Nebraska Legislature

The Nebraska Legislature, often called the Unicameral, is the group of people who make laws for the U.S. state of Nebraska. They meet in a special building called the Nebraska State Capitol in the city of Lincoln.

There are only 49 members, and they are called "senators". This is the smallest group of lawmakers among all the states in the United States.

To make important decisions, they need at least 25 senators to agree. But for some big choices, like stopping long debates, they need 33 senators to agree.

What makes the Nebraska Legislature different from most others in the United States is that it has only one group of lawmakers, instead of two groups like many other states and the U.S. Congress. This single-group style, called unicameral, started in 1937.

Another special thing about this group is that elections for senators do not mention political parties, and the Legislature does not use party labels when organizing itself. All 49 senators choose their leaders and committee heads in private votes, helping to make sure they pick people they really support.

History

See also: List of Nebraska state senators

The First Nebraska Territorial Legislature met in Omaha in 1855. Nebraska became a state in 1867. It started with a bicameral legislature, meaning it had two groups making laws. But people were unhappy because the two groups often couldn’t agree.

In 1931, after visiting Australia, George W. Norris, a U.S. senator from Nebraska, pushed for change. He said having two groups was old-fashioned and wasted money. In 1934, voters approved a change to create a single group of lawmakers, called the Nebraska Legislature. This new group started in 1937 with 43 members. Today, people often call it “the Unicameral.”

General powers

The Legislature makes laws and decides how to spend money for the state. The governor can refuse a bill, called a veto, but the Legislature can still pass it with a big majority. The Legislature can also suggest changes to the state’s rules for voters to decide on through a referendum.

Selection, composition and operation

The Nebraska Legislature has 49 members, called senators, who are elected to serve for four years. Every two years, half of the senators are up for re-election. Senators must be at least 21 years old and have lived in their district for a year. They are paid $12,000 each year plus extra for days they work.

Nebraska does things a little differently from other states. Instead of separate elections for each party, they have one election where the top two vote-getters move on to the final election. There are no official party groups in the Legislature, but most members are either Democrats) or Republicans.

When a seat becomes empty, the governor chooses a replacement. The Legislature meets every year. In odd-numbered years, the session lasts up to 90 days, and in even-numbered years, it lasts up to 60 days. Both start after the first Monday in January. If a bill doesn’t finish in a short session, it can continue in the next regular session. The governor can also call special sessions for special occasions, but can only discuss topics the governor chooses.

Membership

See also: List of Nebraska state senators and Political party strength in Nebraska

The Nebraska Legislature does not officially recognize political parties, but members often get support from state parties. As of 2026, there are 33 members who get support from the Republican party, 15 from the Democratic party, and one who is registered as an Independent.

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor leads the Nebraska Legislature and helps make decisions when there is a tie vote.

The Speaker is the main leader when the Lieutenant Governor is not there. The Speaker is chosen by other members for a two-year term and helps plan what bills to discuss. The Speaker does not join any special groups but helps guide important decisions.

An executive board handles daily tasks of the Legislature. It includes the Speaker, a chair, a vice chair, and six other members. The board decides which group will review each new bill. Any member can suggest a different group with support from most of the Legislature.

The Legislature groups its members into three areas based on the state's three congressional districts. Each area picks two members for the executive board and four for another important committee.

Legislative committees

Committee selection and election of chairs

At the start of each two-year period, the Legislature chooses a special group called the Committee on Committees. This group has thirteen members. One member is chosen by all the senators, and the rest are selected from different districts across the state. Each group within the Legislature picks its own four members for this committee. The Committee on Committees makes a plan for who will be on all the committees. The whole Legislature can approve this plan or send it back for changes, but they cannot change it themselves.

Leaders for each committee, called chairs, are chosen on the first day of the main meeting each year. All senators vote for who they think should be the chair. Those who want to be a chair give a short talk about why they are good for the job before the vote happens.

Legislative process

The Nebraska Unicameral Legislature has only one group of lawmakers, unlike most other U.S. states that have two groups. Bills go through several steps to become laws. Any senator can introduce a bill early in the session. The bill gets a number and a first reading, then goes to a committee for review.

Committees hold public hearings where people can share their thoughts about the bill. The committee decides whether to move the bill forward or stop it. If it moves on, the whole Legislature debates it and can change it. After more debate, the bill gets a final reading. If it passes, it goes to the Governor, who can sign it into law, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Some bills can become law right away if they have an emergency clause. Nebraska citizens can also challenge new laws by collecting signatures for a public vote.