Senators debate human relations training, dynamic pricing for rideshares
By Fred Knapp 
, Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Feb. 10, 2026, 4 p.m. ·
Listen To This Story
Issues ranging from human relations training for substitute teachers to dynamic pricing during emergencies were spotlighted in the Legislature Tuesday.
Currently, state law requires that people who want to teach in Nebraska schools have taken human relations training on recognizing sexism, racism and other forms of prejudice, and how to relate to people unlike themselves. But Sen. Dave Murman, chair of the Education Committee, wants to do away with that requirement, which he views as a barrier to getting more teachers in the classroom. To that end, he's introduced a bill (LB1022).
In debate Tuesday, Murman talked about getting a call from someone who wanted to be a substitute and had met all the other requirements.
“If it weren't for the human relations course requirement, that caller could already be in the classroom today,” Murman said. "Instead, depending on where they take the course, they will have to spend the next two to eight weeks and somewhere between $100 and $300 to take the course. Personally. I would rather that the individual who wants to be in the classroom, be in the classroom."
Sen. Terrell McKinney opposed doing away with the requirement.
“I do not support getting rid of human relations training, especially in the climate of this world. It just makes no sense to me. If we moved the bill forward last week because there is a rise in antisemitism, you would think we would want to teach human relations. You would think both would be needed if that was the case,” he said.
McKinney was referring to a bill that would have required schools to adopt policies and training to combat antisemitism. The bill advanced through one round of debate, but has now been taken off the agenda.
Several senators who have served as substitute teachers recounted their experience with the training.
Sen. Victor Rountree said he found it helpful, while Sen. Jana Hughes said it did not help. Murman said if his bill passes, individual school districts would still be free to require the training if they want. Senators then voted 28-7 to give the bill first round approval.
Lawmakers also took up a proposal to change current requirements governing prices of ridesharing services during state emergencies. The bill (LB771) would affect the ability of rideshare companies to raise prices to reflect demand. Sen. Beau Ballard described the changes, which he said he introduced at the request of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency:
“Right now, when the state of emergency is declared in Nebraska by the governor, it’s required that dynamic pricing is suspended in the entire state," he said. "Because of this, the governor has to take extra steps after the emergency declaration to state that the ban does not apply to all areas in the state. This bill would automatically allow dynamic pricing to continue across the state, even during a state of emergency, unless the governor bans dynamic pricing in the emergency area."
Sen. John Fredrickson said the idea makes sense.
“If we have a state of emergency in the part of the state, it doesn't always make sense to have a statewide ban on this dynamic pricing. So if there is a fire in Scottsbluff, for example, it doesn't necessarily make sense to have a ban on this type of dynamic processing in downtown Omaha, because downtown Omaha obviously is not going to be affected by the fire in Scottsbluff from a traffic perspective,” he said.
However, Fredrickson said he would prefer if the ban on dynamic pricing would still go into effect automatically in affected counties.
And Sen. George Dungan said while the law specifically applies to ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, companies are using knowledge about consumers in ways that raise questions of consumer protection. Dungan gave an example.
“You come from a place that is a higher cost of living, and you're trying to get an Airbnb somewhere else, that Airbnb will be more expensive simply based on the geographic location that you're currently in, because they know that if you live in San Francisco and you're trying to book an Airbnb in Lincoln, Nebraska, you're willing to pay more because you're used to things being more expensive than if you live in Kearney and you're trying to book an Airbnb in Lincoln,” he said.
Dungan is among several senators who have introduced bills this session to limit companies’ ability to offer different prices to consumers based on different factors, including what device they are using and other surveillance data.
The Legislature adjourned for the day before reaching a vote on the rideshare bill.
More from the Unicameral:
Legislative committee hears proposals to regulate AI chatbots
Harassment allegation against senator derails antisemitism bill in Nebraska Legislature
Legislature passes minimum wage decrease for teen workers
High school sports bills would allow middle schoolers to compete; regulate name, image and likeness
Senator proposes legislation to change Nebraska’s school funding formula