VALENTINE, Neb. - Here's the weekly update from Senator Tanya Storer:

 

Greetings from the Capitol! I hope this update finds you well. I’m pleased to share the latest legislative updates with you. Keeping you informed about the work being done remains a priority.

Here is a brief recap of bills heard last week in the committees I serve on:

LB 175 introduced by Sen. Hallstrom was heard in the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee this week. This is really a property rights and access issue. Current law requires railroads to provide an adequate means of access for a landowner who owns land on both sides of the track. This proposed change would extend that obligation to all successors in interests, meaning all future owners of the railroad property. This would insure landowners access to their property regardless of who may acquire property into the future.

In the Judiciary Committee, LB 556, introduced by Senator Riepe, generated a lot of interest, with over 6 hours of testimony. The bill lowers the minimum age for charging juveniles as adults for serious felonies from 14 to 12 and requires judges, rather than probation officers, to determine detention for felony arrests. It also expands detention criteria to include juveniles who pose safety risks, have a history of failing to appear, or have committed violent offenses. These proposed changes are the result of an alarming trend of more violent crimes being committed by younger age juveniles and aim to strengthen the juvenile justice process, ensuring better decision-making and safety, for both juveniles and the communities in which they live.

Floor Action: This week was a busy, but important week at the Capitol as the Legislative Committees and Senators submitted their personal priority bills along with the committee priority bills. I declared LB 383, “Parental Rights in Social Media Act” as my priority bill. This is an essential piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding children’s mental health and safety in the digital age. The bill requires parental consent and age verification before minors can create social media accounts, addressing growing concerns about the harmful impact of social media on youth. The data is clear, showing a marked increase in mental health issues among young people since the rise of digital media. Parents are asking for the tools needed to take a more active role in managing their children’s online activities. By implementing stronger age verification and ensuring parental oversight, LB 383 strengthens the role of parents while protecting children from the risks of unregulated social media platforms. Both parents and youth are asking for our help.

In closing, a quick update on the time change debate. Both bills for permanent Daylight Savings and Standard time advanced to final reading this week. LB34, introduced by Sen. Hunt, proposes adopting permanent daylight saving time, contingent on federal approval and neighboring states' adoption, and LB302, from Sen. Murman, calls for permanent standard time, contingent on neighboring states' adoption. I continue to support LB302, as it prioritizes the workday for our agricultural economy over evening leisure. What happens if they both pass you might ask? Stay tuned.