109th Legislature · Long Session · Jan 8 – Jun 2, 2025 · 90 days
Nebraska voters showed up in November 2024. The legislature spent the next 5 months undoing it.
Voters passed paid sick leave, medical cannabis, and a minimum wage increase. The 109th Legislature gutted sick leave protections for 140,000 workers, blocked cannabis implementation entirely, and took a run at the minimum wage. Meanwhile, the state handed $1.5 billion in corporate tax incentives to businesses over the next four years. The governor vetoed food aid for people with drug convictions. He also vetoed bed bug inspections for public housing residents. That's the 2025 session.
The People Voted. Here's What Happened.
Paid Sick Leave
Passed by voters Nov. 2024
What voters approved: Required employers to provide up to 56 hours/year of paid sick leave. Effective Oct. 1, 2025.
What actually happened
LB 415 quietly raised the employer threshold from 0 to 11+ employees and added sweeping exemptions for agricultural workers, seasonal workers, and workers under 16. 140,000 Nebraskans lost the protections they voted for.
Bill: LB 415 · Source: Nebraska Appleseed
Medical Cannabis
Passed 67–71% Nov. 2024
What voters approved: Established a medical cannabis program. Commission required to begin issuing registrations by Oct. 1, 2025.
What actually happened
A regulation bill failed to get out of committee in April, then failed to overcome a filibuster in May led by Sen. Jared Storm. Gov. Pillen and AG Mike Hilgers actively encouraged senators not to vote. The law voters passed sits unimplemented.
Source: Nebraska Public Media
Minimum Wage Increase
Passed 58% in 2022
What voters approved: Gradual increase to $15/hour by Jan. 1, 2026. Currently at $13.50/hour and on schedule.
What actually happened
LB 258 advanced 32–17 in April 2025 with amendments that would have weakened the increase. Opponents rallied and the effort stalled — but it signals the legislature is willing to revisit voter-approved wage law.
Bill: LB 258 · Source: Nebraska Examiner
Vetoed by the Governor
SNAP benefits for people with drug convictions
Passed 32–17 · Override failed 24–24
Would have extended food assistance eligibility to people with 3+ drug felony convictions who had completed their sentence or were in treatment — not while incarcerated.
Governor's reasoning
Gov. Pillen called it a 'loophole for habitual offenders.' Override failed 24–24 (needed 30).
Real impact
People who served their time and are in recovery remain cut off from food assistance.
Source: Nebraska Examiner
Bed bug inspections in Omaha public housing
Passed 34–15 · Override failed 24–24
Required pest inspections every 6 months in Omaha Housing Authority towers where low-income residents had been suffering severe bed bug infestations.
Governor's reasoning
Gov. Pillen called it 'needless duplicative government mandates.' Override failed 24–24.
Real impact
Low-income residents in publicly subsidized housing have no new inspection requirements.
Source: Nebraska Examiner
Meanwhile
$1.5 Billion
In business tax incentives the Nebraska state auditor flagged as available to corporations over the next four fiscal years — the same session that denied food aid to people in recovery and blocked inspections for bed bug-infested public housing.
Source: Nebraska Examiner, April 2025 · Gov. Pillen acknowledged the need to make incentives "more people-focused and less company-focused"
What Actually Passed for Regular Nebraskans
340B Drug Discount Protection
Protected rural hospitals' access to the federal 340B drug discount program. Rural hospital pharmacists were losing ~40% of their savings from manufacturer restrictions.
Rural hospitals operate on margins as thin as 1.4%. This kept many from closing.
Cell phones out of schools
Required all Nebraska schools to enact policies limiting cell phone use. Took effect before the 2025–26 school year.
One of the few bills with broad bipartisan support and a clear benefit to kids and teachers.
Social media parental controls
Requires platforms to give parents tools to restrict their minor children's social media accounts. Passed 46–3.
Strong public support and one of the session's clearest wins for Nebraska families.
Sources: Nebraska Examiner · Nebraska Public Media · Ballotpedia · Nebraska Appleseed