Nebraska passes version of 'Raylee's Law' inspired by WV, where it still divides lawmakers

[Omaha Steve]

Because of the West Virginia House of Delegate’s rule that lawmakers can’t use props in the chamber, Del. Shawn Fluharty placed a large poster of Raylee Browning — the namesake of Raylee’s Law — outside of the House chamber while lawmakers debated the bill on the final night of the legislative session on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/18/repub/nebraska-passes-version-of-raylees-law-inspired-by-wv-where-it-still-divides-lawmakers/

By: Amelia Ferrell Knisely - May 18, 2026 10:36 am

A high-profile bill known as Raylee’s Law, which West Virginia lawmakers have struggled with for years, has inspired legislation passed by the Nebraska Legislature.

Nebraska has a conservative supermajority, similar to West Virginia’s GOP supermajority. Their Legislature recently passed a bill that will pause a parent’s request to homeschool their child for 14 days if the parent or guardian is under investigation for child abuse and neglect.

Bill sponsor Sen. Megan Hunt, an independent, said she was inspired to sponsor the legislation after reading media coverage of Raylee’s Law in West Virginia.

“Upon learning that Nebraska still had this ‘loophole’ in which parents (and) guardians can withdraw a child who is a potential abuse victim from school with virtually no oversight, we decided it would be appropriate to give it a try,” Hunt told West Virginia Watch.

FULL story at link above.


Sen. Megan Hunt, Nebraska state senator (Photo by Gregory Nathan / University Communication)