WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

LR 297CA

Constitutional amendment to change provisions related to amending, repealing, modifying, or impairing a law enacted by initiative petition

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Machaela Cavanaugh

Nebraska proposes constitutional amendment altering how legislature can modify citizen-enacted initiative laws, shifting power balance between direct democracy and representative government.

Notice of hearing for February 18, 2026
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LR 297CA

Legislative bill overview

LR 297CA is a constitutional amendment proposal in Nebraska that would modify the procedures and protections governing laws created through citizen initiative petitions. The amendment would alter how the legislature can subsequently amend, repeal, modify, or impair laws that citizens have directly enacted through the initiative process. This represents a significant shift in the balance of power between direct democracy (citizen initiatives) and legislative authority.

Why is this important

Initiative laws represent direct expressions of voter will and currently have varying levels of constitutional protection from legislative interference. This amendment would reshape those protections, affecting which citizen-passed measures the legislature can easily change versus those requiring extraordinary procedures. The outcome could either strengthen or weaken citizen-initiated laws depending on the amendment's specific provisions, impacting future ballot measures on issues ranging from minimum wage to healthcare policy.

Potential points of contention

  • Protection levels: Whether the amendment adequately protects voter-approved measures from legislative erosion or grants legislatures excessive power to overturn citizen mandates
  • Democratic theory conflict: Tension between representative government (legislature) and direct democracy (voter initiatives) regarding which should have final authority
  • Practical implementation: Ambiguity about which initiative laws fall under which amendment provisions and what constitutes "impairing" versus legitimate legislative modification

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.