Mar 19, 2020

Nebraska Legislature may resume session for emergency aid

Posted Mar 19, 2020 11:31 PM

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers may be returning to the Capitol on Monday to approve emergency aid for state agencies that are responding to the new coronavirus pandemic.

Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer said he expects to decide Friday afternoon whether to temporarily resume the session.

He said he'll decide after a legislative briefing with the governor's office to discuss the new funding requests. He said he wants to ensure there's enough agreement in the Legislature to pass the emergency funding before he makes the call.

If lawmakers convene on Monday, they would need to check in on Tuesday and Wednesday as well to fulfill the procedural requirements to approve the funding, Scheer said. He said the emergency funding would be the only item on the legislative agenda, and once it's approved, lawmakers would adjourn again until further notice.