Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts delivers his 2021 State of the State address to the Legislature.
LINCOLN — Moratoriums on evictions and mortgage foreclosures could be imposed during "public health emergencies" like the COVID-19 pandemic under a proposal introduced Thursday by State Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln.
City, county or health officials could enact the moratoriums, which would also prohibit penalties or late fees during the emergency and six months afterward. Reasonable payment plans would be required to be worked out after that period under Legislative Bill 394.
Erin Feichtinger of Together Omaha said that after COVID-19 hit, there was confusion about who had authority to halt evictions. Morfeld called the bill a "critical tool" that would protect both tenants and landlords during a pandemic.
Other legislative developments on Thursday:
Rules debate. The Legislature’s Rules Committee sought to avoid a long, bitter debate over legislative rules by putting forward largely noncontroversial changes.
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That meant that several proposals fell by the wayside, including ones that would keep reporters out of committee deliberations, require public votes instead of secret ballots for legislative leaders and change the threshold for ending filibusters.
Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, the committee chairman, said he did not want a repeat of 2017, when senators spent almost one-third of the session fighting over the issue of secret ballots. But he said lawmakers could offer proposals during debate that the committee had not advanced.
The committee expects to take a formal vote Friday on three proposals, including one that would add the Pledge of Allegiance to the daily agenda after the opening prayer. Currently, lawmakers recite the pledge before the day officially begins.
Debate about the rules is slated to begin next Thursday.
Flood control. A Lower Platte River Infrastructure Task Force would be charged with studying the possibility of building three to five lakes or other flood control projects along the eastern-most stretches of the Platte River under LB 406, introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha. The bill would use $900,000 from the state’s Water Sustainability Fund to pay for the study.
Opioid treatment. Medicaid would be required to cover medications used as part of substance abuse treatment under LB 413, introduced by Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln. Several medications, including buprenorphine, methadone and naloxone, have been proven helpful for people trying to rid themselves of opioid addictions.
Farm-to-school food. LB 396 seeks to increase the use of Nebraska-produced food for school lunch programs. The bill was introduced by Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth and 12 other senators. Brandt said it would create economic opportunities for Nebraska producers, as well as providing health and educational benefits for students.
Concealed carry permits. Permit holders would have to renew their state licenses every 10 years, instead of the current five, under LB 404, introduced by Sen. John Lowe of Kearney and eight other senators.
Moratorium on power transmission lines. Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon is again pushing a moratorium on construction of high-power lines through LB 409. He has been a leading opponent of a proposed transmission line through Nebraska's Sand Hills.
Armed school officers. Off-duty full-time law enforcement officers would be allowed to carry firearms in schools under LB 417, introduced by Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings and 12 other lawmakers. In the past, Halloran has advocated for allowing teachers and other school staff to be armed.
Meet the Nebraska state senators
State Senators

Nebraska has 49 state senators in the Legislature. Click through to find your state senator and others.
State Sen. Julie Slama, District 1

State Sen. Julie Slama
District: 1
From: Peru
Party: Republican
State Sen. Robert Clements, District 2

State Sen. Robert Clements
District: 2
From: Elmwood
Party: Republican
State Sen. Carol Blood, District 3

State Sen. Carol Blood
District: 3
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Robert Hilkemann, District 4

State Sen. Robert Hilkemann
District: 4
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike McDonnell, District 5

State Sen. Mike McDonnell
District: 5
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, District 6

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh
District: 6
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Tony Vargas, District 7

State Sen. Tony Vargas
District: 7
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Megan Hunt, District 8

State Sen. Megan Hunt
District: 8
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. John Cavanaugh, District 9

State Sen. John Cavanaugh
District: 9
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Wendy DeBoer, District 10

State Sen. Wendy DeBoer
District: 10
From: Bennington
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Terrell McKinney, District 11

State Sen. Terrell McKinney
District: 11
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen, Steve Lathrop, District 12

State Sen. Steve Lathrop
District: 12
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen, Justin Wayne, District 13

State Sen. Justin Wayne
District: 13
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. John Arch, District 14

State Sen. John Arch
District: 14
From: La Vista
Party: Republican
State Sen. Lynne Walz, District 15

State Sen. Lynne Walz
District: 15
From: Fremont
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Ben Hansen, District 16

State Sen. Ben Hansen
District: 16
From: Blair
Party: Republican
State Sen. Joni Albrecht, District 17

State Sen. Joni Albrecht
District: 17
From: Thurston
Party: Republican
State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, District 18

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom
District: 18
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Michael Flood, District 19

State Sen. Michael Flood
District: 19
From: Norfolk
Party: Republican
State Sen. John McCollister, District 20

State Sen. John McCollister
District: 20
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Hilgers, District 21

State Sen. Mike Hilgers
District: 21
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Moser, District 22

State Sen. Mike Moser
District: 22
From: Columbus
Party: Republican
State Sen. Bruce Bostelman, District 23

State Sen. Bruce Bostelman
District: 23
From: Brainard
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mark Kolterman, District 24

State Sen. Mark Kolterman
District: 24
From: Seward
Party: Republican
State Sen. Suzanne Geist, District 25

State Sen. Suzanne Geist
District: 25
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
State Sen. Matt Hansen, District 26

State Sen. Matt Hansen
District: 26
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen, Anna Wishart, District 27

State Sen. Anna Wishart
District: 27
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Patty Pansing Brook, District 28

State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks
District: 28
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Eliot Bostar, District 29

State Sen. Eliot Bostar
District: 29
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen,.Myron Dorn, District 30

State Sen. Myron Dorn
District: 30
From: Adams
Party: Republican
State Sen. Rich Pahls, District 31

State Sen. Rich Pahls
District: 31
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tom Brandt, District 32

State Sen. Tom Brandt
District: 32
From: Plymouth
Party: Republican
State Sen. Steve Halloran, District 33

State Sen. Steve Halloran
District: 33
From: Hastings
Party: Republican
State Sen. Curt Friesen, District 34

State Sen. Curt Friesen District: 34 From: Henderson Party: Republican
State Sen. Raymond Aguilar, District 35

State Sen. Raymond Aguilar
District: 35
From: Grand Island
Party: Republican
State Sen. Matt Williams, District 36

State Sen. Matt Williams
District: 36
From: Gothenburg
Party: Republican
State Sen. John Lowe, District 37

State Sen. John Lowe
District: 37
From: Kearney
Party: Republican
State Sen. Dave Murman, District 38

State Sen. Dave Murman
District: 38
From: Glenvil
Party: Republican
State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, District 39

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
District: 39
From: Elkhorn
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tim Graget, District 40

State Sen. Tim Gragert
District: 40
From: Creighton
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tom Briese, District 41

State Sen. Tom Briese
District: 41
From: Albion
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Groene, District 42

State Sen. Mike Groene
District: 42
From: North Platte
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tom Brewer, District 43

State Sen. Tom Brewer
District: 43
From: Gordon
Party: Republican
State Sen. Dan Hughes, District 44

State Sen. Dan Hughes
District: 44
From: Venango
Party: Republican
State Sen. Rita Sanders, District 45

State Sen. Rita Sanders
District: 45
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Adam Morfeld, District 46

State Sen. Adam Morfeld
District: 46
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Steve Erdman, District 47

State Sen. Steve Erdman
District: 47
From: Bayard
Party: Republican
State Sen. John Stinner, District 48

State Sen. John Stinner
District: 48
From: Gering
Party: Republican
State Sen. Jen Day, District 49

State Sen. Jen Day
District: 49
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Mike Jacobson, District 42

State Sen. Mike Jacobson
District: 42
From: North Platte
Party: Republican
paul.hammel@owh.com, 402-618-0009, twitter.com/paulhammelowh