Just like we did in 2011, we’ve put together a roundup of the bills we’re following closely in the 2012 legislative session. Some laws were held over from the 2011 session, and others are brand new. Our guide has also gone through some changes. Below we explain how to use our new guide and list the issue categories of bills we're watching this year.

How to use this guide:

We have lots of updates on the pipeline.  If you are new to this issue or want some more background, please check out our Resource Page or Action Page.  You can also stay up to date with links to LTEs, articles and more by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Below are updates on the Citizen Hearing, Pipeline Bills, Department of State and county-level board meetings.

Thank you to every citizen and landowner that continues to stand up for our land and water. Yesterday's Citizen Hearing was another great event where Nebraskans from all over the state came together and told our state elected officials and Sec. Clinton that they each have a key role in protecting our land and water from TransCanada's risky tarsands pipeline.

What's most troubling about all the covergae from yesterday's event is Sen. Langemeier's continued dismissal of citizens.  He told Fred Knapp's NET radio that the Natural Resources Comittee has been working for "quite some time" and that "the rally has no relevance" in getting one of the bills (that was watered down to almost "no relevance") out of committee for a debate by the full legislature.  

On May 12, we are holding a "Citizen Hearing" in Lincoln to gather comments from citizens and landowners to submit to Sec. Clinton but to also submit to the Unicameral, Gov. Heineman and Att. Gen. Bruning to urge them to pass state-based regulations. 

If you plan on coming tomorrow, please arrive about 11:30am to find parking since it will be busy.  Also, you will not be able to get into capitol til around 11:45am because they are having a fire drill...meet us in the rotunda.  If you can not make it to the event, you can still submit comments to info@boldnebraska.org and we will make sure they get submitted to state officials and Sec. Clinton.

We all hated when our little brothers or sisters would copy everything we did growing up. You know, when you started wearing the "Frankie Says" shirt, they had to go get one.  Well, turns out a few of our State Senators never grew out of their copy catting days.

These copy catting state senators represent the fringe of conservative ideology.  It's one thing to be a fiscal conservative.  It's a totally different thing to be on the fringe and to push those ideals in our unicameral.

Nebraska is unique and we are proud about that fact.  We are the only state in the country to have a non-partisan Unicameral. We are the only state in the country to have 100% public power. And, we are one of only two states that splits our electoral votes for the US President by Congressional District.

Sen. McCoy, representing parts of Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties, wanted to take away part of our state’s history.  Fortunately, he failed.