Voices for Children in Nebraska

2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book Explore the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, with child well-being state-level data in four areas: economic stability, education, health and family/community…

The 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book shows how Nebraska is doing on child and family well-being across four domains – education, health, economic well-being, and family and community. Download the full report at bit.ly/25DataBook-BS

@annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social

Meanwhile, encourage your senator to OPPOSE LB 258, undercutting voter-approved minimum wage, and LB 89, which would impose harmful gender restrictions aimed at excluding trans and gender nonconforming young people.

Please take two minutes to contact them now and express your SUPPORT for bills like LB 192 and LB 319 that will help feed hungry Nebraska kids.

It's a busy day at the Nebraska legislature and there are a lot of important bills for kids and families moving. Several priority bills are up for debate throughout the day, and your Nebraska state senator needs to hear from you!

📞 Rep. Don Bacon (CD2) sits on the committee and can make a difference. Call and urge him to vote NO on this harmful proposal:
➡️ (202) 225-4155

SNAP is more than a lifeline — it’s a smart investment in our kids. Let’s protect it. 💙 #ProtectSNAP #VoicesForChildrenNE #FoodSecurity

SNAP keeps children healthy, reduces hunger, and supports working families. These cuts would increase food insecurity and hurt Nebraska’s economy.

The bill:

❌ Expands harsh work requirements
❌ Limits who counts as a dependent child
❌ Forces states to shoulder more costs
❌ Makes it harder to respond to rural economic needs

The House Ag Committee is considering a bill that would slash billions from SNAP — putting food assistance at risk for tens of thousands of Nebraska kids. The committee is set to begin its mark-up process tonight at 7:30 PM, concluding by the end of the day tomorrow.

🚨 Proposed SNAP Cuts Threaten Nebraska Families 🚨

Thank you to Rep. Don Bacon for recognizing the importance of not shifting costs for SNAP to the states.

✅LB319, which would end Nebraska’s lifetime SNAP ban for certain drug felony convictions, advanced to Final Reading in the #NELeg 🎉

Let’s encourage our lawmakers to End the SNAP Ban this year! Our communities can’t wait! See how your senator voted here: nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_v...

It takes just 2 minutes. Call now, and make a difference for Nebraska’s kids.

#ProtectNebraskaKids #StopAM1149 #YouthJustice #VoicesForChildrenNE

Children in crisis don’t belong in jail.

🚨 We need your voice NOW! Call your state senator and urge them to vote NO on AM 1149 to LB 530. If the amendment passes, ask them to vote NO on cloture to stop this bill in its tracks.

🛑 AM 1149 would allow children as young as 11 to be jailed.
🛑 It would allow any child, even those struggling with mental health or running away, to be locked up.
🛑 This dangerous amendment undoes years of thoughtful reform in our state.

Hundreds of Nebraskans stood up against LB 556 because we know what’s right:

✅ Community-based care
✅ Developmentally appropriate responses
✅ Real safety for youth and communities

📣 URGENT: ACT NOW to protect Nebraska kids! 📣

LB 530 has been amended to include harmful provisions from LB 556 and is scheduled for debate THIS AFTERNOON!

(contd) Quick, Raybould, Riepe, Rountree, Spivey, Wordekemper.

And please thank the senators who voted YES on LB 192: Arch, Ballard, Bostar, Brandt, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, Conrad, DeBoer, Dorn, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hallstrom, Hardin, Hughes, Hunt, Ibach, Juarez, Lonowski, McKinney, Meyer, Moser, Prokop,

We’re deeply grateful to the senators who did NOT vote for this amendment: Arch, Bostar, Brandt, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, Clouse, Conrad, DeBoer, Dorn, Dover, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hallstrom, Hughes, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Raybould, Riepe, Quick, Rountree, Spivey, and Wordekemper

Even more importantly, an amendment that would have added burdensome work requirements was defeated. These harmful policies make it harder for families to put food on the table and care for their children.

This past week, LB 192—a critical bill to maintain SNAP eligibility and reduce the harmful benefits cliff—advanced to Final Reading!

We are grateful for support from @nebraskatable.bsky.social for making this camp possible! #VoicesForChildrenNE #YouthAdvocacy #NEleg #PolicyAdvocacy

Day 2 meant the quick drive down to Lincoln where they had the opportunity to sit in on hearings in the judiciary committee, watch floor debate, and pulled senators off the floor to share their concerns with them!

Day 1 included young people learned about self-advocacy, the Nebraska Unicameral, and shared their vision for better communities.

We had a great time at our 2025 Youth Policy Camp a few weeks ago, with a record-high 25 participants!

At Voices for Children, we believe Nebraska workers should be able to earn and use paid sick leave to care for themselves and their families. Contact your Senators now to let them know you oppose ❌ AM 545 to LB 415!

#VoicesForChildrenNE #NEleg #ChildWelfare #EconomicStability #PolicyAdvocacy

📅: Tuesday, March 11

📍: Village Empowerment Center, Omaha

⏰: 6:00 PM

📅: Monday, March 10

📍: Bennet Martin Library, Lincoln

⏰: 6:00 PM

Join us next week for community conversations around LB 556, a harmful bill that would lower the age to charge children in adult court to 12 years old, reduce the minimum age for detention to 11 years old, and allow youth to be held in detention during a mental health crisis.

✅LB319 helps Nebraskans get the food they need by eliminating the lifetime ban on SNAP benefits for people with past drug convictions. This ban harms individuals, families, and our communities statewide by denying people food when they're getting back on their feet.