|  The Nebraska Legislature has convened for a three-week special session to adopt new political district boundaries that reflect 2020 census populations.
The state constitution requires that the Legislature redraw certain state political district boundaries every 10 years following the federal census. This is done to adjust district size to account for population shifts and to attempt to ensure equal representation for Nebraskans who live in those districts, according to Monday’s Unicameral update. Senators will set new boundaries for Nebraska’s three U.S. House of Representatives districts and 49 legislative districts as well as the Nebraska Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, State Board of Education and University of Nebraska Board of Regents. On Sept. 13, the Redistricting Committee introduced its proposed redistricting plans as a package of eight bills. Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan and Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne created competing legislative redistricting plans, LB3 and LB4, respectively. Both proposals would make several changes to legislative districts across the state. They each would move one district from greater Nebraska to the Omaha metro area to account for a population shift from west to east. Linehan’s proposal would merge parts of existing districts 23 and 24 and create a new district 24 in southeastern Saunders and western Sarpy counties. Wayne’s plan would move District 44 from southwestern Nebraska to southwestern Douglas and western Sarpy counties. The Redistricting Committee hosted public hearings in Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha this week. Click here to read a Unicameral update on Tuesday’s discussion in Grand Island, which focused on rural representation. “It’s critical that we keep a legislator that can speak for us and advocate for our region,” said Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City, who testified that LB4 would split the counties in District 44 among other districts that might not share the same interests. At the Lincoln public hearing on Wednesday morning, several senators testified, describing how the proposed congressional and legislative redistricting plans would affect their districts. Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward opposed LB3, which would merge his District 24 with District 23 and create a new District 24 in Sarpy County. He instead supported LB4, which would keep York and Seward counties together in District 24. “I’m willing to compromise,” Kolterman said, “but don’t tear my district apart.” Floor debate is scheduled to begin Sept. 17, and lawmakers are expected to complete their work by Sept. 30.
2022 is an Election Year - Let's Pump Up IIANPACIt's not too early to start planning grassroots activities for the
General Election coming up in 2022, when Nebraskans will elect a new Governor
and 24 state Senators. To "pump it up", IIAN just introduced a new voluntary IIANPAC contribution schedule which was included in your
agency's membership renewal invoice, effective September 1. Please make sure your agency includes your contribution with your renewal payment! An effective PAC is the necessary third leg of our advocacy team – without enough PAC funds to back us up, all of your volunteer time and effort on our members' behalf (like reviewing and developing agent legislation, testifying before Unicameral committees, contacting Senators) – as well as the efforts of our professional lobbying force headed by Perre Neilan – could not be nearly as effective. Click here to learn how to get involved!
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