Lawmakers adjourned for a long weekend Thursday 50 minutes into a second-round filibuster launched by opponents to a proposed update of Nebraska's civics education requirements.
In soundly defeating a first-round filibuster attempt led by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers in February, Sen. Julie Slama of Peru advanced her bill (LB399) updating Nebraska's 1949 Americanism statutes.
Chambers, who led the filibuster along with fellow Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, once again stated his intention to take as much time as necessary to defeat Slama's bill, but indicated he would try a different approach.
Previously, Chambers attacked the bill as ignoring the experiences of African-Americans, drawing rebuke from other senators and conservative media for referring to the American flag as a "rag," what he called a symbol for "every hateful thing that was done against black people" in U.S. history.
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This time, the longtime senator said he would focus on the bill's grammar and syntax, which he denounced as poorly written and embarrassing.
"This would be an embarrassment if corrections are not made," Chambers said. "I resent the fact that I have to do other people's work."
Most of Thursday's debate, however, centered on a proposed amendment from Hunt removing language from the bill she said made patriotism compulsory in Nebraska's schools.
"Students have a right to a curriculum that's designed by historians, by academics, people who know the context of the history and the context of what we're not teaching in history classrooms," Hunt said.
Her amendment also kept requirements Nebraska students would have to complete before they could graduate that were earlier amended into Slama's bill.
Those include schools requiring students take the civics portion of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization exam, attend a meeting of a local governmental body and write a report about it, or complete a paper or project about a person or event in American history.
Slama went point-by-point in refuting Hunt's amendment, saying it eliminated provisions requiring schools teach about "the dangers and fallacies of Nazism and Communism," did away with requirements to teach patriotic songs and "reverence for the flag," and gave schools discretion when to observe state and national holidays rather than requiring.
Responding to Slama, Hunt said schools will still teach students those topics even if they aren't required by statute.
Education Committee Chairman Mike Groene said LB399 "doesn't dictate anything," but provides direction to the Nebraska Department of Education and local school boards in forming civics curriculum.
"The new language says 'It is the responsibility of society to ensure youth are given the opportunity,'" Groene said. "There's no brainwashing there, there's no forcing, there's no telling they have to, there's no saying you have to get a 98 percent on the loyalty test. It's the opportunity."
Hunt's amendment failed 31-12 shortly before the Legislature wrapped up its work for the week.
Debate over Slama's bill, including proposed amendments from Chambers and Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas, will likely continue for 40 minutes when senators reconvene Tuesday, and it could get an additional 1.5 hours later next week before senators vote to move it forward to the third and final round of consideration.
Also Thursday, the Legislature sent 33 bills to the desk of Gov. Pete Ricketts, including:
Eliminating slavery
Nebraska voters will decide whether or not to eliminate slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime in the state during the November 2020 elections. Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne's proposed constitutional amendment passed with 44 votes and was presented to Secretary of State Bob Evnen on Thursday.
Automatic levy reduction
Property tax levies will automatically drop as valuations increase, under a bill (LB103) introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, requiring the elected board of the political subdivision to publicly vote to raise the levy.
National Guard confidentiality
Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon sponsored a bill (LB152) stating the rights of members of the Nebraska National Guard, including their right to seek employment in state, county and local government, donate to political parties when not on duty status, participate in law enforcement functions, and have their addresses withheld from public websites.
Beer festival exemption
Brewers and distillers of alcohol beverages will not need to obtain a permit to make and serve their products for festivals, tastings, competitions, fundraising events or to family and friends as long as the alcohol is not being sold, under a bill (LB235) from Lincoln Sen. Suzanne Geist.
College board insurance
Members of a community college's board of governors can participate in insurance plans offered to employees of those colleges, per a bill (LB256) by Sen. John Arch of Omaha. Board members are responsible for paying both the employee and employer portions of the premium, however.