Nebraska Legislature adjourns 2026 session; 13 senators depart

LINCOLN, Neb. — The second session of the 109th Legislature adjourned sine die Friday, concluding a 60-day session that saw the passage of nearly 340 proposals and the departure of 13 senators from the one-house chamber.

Lawmakers sustained five gubernatorial vetoes on the final day, as 30 senators flipped from supporting bills on passage to backing Gov. Jim Pillen's objections across four different measures. Four bills had passed with 31 or more votes — more than the 30 needed to override a veto — and one bill he vetoed had passed unanimously, 49-0.

The four veto override attempts fell well short of 30 votes. Pillen's vetoes included measures on multifamily accessible housing, state employee parental leave, and Medicaid cost-sharing coverage.

In remarks to departing legislators, Gov. Pillen congratulated the senators for facing "plenty of challenges and long hours," praising them for passing legislation protecting agricultural data ownership, creating business incentive packages, and balancing the state budget. Pillen challenged the incoming Legislature to tackle the state's "property tax crisis" when the 2027 session begins in January, saying it's an issue he hears about from Nebraskans daily.

Speaker John Arch thanked colleagues for their "tireless" work during the 60-day session. The departing senators represent a natural transition in Nebraska's 49-member Unicameral, where a 2000 constitutional amendment limits senators to two consecutive four-year terms.