Nebraska Appleseed Action Fund

07/14/2026

🎉 Today, the Omaha City Council passed Councilmember Danny Begley’s proposal to ensure that Omahans are paid a fair wage by restoring the wage protections Nebraska’s state legislature recently removed.

Omahans: Thank you for your advocacy in calling your councilmember – and thank you to all who have volunteered and supported this initiative to protect the minimum wage!

In 2022, nearly 60% of Nebraska voters and 7 out of 10 Omaha voters approved a ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage and provide annual cost of living increases. This citywide ordinance restores the wage laws Omahans so broadly supported by ensuring youth workers are paid a fair wage and removing the harmful cap on annual cost of living increases for workers in Omaha.

Nebraska Appleseed supports this effort to protect the minimum wage in Omaha and to ensure our wages continue to grow as the cost of living increases. Appleseed Economic Justice Director Ken Smith said, “We thank Councilmember Begley for introducing this ordinance and applaud the City Council for upholding the will of Omaha voters and restoring the critical wage protections we passed in 2022. Nebraskans deserve fair pay that keeps up with the cost of living. Our communities thrive when each of us is able to care of and provide for ourselves and our loved ones.”

07/13/2026

07/13/2026

This week, the “Fairness for Girls” ballot initiative campaign announced that they submitted enough signatures to appear on the general election ballot in November.

What’s next?

The Secretary of State has to officially agree that they qualify. If they do, then the fight continues!

Nebraska Appleseed and our partners remain excited, ready, and eager to continue standing with trans Nebraskans and fight back against this harmful, dishonest, and unnecessary initiative.

Stay tuned for more information on what you should know and how you can fight too!

This ballot initiative is NOT about fairness or girls. It is about forcing gross and invasive gender checks on kids, just to play sports. It is about unnecessary government interference with private family decisions, spaces, medical care, and identity.

Let Nebraskans exist and thrive exactly as they are!

07/02/2026

🎉Today, Appleseed gathered with advocates from across the state to turn in more than 186,000 signatures representing every county in Nebraska in support of the Respect Nebraska Voters ballot initiative!

We can’t thank you enough for the ways you’ve shown up to support this effort to protect our freedom to vote on important issues facing Nebraskans. 🫶You’ve joined us for events, connected with communities in your region, and collected signatures from your family and friends. 💕

About the policy ⤵️
If a majority of Nebraska voters approve, the Respect Nebraska Voters ballot initiative will change the number of members of the Nebraska Legislature required to undo or change laws voters have passed from two-thirds (2/3) of the Legislature to a four-fifths (4/5) supermajority.

This would only apply to legislative attempts to change statutes passed by voter-led initiatives. It does not apply to initiative-passed constitutional amendments.

Respect Nebraska Voters also protects our freedom to vote on important issues facing our communities by strengthening protections for the ballot initiative process itself, preventing politicians from passing laws that restrict the people’s ability to bring initiatives.

Check out the campaign FAQs: RespectNEVoters.org/FAQs See less

🎉Today, Appleseed gathered with advocates from across the state to turn in more than 186,000 signatures representing every county in Nebraska in support of the Respect Nebraska Voters ballot initiative!

We can’t thank you enough for the ways you’ve shown up to support this effort to protect our freedom to vote on important issues facing Nebraskans. 🫶You’ve joined us for events, connected with communities in your region, and collected signatures from your family and friends. 💕

About the policy ⤵️

If a majority of Nebraska voters approve, the Respect Nebraska Voters ballot initiative will change the number of members of the Nebraska Legislature required to undo or change laws voters have passed from two-thirds (2/3) of the Legislature to a four-fifths (4/5) supermajority.

This would only apply to legislative attempts to change statutes passed by voter-led initiatives. It does not apply to initiative-passed constitutional amendments.

Respect Nebraska Voters also protects our freedom to vote on important issues facing our communities by strengthening protections for the ballot initiative process itself, preventing politicians from passing laws that restrict the people’s ability to bring initiatives.

Check out the campaign FAQs: RespectNEVoters.org/FAQs

06/04/2026

Have you been asked to sign a petition helping the “Fairness for Girls” initiative appear on the ballot in November? What is it? What should you do?

❌ This misleading and harmful initiative would amend Nebraska’s Constitution to restrict trans young people from accessing sports - subjecting children to invasive and humiliating “gender checks” at school, and removing families’ freedom to make decisions about their own health care. ❌

Nebraskans should be able to exist and thrive, exactly as they are, without unnecessary and extreme intrusions from the government.

Please DECLINE TO SIGN this harmful petition and tell your friends to do the same.

______

Want to learn more? Check out this page from our friends at Nebraska Civic Engagement Table: https://bit.ly/4xakFFq

Already signed and want to remove your name? See instructions from our friends at Second House Collaborative: https://bit.ly/43eFO3G

Want shareable QR codes for these helpful action steps? Check out this graphic, which is also in the comments: https://neappleseed.org/download/51098/.

05/12/2026

You still have a few hours left to vote today!

Today is Nebraska’s Statewide Primary Election.

Before you head to the polls, double-check your polling place through Nebraska Voter Check at https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview.

Polls are open:
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. MT

Nebraska voters must bring a valid photo ID to vote.

☎️ Need help or have a question at the polls? Call or text Civic Nebraska’s Election Protection Hotline at 402-890-5291.

05/11/2026

Thanks to all who have volunteered and supported this initiative to protect the minimum wage!

🎉 Today, the Lincoln City Council passed Councilmember James Michael Bowers’ proposal to ensure that Lincolnites are paid a fair wage by restoring the wage protections Nebraska’s state legislature recently removed.

In 2022, nearly 60% of Nebraska voters and 7 out of 10 Lincoln voters approved a ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage and provide annual cost of living increases. This citywide ordinance restores the wage laws Lincolnites so broadly supported by ensuring youth workers are paid a fair wage and removing the harmful cap on annual cost of living increases for workers in Lincoln.

Nebraska Appleseed supports this effort to protect the minimum wage in Lincoln and to ensure our wages continue to grow as the cost of living increases. Appleseed Economic Justice Director Ken Smith said, “We thank Councilmember Bowers for introducing this ordinance and applaud the City Council for upholding the will of Lincoln voters and restoring the critical wage protections we passed in 2022. Nebraskans deserve fair pay that keeps up with the cost of living. Our communities thrive when each of us is able to care of and provide for ourselves and our loved ones.” 💵

05/08/2026

Join us for canvassing in Crete on Saturday May 16th! Be sure to sign up at bit.ly/CRETE516 for full details!

On Saturday, May 16, we’ll be canvassing again in Crete – and we need YOU to help us reach our goal!

🗓️ Saturday, May 16, 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
📍 Meet at Crete Public Library (1515 Forest Ave)

We’ll gather together for a short training and then head out in pairs to collect signatures. After canvassing, we’ll enjoy lunch and notarize petitions!

➡️ Sign up to volunteer: bit.ly/CRETE516

05/01/2026

On Monday, May 4, the Lincoln City Council will hold a public hearing on Councilmember James Michael Bowers’ proposal to ensure that Lincolnites are paid a fair wage by restoring the wage protections the state legislature recently removed.

📣 TAKE ACTION: Tell your Lincoln City Council members to uphold the will of Lincoln voters and restore the critical wage protections we voted for in 2022: bit.ly/LNKfairpay

In 2022, almost 60% of Nebraska voters – and 7 out of 10 Lincoln voters – approved the Raise the Wage Nebraska ballot measure to increase Nebraska’s minimum wage, and to ensure our wages continue to grow as the cost of living increases.

Unfortunately, during this past legislative session, state lawmakers rolled back these popular wage protections in two harmful ways: (1) they created a subminimum wage for youth workers, who often are working to provide vital income for their families, and (2) they restricted the annual wage adjustments and all but ensured that Nebraska’s wages over time will once again fail to keep pace with rising costs.

This ordinance would restore the wage laws Lincolnites so broadly supported by ensuring youth workers are paid a fair wage and removing the harmful cap on annual cost of living increases for workers in Lincoln.

04/23/2026

Are you ready to show your people power this election? We’re just a few days away from the April 27th deadline to get registered to vote online or update your voter registration online. Don’t delay.

➡️ Get registered today: bit.ly/tableRTV
➡️ Verify your voter registration to make sure it’s up to date: bit.ly/NEVoterCheck