Nebraska Proposal to Require School Dress Code Advances After Being Amended into Separate Bill
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LINCOLN — A proposition requiring all Nebraska school districts to adopt a written dress code and grooming policy is on the verge of becoming a law.
Last week, State Senator Terrell McKinney from Omaha expressed concerns about whether Legislative Bill 630 would be scheduled for debate this year. However, on Tuesday, lawmakers made amendments to LB 630 and merged it with another bill, LB 298, proposed by State Senator Lou Ann Linehan from Elkhorn, which mandates school districts to provide information on dyslexia to the Nebraska Department of Education.
With a unanimous vote of 37-0, LB 630 was attached to LB 298 and has now moved to the final stage of debate. McKinney sees LB 630 as a step in the right direction to reduce discrimination in the state. He expressed relief that the bill was pushed forward, as he was uncertain about its fate.
Certain existing dress codes have underlying racial or religious implications, especially those that restrict headscarves and durags, disproportionately affecting students of color. In the spring of 2020, without parental consent, a school secretary even cut the hair of two Lakota girls.
If the bill becomes law, each school board will be required to adopt a dress code policy aligned with a statewide code developed by the Education Department by July 1, 2025. Notably, any penalties for violating the dress code cannot include long-term suspension or expulsion.
McKinney believes that LB 630 will introduce a standardized policy instead of the current patchwork of restrictions among districts. This will safeguard various hairstyles, natural hair, specific head coverings, and the rights of Indigenous students to wear regalia across the entire state.
The ongoing filibusters this session are mainly in response to LB 574, which addresses gender-affirming procedures. This has raised concerns that certain critically important legislation may not receive proper discussion and consideration.
McKinney and State Senator Justin Wayne from Omaha criticized the divisive nature of the debates, emphasizing that the "either side" mentality is detrimental to bills like LB 630.
Linehan, a member of the Education Committee, voted in favor of advancing LB 630 to the full Legislature and was pleased to incorporate it into her bill. She mentioned that she has been working on dyslexia-related matters since taking office, and LB 298 is just one step forward in an ongoing effort.
Linehan stated that combining bills is not new or unusual, citing examples where more than a dozen amendments have been included in a single bill.
Some observers have expressed disappointment with the Legislature’s lack of progress in the 90-day session, as no legislation has been passed so far. Nonetheless, Linehan affirms that lawmakers are still on track to have a productive session. She recalled her first year in the Legislature when 30 days were spent arguing about rules, yet they still accomplished a great deal. Linehan believes they will achieve significant outcomes this session, emphasizing that it is one big fight rather than multiple small battles.
LB 298 is now one debate stage away from being sent to Governor Jim Pillen to be signed into law.
McKinney sees his proposal as a message that students can attend school and express themselves without fearing punishment for their hair or clothing choices. He believes that overall, this demonstrates that Nebraska is a place where people can raise their children without worrying about discrimination in schools based on appearance.
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