for individuals with developmental disabilities during transition to eliminate HCBS waitlist
Introduced by: Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh | Testimony: 6 proponents, 1 opponents, 1 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Senator Cavanaugh is pushing for guardrails as Nebraska eliminates its developmental disability services waitlist. LB239 would require transparent, published assessment criteria and establish a mediation process to resolve disputes—safeguards advocates say are essential as the state transitions 1,500 families from the waitlist to services.
Why it matters: Families testified they're being encouraged to accept lower-level services due to staffing shortages, and some report confusion about which services they qualify for. A 1996 attempt to end the waitlist by policy failed, resulting in a three-to-six year wait returning within years. Statutory protections could prevent history from repeating.
What they're saying: - Proponents: "There's kind of this angst about the unknown," said Edison McDonald of the Arc of Nebraska, noting families were promised comprehensive services but are now being offered lower-level waivers. A parent testified: "It's more work for me to find respite care than it is to provide the care ourselves." - Opponents: Director Tony Green said publishing assessment algorithms "could compromise the tool's integrity, akin to providing the answers to the test in advance." He argued existing fair hearing processes are adequate and changes are premature.
By the numbers: 36 online proponents, 1 opponent, 1 neutral; institutional care costs $230,000 per person annually; community-based services range from $19,000-$134,000; 1,500 families previously on waitlist now receiving services.
What's next: No vote was taken. Senator Cavanaugh indicated willingness to work with DHHS on amendments, particularly regarding the sunset date removal and fiscal note adjustments.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Cavanaugh, Sen. Fredrickson, Sen. Riepe, Sen. Quick, Sen. Hansen
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB202: Protect free speech rights of licensed medical professionals
Introduced by: Sen. Kathleen Kauth | Testimony: 50 proponents, 14 opponents, 1 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Nebraska would protect medical professionals' right to publicly disagree with medical consensus under LB202. The bill prevents state licensing boards from disciplining doctors, nurses, and other licensed providers for expressing differing medical opinions in public or professional forums—but not during patient care.
Why it matters: Supporters say medical professionals fear speaking publicly about controversial treatments or positions, worried their licenses could be revoked. This chilling effect, they argue, limits professional discourse and critical thinking. The bill applies only to state licensing actions, not private employer decisions.
What they're saying: - Proponents: Senator Kauth described a nurse practitioner who "scrubbed her social media history" before applying for jobs because she's pro-life, and a psychiatrist who said "I agree with everything you're trying to do, but I can't say anything for fear of my job." She noted the pressure intensified during COVID around treatments like ivermectin. - Opponents: 14 online opponents submitted comments, but no one testified in opposition.
By the numbers: 50 online proponents, 14 opponents, 1 neutral; no licenses have been revoked under current law that Senator Kauth is aware of.
What's next: No vote was taken. Senator Kauth encouraged the committee to move the bill to the consent calendar.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Riepe, Sen. Meyer Unclear: Sen. Quick
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
Session Notes
The committee heard four bills on March 5, 2025. A significant winter storm affected attendance, with some testifiers unable to travel from western Nebraska. Committee Chair Hardin opened with procedural instructions regarding testifier sheets, time limits (three-minute green light system), and written position submission deadlines. Committee members present included Sens. Riepe, Fredrickson, Quick, Ballard, Meyer, Rountree, Hansen, and Kauth. Legal counsel John Duggar and clerk Barb Dorn assisted. Pages Sydney Cochran and Tate Smith provided support. The committee indicated it would move into executive session following the hearings.
Generated by NE Wire Service | Source: Nebraska Legislature Transcribers Office This is an AI-generated summary. Verify all claims against the official transcript.