LINCOLN — A group of 11 state senators launched a long-shot bid Tuesday to convene a special session on racial justice issues, with one lawmaker admitting it probably won’t happen.
Still, the senator who made that prediction, State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, applauded the conviction of the group of senators for seeking something that is right, but may not happen.
“That is the definition of integrity,” said Chambers, who will end 46 years of service in the one-house Legislature because of term limits.
The Legislature can call for a special session with the support of 33 senators. Gov. Pete Ricketts also can call for a special session.
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Ricketts, through a spokesman, has said he won’t do so.
Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, one of the 11 senators, said Tuesday that there’s “a chance” 33 senators might want to return to Lincoln for a special session, but it will be very difficult, given that COVID-19 restrictions are still in place and that lawmakers just finished a rough-and-tumble 60-day session two weeks ago.
“These issues aren’t going away,” Morfeld said. “I also know that there’s more than 11 senators (who care).”
Tuesday morning, the senators delivered a letter to the Secretary of State’s Office outlining 10 purposes for a special session. The reasons include to pass legislation that increases civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies, ensures better workplace protections against COVID-19, provides adequate compensation to the unemployed and increases protection against eviction from homes.
The request will be forwarded to all 49 state senators to determine whether at least 33 agree. If so, the governor would be required to call a special session within five days. The letter comes a week after the ACLU of Nebraska and several racial justice organizations called for a special session.
Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said that many senators left Lincoln two weeks ago disappointed that issues raised by the police-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the unemployment and financial stress caused by COVID-19 were not addressed by state lawmakers. Both issues, she said, disproportionately affect people of color.
She said she disagrees with other lawmakers who say consideration of these issues can wait until January, when the Legislature convenes its 2021 regular session.
“People are dying every day,” Cavanaugh said. “Every day that we wait to take action is another day lives are impacted.”
Besides Chambers, Morfeld and Cavanaugh, those signing the letter were Sens. Matt Hansen and Patty Pansing Brooks, both of Lincoln, and Sens. Sara Howard, Megan Hunt, Rick Kolowski, John McCollister, Tony Vargas and Justin Wayne, all of Omaha.
Meet the Nebraska state senators
Nebraska's 49 state senators

Nebraska has 49 state senators in the Legislature. Scroll through to find your state senator and others.
Julie Slama

District 1: State Sen. Julie Slama
From: Peru
Party: Republican
Robert Clements

District 2: State Sen. Robert Clements
From: Elmwood
Party: Republican
Carol Blood

District 3: State Sen. Carol Blood
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
Robert Hilkemann

District 4: State Sen. Robert Hilkemann
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
Mike McDonnell

District 5: State Sen. Mike McDonnell
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Machaela Cavanaugh

District 6: State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Tony Vargas

District 7: State Sen. Tony Vargas
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Megan Hunt

District 8: State Sen. Megan Hunt
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Sara Howard

District 9: State Sen. Sara Howard
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Wendy DeBoer

District 10: State Sen. Wendy DeBoer
From: Bennington
Party: Democratic
Ernie Chambers

District 11: State Sen. Ernie Chambers
From: Omaha
Party: Independent
Steve Lathrop

District 12: State Sen. Steve Lathrop
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Justin Wayne

District 13: State Sen. Justin Wayne
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
John Arch

District 14: State Sen. John Arch
From: La Vista
Party: Republican
Lynne Walz

District 15: State Sen. Lynne Walz
From: Fremont
Party: Democratic
Ben Hansen

District 16: State Sen. Ben Hansen
From: Blair
Party: Republican
Joni Albrecht

District 17: State Sen. Joni Albrecht
From: Thurston
Party: Republican
Brett Lindstrom

District 18: State Sen. Brett Lindstrom
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
Jim Scheer

District 19: State Sen. Jim Scheer
From: Norfolk
Party: Republican
John McCollister

District 20: State Sen. John McCollister
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
Mike Hilgers

District 21: State Sen. Mike Hilgers
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
Mike Moser

District 22: State Sen. Mike Moser
From: Columbus
Party: Republican
Bruce Bostelman

District 23: State Sen. Bruce Bostelman
From: Brainard
Party: Republican
Mark Kolterman

District 24: State Sen. Mark Kolterman
From: Seward
Party: Republican
Suzanne Geist

District 25: State Sen. Suzanne Geist
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
Matt Hansen

District 26: State Sen. Matt Hansen
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Anna Wishart

District 27: State Sen. Anna Wishart
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Patty Pansing Brooks

District 28: State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Kate Bolz

District 29: State Sen. Kate Bolz
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Myron Dorn

District 30: State Sen. Myron Dorn
From: Adams
Party: Republican
Rick Kolowski

District 31: State Sen. Rick Kolowski
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Tom Brandt

District 32: State Sen. Tom Brandt
From: Plymouth
Party: Republican
Steve Halloran

District 33: State Sen. Steve Halloran
From: Hastings
Party: Republican
Curt Friesen

District 34: State Sen. Curt Friesen
From: Henderson
Party: Republican
Dan Quick

District 35: State Sen. Dan Quick
From: Grand Island
Party: Democratic
Matt Williams

District 36: State Sen. Matt Williams
From: Gothenburg
Party: Republican
John Lowe

District 37: State Sen. John Lowe
From: Kearney
Party: Republican
Dave Murman

District 38: State Sen. Dave Murman
From: Glenvil
Party: Republican
Lou Ann Linehan

District 39: State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
From: Elkhorn
Party: Republican
Tim Gragert

District 40: State Sen. Tim Gragert
From: Creighton
Party: Republican
Tom Briese

District 41: State Sen. Tom Briese
From: Albion
Party: Republican
Mike Groene

District 42: State Sen. Mike Groene
From: North Platte
Party: Republican
Tom Brewer

District 43: State Sen. Tom Brewer
From: Gordon
Party: Republican
Dan Hughes

District 44: State Sen. Dan Hughes
From: Venango
Party: Republican
Sue Crawford

District 45: State Sen. Sue Crawford
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
Adam Morfeld

District 46: State Sen. Adam Morfeld
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Steve Erdman

District 47: State Sen. Steve Erdman
From: Bayard
Party: Republican
John Stinner

District 48: State Sen. John Stinner
From: Gering
Party: Republican
Andrew La Grone

District 49: State Sen. Andrew La Grone
From: Gretna
Party: Republican
paul.hammel@owh.com, 402-473-9584