Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
March 19, 2025
Committee Chair: Sen. Rita Sanders | Bills Heard: 4 | Full Transcript (PDF)
LB237: Remove population cap for all-mail elections
Introduced by: Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh | Testimony: 34 proponents, 93 opponents, 0 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Cavanaugh seeks to expand mail-in voting access by removing Nebraska's population cap. LB237 would allow any county to apply for all-mail elections, not just those under 10,000 residents. Currently, 11 counties conduct all-mail elections with no reported integrity problems.
Why it matters: Mail-in voting could boost turnout—all-mail counties saw 15% higher participation rates than the rest of the state. Counties also report cost savings from eliminating multiple polling locations and reducing poll worker recruitment challenges, a particular pain point in rural Nebraska.
What they're saying: - Proponents: "It's a tool, not a mandate," said Beth Bazyn Ferrell of the Nebraska Association of County Officials. Ballot envelopes are coded and scanned to prevent double voting; secrecy is maintained through separation of ballots from identifying information. - Skeptics: Sen. Bob Andersen raised election integrity concerns, asking whether the bill "rolls back" security efforts. Sen. Lonowski cited constituent fears about mail-in fraud.
By the numbers: 34 proponents, 93 opponents, zero neutral testimony. All-mail precincts grew from 21 in 2008 to 160 by 2020. Turnout in all-mail counties increased 16% between 2016-2020.
What's next: No vote was taken. The bill remains in committee.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. John Cavanaugh Skeptical: Sen. Dan Lonowski, Sen. Bob Andersen Unclear: Sen. Dave Wordekemper
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB218: Automatic voter registration at DMV with opt-out option
Introduced by: Sen. John Fredrickson | Testimony: 25 proponents, 38 opponents, 2 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Fredrickson proposes flipping Nebraska's voter registration default from opt-in to opt-out at the DMV. LB218 would automatically register eligible citizens when they renew their driver's license, mirroring a model already used in 24 states and D.C.
Why it matters: Automatic registration boosts participation without sacrificing security. Pennsylvania saw a 45% jump in DMV registrations; Georgia 94%. The bill complements Nebraska's voter ID law by ensuring voter rolls stay current.
What they're saying: - Proponents: "Voter registration should not be a hurdle to exercising our rights," said Gavin Geis of Common Cause Nebraska. The bill includes safeguards: ineligible voters are rejected without penalty. - Skeptics: Sen. Lonowski and Sen. Andersen questioned how citizenship is verified at the DMV, noting that legal residents may not be U.S. citizens.
By the numbers: 25 proponents, 38 opponents, 2 neutral. Fiscal note: $100,000. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 generated 13 million new registrations and 13 million updated records.
What's next: No vote was taken. The bill remains in committee.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. John Cavanaugh Skeptical: Sen. Dan Lonowski, Sen. Bob Andersen
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB672: Campaign contribution limits for candidates
Introduced by: Sen. Jane Raybould | Testimony: 19 proponents, 16 opponents, 0 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Raybould proposes Nebraska's first campaign contribution limits in over a decade, capping donations at $1,000 per election cycle. The bill would make Nebraska one of 45 states with some restrictions on campaign giving. Currently, only Nebraska, Utah, Virginia, Oregon, and Alabama allow entirely unlimited contributions.
Why it matters: Campaign costs have exploded since Nebraska's previous limits were struck down in 2011. The average legislative race now costs $200,000—the highest ever recorded. Raybould cited recent examples: the 2023 Lincoln mayoral race was dominated by one family and one U.S. Senator; the 2022 governor's race saw a major contributor later appointed to the U.S. Senate.
What they're saying: - Proponents: "72% of U.S. adults say there should be limits on election spending," said Gavin Geis of Common Cause Nebraska. In 20 of 25 legislative races, the winning candidate received more donations than the loser. - Opponents: The ACLU's Spike Eickholt argued money is speech and the real problem is the small number of people who can self-fund, not that regular Nebraskans can't support candidates. Kent Rogert warned the bill would increase dark money and super PAC activity.
By the numbers: 19 proponents, 16 opponents. $23 million given to candidates in 2024; $200,000 average per legislative race.
What's next: No vote was taken. Raybould indicated she will revise the bill based on feedback, particularly David Hunter's suggestion to clarify the election period language.
Committee sentiment: Skeptical: Sen. Dan Lonowski, Sen. Bob Andersen, Sen. John Cavanaugh Unclear: Sen. Dave Wordekemper, Sen. McKeon
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB615: Prohibit deceptive AI-generated deepfakes in campaign advertising
Introduced by: Sen. John Cavanaugh | Testimony: 17 proponents, 13 opponents, 0 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Cavanaugh introduces bill to require disclosure when AI-generated deepfakes are used in campaign ads within 90 days of elections. LB615 would not ban deepfakes but would require a label stating the media has been manipulated by artificial intelligence.
Why it matters: AI technology is advancing rapidly and becoming cheaper. A real-world example: during the 2024 New Hampshire primary, an AI-generated voicemail impersonating Joe Biden told voters the election was on a different day. As technology improves, Nebraska needs guardrails before deepfakes become a campaign staple.
What they're saying: - Cavanaugh: "You meet speech with more speech, but when somebody sees it and it looks legitimate, it's very hard to counter." The bill distinguishes between traditional campaign dirty tricks and AI deepfakes that appear authentic. - Opponents: David Hunter of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission said the agency lacks expertise to determine whether synthetic media has been used and would need to hire AI experts. "We do not currently perform such a truth-checking analysis," he testified.
By the numbers: 17 proponents, 13 opponents. Fiscal note: $160,000 (though Cavanaugh disputes this if NADC is removed from enforcement).
What's next: No vote was taken. Cavanaugh acknowledged enforcement mechanism remains unsettled and said he's open to clarifying language to remove NADC from enforcement role. He indicated willingness to continue working on the issue.
Committee sentiment: Skeptical: Sen. Bob Andersen Unclear: Sen. Dan Lonowski, Sen. Guereca
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
Session Notes
Committee Chair Rita Sanders opened with procedural instructions regarding testimony submission, sign-in sheets, and the 3-minute light system. Four bills were heard: LB237 (all-mail elections), LB218 (automatic voter registration), LB672 (campaign contribution limits), and LB615 (AI deepfakes). No votes were taken on any bills. Weather conditions were severe throughout the hearing, with multiple references to treacherous driving conditions. The hearing concluded with Chair Sanders noting the interesting times ahead regarding AI regulation.
Generated by NE Wire Service | Source: Nebraska Legislature Transcribers Office This is an AI-generated summary. Verify all claims against the official transcript.