LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday advanced a bill that would remove the requirement for human relations training for teachers and substitute teachers in the state.
The proposal, introduced by State Senator Dave Murman of Glenvil, cleared its first of three rounds of floor debate. Murman said eliminating the requirement would lower barriers to entering the classroom and help address ongoing teacher and substitute shortages across Nebraska.
The bill faced no opposition during a public hearing last month. However, debate on the legislative floor raised concerns among some lawmakers about removing training designed to build cultural awareness and sensitivity among educators.
State Senator Terrell McKinney of Omaha spoke against the proposal, citing the training’s description in state law. The human relations course focuses on recognizing and addressing bias, including racism, sexism, prejudice, and discrimination in both behavior and instructional materials. It also emphasizes understanding the values, history, and contributions of a diverse society, respect for human dignity, and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds.
McKinney said the training remains especially relevant given current social and political challenges, including immigration-related issues. He argued that eliminating the requirement could be counterproductive at a time when cultural understanding is increasingly important in classrooms.
Murman responded that he does not object to the content of the training itself. Instead, he said the requirement largely duplicates coursework already completed by aspiring teachers, including classes focused on ethics, social responsibility, and engagement with diverse cultures and global issues.
Several lawmakers shared personal experiences with the training, offering differing perspectives. Senator Victor Rountree of Bellevue said he completed similar training during his career in the U.S. Air Force and later as a civilian administrator at Offutt Air Force Base, but still found value in the human relations course when he later became a substitute teacher.
Rountree said the training helped him recognize cultural gaps when working with younger students and concluded that the requirement remains necessary.
In contrast, Senator Jana Hughes of Seward said the course was not particularly helpful for substitute teaching. She said training focused on classroom management and age-specific student interaction would be more beneficial. Hughes also noted that enrolling in the course and completing it within the required timeframe was inconvenient.
The Legislature’s Education Committee also recently heard testimony on a separate bill introduced by Senator Jared Storm of David City. His proposal would create an alternative training pathway for substitute teachers, offering more flexibility while still preparing them for the classroom. Storm said his goal is also to help address the state’s educator shortage.
Some lawmakers suggested during debate that Storm’s approach may be preferable, though Murman did not amend his bill.
The Nebraska State Board of Education submitted a letter in support of Storm’s proposal, stating that it aligns with state efforts to expand the pool of substitute teachers by providing an additional pathway into schools. The board did not take a position on Murman’s bill, according to Nebraska Department of Education spokesperson David Jespersen.
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