BEATRICE – Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen Friday lauded the efforts of state senators, their staffs and the Attorney General’s Office for gaining passage of bills he says will protect children. Pillen held a ceremonial bill signing for the measures, following a news conference.


"The digital age is bringing incredible opportunities, but there are extraordinary pitfalls. This is a great, great step, and it sends a very clear message that in Nebraska, we protect our kids and we empower our families...and that makes tomorrow, really, really bright."


One bill gaining passage was LB 504, sponsored by Senator Carolyn Bosn, regarding online safeguards for children.


"Trying to come up with a way, not to moderate content, but rather to make the design features of these cellphones, so they are not becoming more and more addictive for out kids. We're not going to wait for the social media companies to do that, anymore. We're going to take matters into our own hands. If it needs to be done and we're able to do it, it's our obligation to do that."


Another bill that passed was LB 140 by Senator Rita Sanders….to require local school districts to have formal policies that keep cellphones and smartphones from disrupting classes. "LB 140 is not about banning phones. It's about giving local school districts the ability to limit distractions...and create learning environments where students and teachers can thrive."


LB 383 focused on parental rights in social media….a measure proposed by Senator Tanya Storer. It requires age verification for parental consent to open social media accounts.


"My kids were some of the first generation to have access to social media and unfortunately, they were sort of the guinea pigs. We have seen over the course of the last decade, escalating rates of depression and anxiety, suicide...and what we're doing here today in Nebraska, is saying, no more. We're going to take matters into our own hands as we've done with this package....and protect our youth, empower our parents. Really what 383 does...is it puts the tools back in the hands of parents to parent their children in the digital world the same way that they do in the physical world. We're really just catching up....this is long overdue."


A fourth bill that was passed was LB 172…sponsored by Senator Brian Hardin….which seeks to fight against A-I generated child pornography, partly by instituting criminal penalties.


"The Congress has not led, in this. They've been followers. We need them to lead. Do you know why we need them to lead? Let me thank Lieutenant Lovelace who's sitting here, from the Nebraska State Patrol. They pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago, in another state where they don't have this kind of legislation in place....they were not able to execute on some problems that our state patrol found in that state. If they would have had this package of legislation in place....they would have been able to do something about it."


Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers spoke at the news conference, expressing gratitude for the efforts by the Governor and sponsoring senators, along with his staff members. "I'm very proud of Nebraska. I think, at some point, the country is waking up. At some point, not too many years in the future, people will look back and say what were we thinking. Why we allow this great national experiment that we know has caused so much harm to young boys and girls all around the country.. why did we let that go on? And, I'm proud that here in Nebraska, we are not waiting for that day. We are acting, today. And the series of bills that are getting signed into law are going to be an enormous step forward to try to protect kids...help protect girls, help protect boys...protect their mental health, their well-being...and foster educational outcomes."


The news conference was held just before state lawmakers were scheduled to conduct final reading on several other bills….on Friday’s 88th day of this year’s 90-day session.