Note from Meg:

Dear friends and neighbors, 

On March 3rd, after weeks of passionate hearings and testimony, the committee hearings came to a close. The legislature has now moved to all-day floor debate – beginning with priority bill selections. I hope you continue to stay in touch with me on any issue that is of importance to you throughout this process.

Each Senator is allowed to designate one bill as a personal priority bill and each committee can designate two committee priority bills. In addition, the Speaker designates another 25 priority bills. This session I have prioritized LB121 – a bill that would remove the lifetime ban on SNAP eligibility for people with certain drug convictions. I requested LB932 as a priority bill from Speaker Hilgers. This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to notify foster youth and their guardians of their social security benefits. Unfortunately, Speaker Hilgers did not select this bill as one of his priority bills.

A big focus of mine this session has been opposing bills that do not represent the values Nebraskans hold dear. These bills include- LB939, LB1023, LB1015 among others. LB939 would reduce taxes for Nebraska’s highest individual earners while doing nothing for the majority of Nebraskans; LB1023 would appropriate $200 million of federal pandemic recovery funds to build a lake between Omaha and Lincoln when this money should be used for the services Nebraskans are asking us for such as rental assistance, mental healthcare, etc.; and LB1015 would use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to build a canal that would divert South Platte River water from Colorado to Nebraska. This bill is in search of a problem as Colorado has not violated the water compact agreement between them and Nebraska. The canal will cost $500 million dollars with $100 million coming from ARPA funds. LB1023 and LB1015 would both use relief funds irresponsibly. We need your support in defeating these four bills.

As all-day floor debate continues, your voice matters. Since committee hearings have ceased this session, online comments will not be included on the official record. However, feedback is still relevant and important as bills progress.

All the best,

Meg

Senator Hunt’s Bio:

Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2018

Born: May 9, 1986, in Blair.

Education: Graduate of Blair High School, 2004; Dana College (B.A. in intercultural communication and German), 2008.

Family: One child: Alice

Occupation: Founder, Hello Holiday; founder and vice president, Safe Space Nebraska; co-founder, Majorette.

Former: Founder, CAMP Coworking and Princess Lasertron.

Member: Friends of Planned Parenthood, 2015-present; trustee, Business Ethics Alliance, 2014-present.

Former member: Board, Omaha Area Youth Orchestras, 2013-17.

Honors and awards: 2016 Omaha Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Omahans award; 2011 Midlands Business   

Journal 40 Under 40; 2010 Shout Magazine 30 Under 30.

Information on Senator Megan Hunt gained from the Nebraska Legislature Website.