Senator Dave Murman of Glenvil – District 38 (Photo: Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)
Nebraska’s governor has forcefully called on lawmakers to revise state law to allow again for suspensions of pre-second grade students, after discontinuing the practice in 2023.
The measure—LB430—unexpectedly took center stage last week during Gov. Jim Pillen’s State of the State address. During his speech, Pillen recognized a Grand Island teacher who has advocated for the change. As the applause faded, he appeared to take issue with an audience member (or members) not commending the teacher sufficiently.
“Taking care of our kids better be bipartisan. Recognizing a teacher better be bipartisan. I don’t care what color of vest we wear, it’s hogwash if it’s not bipartisan when we’re talking about our kids,” he said, striking the wooden podium with his left hand, silencing the legislative chamber with a loud bang, looking visibly surprised by his own reaction. “Man alive. Education in Nebraska deserves better. Our kids deserve better. Our teachers deserve better.”
KLIN News got the reaction of the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, who said he understood Pillen’s frustration.
Senator Terrell McKinney of Omaha – District 11 (Photo: Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)
“I am hearing that same frustration from teachers and administrators all across the state,” said Murman. “It was all designed to help the students. It wasn’t any form of punishment, just a little extra incentive for whoever’s responsible for the child, parent or parents, to come in and talk to the teacher or administrators about how that child can be educated best going forward.”
The law change in 2023, sponsored by Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, was advocated for on the basis of weakening the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline,” as youth suspensions were seen to disproportionately effect minority students and those with disabilities.
“Students who are pushed out of the classroom are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system,” said Sen. Terrell McKinney at the time.
“The concern was that they were being sent home without any support,” said Murman, this year. “I actually don’t think that was happening, but that was the fear… I think that was a big mistake.”
With Pillen supporting the revision, that debate will surely be revived among lawmakers. Murman initially introduced the revision in 2025, leading the bill to carry over for debate in this year’s 60-day legislative session.