Nebraskans will have the opportunity to vote on six ballot issues in November, covering the topics of abortion rights, medical marijuana, paid sick leave and whether the state should pay for private school scholarships. Here's a look at each:
Paid sick leave
If approved, Nebraska employers with fewer than 20 workers would have to offer at least five days of paid sick leave per year, or one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with 20 or more workers would have to offer at least seven days per year. The requirements would take effect in October 2025.
Here is the ballot language for the Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans initiative:
“A vote ‘FOR’ will enact a statute which: (1) provides eligible employees the right to earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs; (2) entitles employees of employers with fewer than 20 employees to accrue and use up to 40 hours of such time annually and those employed by employers with 20 or more employees to accrue and use up to 56 hours of such time annually; (3) specifies conditions regarding paid sick time; (4) prohibits retaliation against employees for exercising such rights; (5) adopts documentation requirements; and (6) establishes enforcement powers and a civil cause of action for violations.
A vote ‘AGAINST’ means such a statute will not be enacted.”
Medical marijuana
A pair of initiatives would effectively legalize medical marijuana if approved.
PATIENT PROTECTION: One petition would allow qualified patients to use marijuana for medical conditions with the recommendation of a health care provider and legally protect providers. It would also allow caregivers to assist patients in using medical marijuana, if necessary.
REGULATION: The second petition would set up the regulatory process for the manufacture and distribution of medical marijuana to patients.
Here is the proposed ballot language for the patient protection initiative:
“A vote ‘FOR’ will enact a statute that makes penalties inapplicable under state and local law for the use, possession, and acquisition of an allowable amount (up to five ounces) of cannabis for medical purposes by a qualified patient with a written recommendation from a health care practitioner, and for a caregiver to assist a qualified patient with these activities.
A vote ‘AGAINST’ means such a statute will not be enacted.”
Here is the proposed ballot language for the regulatory initiative:
“A vote ‘FOR’ will enact a statute that makes penalties inapplicable under state law for the possession, manufacture, distribution, delivery, and dispensing of cannabis for medical purposes by registered private entities, and that establishes a Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate such activities.
A vote ‘AGAINST’ means such a statute will not be enacted.”
Abortion restrictions, rights
Competing measures that would expand or limit abortion rights will appear on the November ballot. The Secretary of State has said that whichever receives the most votes will become law.
ABORTION RESTRICTIONS: Amend the state constitution to ban most abortions after the first trimester, with certain exceptions for medical emergencies or in cases involving a sexual assault or incest.
Here is the language the Protect Women and Children initiative would ask voters to approve:
“Article I of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 that states as follows: ‘Except when a woman seeks an abortion necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters.’”
ABORTION RIGHTS: Amend the state’s constitution to establish the right to an abortion up until fetal viability, or later to protect the health of the pregnant woman.
Here is the language the Protect Our Rights initiative would ask voters to approve:
“Article I of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 that states as shown: ‘All persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability means the point in the pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient’s treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medial measures.’”
Repeal private school scholarships
Nebraskans will be able to repeal part of a recent law that appropriates state funds to support student scholarships to private and faith-based K-12 schools.
Here is the language for the Support Our Schools initiative:
“A vote to ‘Retain’ will keep in effect Section 1 of Legislative Bill 1402 enacted in 2024 by the Nebraska Legislature. Section 1 of Legislative Bill 1402 provides for $10 million annually to fund education scholarships to pay all or part of the cost to educate eligible students attending nongovernmental, privately operated elementary and secondary schools in Nebraska.
A vote to ‘Repeal’ will eliminate the funding and scholarship provisions in Section 1 of Legislative Bill 1402.”
Peggy Kruce (left) and Gaylord Kruce vote in the primary election on May 14 at IBEW Local 265 in Lincoln. Nebraskans will have the opportunity to vote on six ballot issues in November.