‘I draw the line at withholding food from someone as a form of consequence.’

Yesterday, Governor Pillen vetoed LB319, Senator Victor Rountree’s priority bill to end Nebraska’s lifetime Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) ban for people with certain drug felony convictions.

Today, May 14th, 2025, the Nebraska Legislature voted to pass LB319, by and large ending the lifetime ban on SNAP benefits for people with one set of felony convictions.

Leadership takes many forms—whether it’s driving change within a Fortune 500 company or transforming lives through second chances.

"We all have a role in our community," Olivia exclaimed. "I help our program participants and graduates bring their experiences into the rooms where laws get made so that the proposed policies can work better for all of us."

RISE's Policy & Advocacy team invites you to join us for all of our upcoming events! We have a few ways for you all to get involved with advocacy efforts in the community and at the capitol.

This is the beginning of a biennium, where our unicameral operates in 2-year terms, and this year is the long session with 90 legislative days. This means we will see senators working to address the concerns of Nebraska through the beginning of June. 

"This is one part of getting my humanity back." - Jason Kotas

On Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, the Nebraska Supreme Court restored LB20 and says people who have completed their felony convictions MUST be allowed to register and vote.

AS OF TODAY, Wednesday, October16th, 2024, the Nebraska Supreme Court says voters with past felonies MUST be allowed to vote!

LB20, passed in April, was not new and not radical. It represented 8 years of advocacy and resilience to change the hearts and minds of legislators across Nebraska. We know Nebraskans believe in second chances. We stand with those affected and will keep advocating and working to make change.

“The Attorney General's opinion and the Secretary of State's announcement - made public less than 48 hours before a law to remedy this is to take effect -

unnecessarily introduces more uncertainty, delay and complication.”

“Off paper” after your felony sentence? Learn how and when you can register to vote!

As we find the end of summer drawing near, this means the interim session is upon us and the next legislative session is quickly approaching; just like the change in the seasons. With the change of the legislative sessions, we'll start to look for the implementation of the laws passed at the end of the 108th Legislative 1st session.

Everyone is eager to learn more about the changes LB50 will have for our Builders and people we all know and care about.

The Nebraska Unicameral ended two days early yesterday, but not before LB50 passed its final round of debate with a vote of 34-15!

The Fatherhood Initiative is a statewide program of Lutheran Family Services (LFS), in partnership with Legal Aid of Nebraska, RISE, and in collaboration with Sarpy County.

LB50 was debated on select file for four hours on Wednesday and survived a cloture vote, where at least 33 senators had to decide if the bill received a full and fair debate. It was then advanced to the final round of debate with a vote of 30-7.

The Judiciary Committee’s omnibus bill, LB50, advanced to select file last night with a vote of 28-8. Even through some contentious moments, senators continued to work towards agreements on the latest amendment that they hope to have finalized in the next round of debate.