Nebraska State Senate
General Information
Party control:	Republican
Session start:	January 8, 2025
Session end:	June 2, 2025
Term length:	4 years
Term limits:	2 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:	Legislature-dominant
Salary:	$12,000/year + per diem
Members
Total:	49
Democrats:	14
Republicans:	33
Other:	2
Vacancies:	0
Leadership
President:	Joe Kelly (Nebraska) (R)
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026

TheNebraska State Senate forms the legislative branch of the Nebraska state government and works alongside thegovernor of Nebraska to create laws and establish a state budget. It is unique in that it is the only state legislature in the country that isunicameral. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Nebraska State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Nebraska State Senate meets in the state capitol building inLincoln, Nebraska.

This page contains the following information on the Nebraska State Senate.

• Which partycontrols the chamber
• The chamber'scurrent membership
• Partisan control of the chamberover time
• Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
• Adistrict map
• Howredistricting works in the state
• Legislation currently under consideration
• Legislative session dates
• Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
• A list ofcommittees

Party control

Partisan affiliation

There are no formal party alignments or groups within theNebraska State Senate. Coalitions tend to form issue-by-issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background, and constituency. However, almost all of the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats. Senators and candidates are listed as officially nonpartisan, but in most cases the individual has a direct party affiliation. As an example, in most cases if a sitting senator runs for Congress, the individual runs on either the Democratic or Republican line on the ballot.

Click here for more information on how Ballotpedia determined the partisan affiliation for Nebraska senators. »

Current partisan control

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Nebraska State Senate as of November 2025:

Members

Leadership

The speaker presides over the legislature in the absence of the lieutenant governor, but the day-to-day matters of the body are dealt with by the Executive Board. The board includes the speaker, a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and six other senators. The chairperson and vice-chairperson are chosen for two-year terms by the legislature as a whole. Senators are classified into three geographically-based caucuses; eachcaucus elects two board members. Finally, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee serves, but cannot vote on any matter, and can only speak on fiscal matters.^[1]

Leadership and members

• Senate president:Joe Kelly (Nebraska) (R)
• Legislature speaker:John Arch (R)

The Nebraska State Senate is officially a nonpartisan chamber;click here for more information about why sitting members have political party affiliations listed.

Staff Researcher Madison Adkins shares what makes the Nebraska State Senate unique View other episodeshere.

Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries

Swearing in dates

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

Nebraska legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.^[3]

Membership qualifications

See also:State legislature candidate requirements by state

A candidate for theNebraska Legislature must meet the following qualifications:^[4]

• Be registered to vote
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Be a resident of Nebraska, and specifically a resident of the legislative district he or she wishes to serve, for at least one year prior to the general election

Historical party control

Republicans maintained control of the Nebraska State Senate in 2024. Thatyear, they won a 33-14 majority with two independents.

While Nebraska's Unicameral is officially nonpartisan, most of its lawmakers are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party. In 2015, Ballotpedia began to identify the party affiliation of the Legislature's 49 members. Ballotpediaassigned party affiliation based on voter registration, member lists provided by theNebraska Democratic Party andNebraska Republican Party, as well as information provided by nonprofit organizations.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Nebraska State Senate following the 2014 general election.

In 1934,Nebraska voters approved aconstitutional amendment that transformed Nebraska'sbicameral, or two-chamber, state legislature into a unicameral, or single-chamber, Nebraska State Senate. The amendment also established the state legislature as a nonpartisan body. The new unicameral Legislature met for the first time in 1937.^[5]

Trifecta history

Astate government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Nebraska was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 1992-1998
• Republican trifecta: 1999-2023
• Divided government: None

Elections

Elections by year

Nebraska state senators serve staggered,four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Nebraska holds elections for its legislature in even years.

Members are selected in nonpartisan elections. Rather than separate primaries held to choose Republican, Democratic, and other partisan contenders for a seat, Nebraska uses a single nonpartisan primary election, in which the top two vote-getters are entitled to run in the general election. There are no formal party alignments or groups within the Legislature. Coalitions tend to form issue by issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background, and constituency. However, almost all the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats. In short, while Senators and candidates are listed as officially nonpartisan, but in most cases the individual has a direct party affiliation. For more information about the partisan affiliations of the members, please clickhere.

2026

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for theNebraska State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026.

2024

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for theNebraska State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasMay 14, 2024. The filing deadline for an incumbent wasFebruary 15, 2024. The filing deadline for non-incumbent candidates wasMarch 1, 2024.

In the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained their 33-14 majority with two seats nonpartisan officeholders.

2022

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for theNebraska State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 10, 2022. The filing deadline for incumbents was February 15, 2022. The filing deadline for non-incumbent primary candidates was March 1, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Republicans maintained their 32-17 majority.

2020

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office ofNebraska State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for May 12, 2020. The filing deadline was March 2, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Nebraska State Senate from 30-18 to 32-17.

2018

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for theNebraska State Senate took place in2018. Atop-two primary took place on May 15, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline for incumbents was February 15, 2018. The candidate filing deadline for non-incumbents was March 1, 2018.^[6]

In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Nebraska State Senate decreased from 30-16 to 29-18.

2016

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for theNebraska State Senate were held in2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016, for incumbents. Challengers were required to file by March 1, 2016.^[7] Atotal of 25 seats were up for election.

The officially nonpartisan Nebraska Unicameral maintained aRepublican majority after the 2016 elections. Democrats did take three seats, altering the partisan balance slightly in the process.

2014

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for theNebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day.

2012

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 15, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 15, 2012, for incumbents and March 1, 2012, for non-incumbents. Atotal of 26 seats were up for election.

The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012.

During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,167,514. The top 10 contributors were:^[8]

2010

See also:Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 11, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 15, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state Senate raised a total of $1,597,466 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:^[9]

Term limits

See also:State legislatures with term limits

The Nebraska State Senate is one of16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted theNebraska Term Limits Act in 2000. That initiative limited senators to terms of no more than two four-year terms.^[15]

The first year that theterm limits enacted in 2000 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2008.

Vacancies

See also:How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in theNebraska State Legislature, thegovernor is responsible for appointing a replacement. If the vacancy occurs after May 1 of the official's second year in office, the replacement must serve the remainder of the unexpired term. If the vacancy happens before that date, the replacement serves the remainder of the unfilled term before the next general election when a new representative is elected.^[16]

See sources:Nebraska Rev. Stat. §32-566

District map

See also:Nebraska state legislative districts

The state of Nebraska has 49 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Redistricting

See also:Redistricting in Nebraska

In Nebraska, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority is required to approve a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by thegovernor.^[17]

TheNebraska Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous and compact, and they keep to county boundaries 'whenever practicable.'"^[17][18]

On April 8, 2011, the state legislature approved the following redistricting guidelines:^[17]

1. Congressional districts should be held to the same aforementioned constitutional requirements as state legislative districts.
2. Both congressional and state legislative districts should be "understandable to voters, preserve the cores of prior districts, and keep to boundaries of cities and villages when feasible."
3. District boundaries "should not be established with the intention of favoring a political party, other group or any person."

The legislature is entitled to amend these guidelines at its discretion.^[17]

2020

See also:Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2020 census

On September 30, 2021, theNebraska State Legislature approved a new state legislative map, 37-7. Gov.Pete Ricketts signed the map into law shortly afterwards.^[19] This map took effect for Nebraska's 2022 legislative elections.

District map before and after 2020 redistricting

Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

2010

See also:Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2010 census

On May 26, 2011, the state Senate approved congressional and state legislative district maps. These were signed into law by thegovernor on the same day.^[20]

Sessions

Legislation

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Nebraska State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated byBillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in Nebraska by year

2025

See also:2025 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2025, and adjourn on June 2, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024 See also:2024 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on April 18, 2024. 2023 See also:2023 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2023, and adjourn on June 1, 2023. 2022 See also:2022 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2022, and adjourn on April 20, 2022. 2021 See also:2021 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2021, and adjourn on May 27, 2021. 2020 See also:2020 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2020, and adjourn on August 13, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic See also:Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. TheNebraska State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 16, 2020, through July 20, 2020. The legislature adjourned on August 13, 2020.[21][22] 2019 See also:2019 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2019, through May 31, 2019. 2018 See also:2018 Nebraska legislative session andDates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through April 18, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2017 See also:Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 4, 2017, through May 23, 2017. 2016 See also:Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 6 through April 20. Major issues Major issues in the 2016 legislative session included a $110 million state budget shortfall, taxes and prison reforms, school finance, and infrastructure finance and planning.[23] 2015 See also:Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 7 to May 29. Major issues in 2015 Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included school funding, prison reform, the budget, and taxes.[24][25] 2014 See also:Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 through April 18. Major issues in 2014 Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included tax cuts, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, and electronic cigarettes.[26] 2013 See also:Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 9 to June 5. Major issues in 2013 Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included addressing a projected $194 million budget shortfall, expanding Medicaid and increased state aid to the University of Nebraska system, and state colleges.[27] 2012 See also:Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 4 through April 18. Major issues in 2012 At the top of the list for the legislature was reforming the state's child welfare system, whileGovernorDave Heineman's (R) priorities were job creation and maintaining fiscal discipline.[28] 2011 In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 5 through June 8.[29] 2010 In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 6th to April 14th.[30]

About legislative sessions in Nebraska

TheTenth Amendment of theU.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.^[31] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions,legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Article III of the Nebraska Constitution establishes when the Senate is to be in session. Section 10 of Article III states that the Senate is to convene annually on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January. In odd-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to ninety days. In even-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to sixty days. Sessions in any year can be extended by a four-fifths majority of the Senate.

Legislative roles and procedures

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includesveto overrides,the role of the legislature in the state budget,term limits,procedures for filling membership vacancies, andredistricting.

Veto overrides

See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Nebraska are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Three-fifths of members.

Authority:Article IV, Section 15 of theNebraska Constitution.

Role in state budget

See also:Nebraska state budget and finances

Nebraskaon

Check outBallotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets •Civil liberties •Education •Elections •Energy •Environment •Healthcare •Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[32]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inJuly.
2. Agency requests are submitted to thegovernor bySeptember 15.
3. On or beforeJanuary 15, the governor submits his or her proposed budget to theNebraska State Senate. The deadline isFebruary 1 for newly elected governors.
4. The Senate adopts a budget inMay. Two-thirds of elected members must vote for the budget in order for it to pass.

Nebraska is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[32][33]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is statutorily required to adopt a balanced budget.^[32]

Committees

See also:List of committees in Nebraska state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

• Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
• Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
• Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Nebraska State Senate has 14 standing committees:

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Nebraska Constitution can be amended:

See also:Article XVI andArticle III of the Nebraska Constitution, andLaws governing the initiative process in Nebraska

Nebraska Constitution
Preamble
Articles
I •II •III •IV •V •VI •VII •VIII •IX •X •XI •XII •XIII •XIV •XV •XVI •XVII •XVIII

Nebraska offers three different paths to amending its constitution:

• Thelegislature can proposelegislatively referred constitutional amendments, which are defined inSection 1 of Article XVI.

• Sixty percent of the members of the state legislature must vote for the proposed amendment.
• The legislature can call a special statewide election to present the proposed amendment to the voters if 80 percent of the members of the state legislature vote for any such special election.
• If no special election is called, the proposed amendment must go on the next general election ballot that includes elections for members of the state legislature.
• The amendment becomes part of the constitution if a majority of those voting on the measure vote for itand if it wins favorable votes from at least 35 percent of those voting in the election for any office.

• Aconstitutional convention can be held to "revise, amend, or change" the constitution if 60 percent of Nebraska's legislators agree to put a question about whether to have such a convention before the state's voters.

• A convention is held if the question wins by a majority vote as long as those voting in favor equal at least 35 percent of those voting in the election.
• Voters must ratify amendments or revisions proposed by the convention.

• Aninitiated constitutional amendment can be used by the state's citizens to propose constitutional amendments.

• The rules for this are set out inSections 2 and 4 of Article III.
• The number of signatures required to qualify an amendment for the ballot is 10 percent of the state's registered voters.

See also

Elections	Nebraska State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Nebraska State Senate elections, 2024 Nebraska State Senate elections, 2022 Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020 Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018	Governor of Nebraska Nebraska Supreme Court	State legislative elections:2024,2023,2022,2021,2020,2019, and2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• Nebraska Legislature

Footnotes

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