LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Eleven Nebraska lawmakers made a long-shot attempt Tuesday to bring the Legislature into a special session focused on the coronavirus pandemic and law enforcement.
The lawmakers filed paperwork with the secretary of state's office to ask their colleagues whether they would support a special session. The secretary of state's office will now survey all state lawmakers.
At least 33 of the Legislature's 49 senators would have to endorse the idea of a special session, an outcome that's extremely unlikely. Lawmakers finished their regular session less than two weeks ago after passing a major tax package. The session was also marred by nasty public disputes.
Nine of the 11 senators calling for a special session are Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. One is a Republican who often sides with Democrats and one is a left-leaning independent.
Special sessions are generally triggered by governors and focus on one specific topic. The proposed special session would focus on changing police powers, increasing civilian oversight of police, providing protections for workers threatened by the coronavirus, and other related issues.