State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Elkhorn has revived a 2023 bill that was passed, but then scrapped after opponents gathered enough signatures to challenge it at the ballot box.
It’s similar to the law that was repealed by voters in November, except it uses tax credits that reimburse donations to private school scholarships. It’s almost exactly the same as that short-lived 2023 law, Sorrentino said.
But some voters are asking why state senators aren’t giving up on bills to help fund private school scholarships after Nebraska voters rejected a law in November.
Fifty-seven percent of Nebraskans voted to do away with the law that funded scholarships to be used for private schools. Supporters argued it was the right thing to do for students who want to go to a private school but can’t afford to.
One voter said in an email: “Why is the legislature allowed to do this?”
And an Omaha man told KETV on Sunday the Legislature should spend its time on “just about anything else.”
“If they do bring it up, we do have to vote on it again. Hopefully, we vote it down again,” said Brian Olson, who happens to be a local public school teacher.
But others don’t see an issue with the Legislature trying again.
“If people want to keep suggesting we vote for something that I don’t necessarily agree with or want, I think they can keep suggesting we vote for it,” said Taylor Robison of Omaha, “though the vote might be the same way it was the last time it was voted on unless they market it better.”
Sorrentino says there was misinformation around last year’s repeal of the funding mechanism of LB 1402. He said voters were told it takes away funding from public schools, for example. Supporters of the law said the law was passed in addition to increases in state aid for public schools.
A hearing is set for Feb. 6, Sorrentino said.
Tim Royers of the Nebraska State Education Association believes senators no longer have the appetite to support school choice bills after the November vote.
“We will make sure there are plenty of Nebraskans at the hearing so they can learn firsthand just how passionate and well-informed Nebraskans are on this issue,” Royers said.
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