LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed a proposal that would have allowed lawsuits to be enacted against school districts or other political subdivisions if they failed to act on suspected claims of child sexual assault or abuse. The governor said the bill, Sen. Wayne's LB25, was "overly broad" and would "substantially erode" sovereign immunity protections for political subdivisions.

Pillen, echoing opponents of the proposal, also added that the bill would have increased taxpayer costs, including property taxes. "We must hold perpetrators accountable and protect children from abuse by enforcing the criminal laws that exist and by targeting the wrongdoer," Pillen wrote in his veto letter, "Taxpayers should not bear this burden."

Lawmakers had originally passed the bill on a 28-17 vote on the final day of the 2024 session, but will be unable to override it since they adjourned sine die. Wayne described the veto as a "travesty of justice," and argued that Pillen had chosen "the shadow of bureaucracy over justice for children."

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