Opponents of private school scholarship law seek petition signatures challenging new legislation
Efforts continue for Support Our Schools Nebraska to gather the signatures needed to put a controversial scholarship law on the ballot.
May 30, 2024Updated: May 30, 2024
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaKEARNEY, Neb.-- Efforts continue for Support Our Schools Nebraska to gather the signatures needed to put a controversial scholarship law on the ballot.
The Nebraska Unicameral passed LB 1402 in April, which allows the state to direct $10 million to fund private school scholarships. It replaced a similar law passed last year. The Nebraska State Education Association opposed that law and collected 117,000 signatures to give voters a chance to repeal it in the November election. Now, association president Jenni Benson is collecting signatures in opposition of the new law.
“We have people now signing this new petition that didn’t sign last year but are very upset that don’t even get the right to vote to make the choice,” said Benson.
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan introduced both scholarship bills. She says it isn’t right that kids from low-income families don’t have the same choice to attend a private school.
The NSEA's petition only asks to repeal section one of the law. They need 62,000 certified signatures from people in 35 different counties by July 15th in order to put the law on the November ballot.