The 2023 legislative session has come to an end as of June 1st. This session was much different from previous years because of a months-long internal debate that brought the legislature to a temporary standstill. Despite these challenges, several hundred bills were passed and signed into law.
Spark directly engaged in several pieces of legislation around affordable housing development, housing stability, displacement prevention, and economic development in East Omaha. We collaborated with dozens of local and state community partners to develop legislation and advocate for changes to the Middle-Income Workforce Housing program, the Rural Workforce Housing program, and the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund. These programs work to close the housing affordability gap by building more low-and-middle income single-family and multi-family homes all over Nebraska. The new changes to the programs will allow for faster and more efficient production of affordable units in the areas that need them the most. Our direct lobbying efforts resulted in the passage of two bills, LB249 and LB629, and $18M in investments in two affordable housing programs.
Other notable bills passed this year that Spark advocated for include LB531, which will send historic investments into North and South Omaha for economic development efforts. You can follow Senator Terrell McKinney’s social media pages and subscribe to the Department of Economic Development’s newsletter to follow the process of disbursing the funds. The legislature also passed Voter ID implementation laws, requiring voters to present their ID at the polls and via mail-in ballots. You can follow organizations like the League of Women Voters and the Nebraska Civic Engagement Table to stay updated about how these laws will affect your next trip to the polls.
The legislature only meets for the beginning half of the year to pass bills and laws, so if you’re interested in bringing a policy idea to your senator, now is a good time to do so. If you would like to help get your ideas together to present to a senator, Spark can act as a resource. Please get in touch with our Advocacy Coordinator, Bri Full, at bri@sparkcdi.org for more information. Lobby School applications are now open until July 31st if you are interested in more extensive lobby training opportunities.
Keep your eyes peeled over the next couple of months for an initiative led by Black Votes Matter to get more people in the North Omaha Community registered to vote. The 2024 elections will be here before you know it, so it’s vital to start paying attention to the candidates and initiatives on your ballot. Follow our Facebook or Instagram pages for opportunities to engage politically in your community, such as town halls, forums, and other educational events.
