Nebraska
Nebraska lawmakers unanimously pass privacy law • Nebraska Examiner
In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a right to privacy when supporting nonprofit causes. This year, Nebraska lawmakers unanimously passed legislation to implement that ruling and guard against privacy violations by state agencies.
The Personal Privacy Protection Act, included in Legislative Bill 43, prohibits state officials from going beyond existing law to demand or expose Nebraskans’ personal information and donation records to nonprofits. The law ensures that citizens can safely and privately give to the causes they care about without fear of their data being leaked or abused by government agencies.
The rise of doxing and an increasingly heated political environment have raised awareness of the need to enhance privacy protections in current law. Nonprofits depend on the ability to protect their members when speaking out about contested issues in government and society. Every American should be free to join and support groups that advocate for their beliefs without harassment or retaliation.
State Sens. Rita Sanders, a Republican, and Danielle Conrad, a Democrat, cosponsored LB 43. The bipartisan legislation passed unanimously, without a single vote against the bill at any stage of the legislative process. On March 27, Gov. Jim Pillen signed the bill into law.
“I see it as really the right to associate with your fellow citizens, with your neighbors in support of causes that you believe in and free from government interference,” said Conrad at a hearing on the initial version of the bill.
“I may support organizations that Senator Conrad doesn’t and the same may be true the other way around,” said Sanders. “But we both believe in protecting everyone’s right and freedom of speech, specifically by supporting nonprofit organizations privately and without harassment. This is something we can all agree on.”
The law was also supported by a variety of nonprofit groups, some of whom disagree passionately on most policy issues. Among the supporters were the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, Alliance Defending Freedom, Americans for Prosperity, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Family Alliance, People United for Privacy, Platte Institute, and the University of Nebraska System. Several groups testified in support of the bill as a vital protection for the First Amendment right to collective expression and the related right to associational privacy.
The Supreme Court’s concern for donor privacy is longstanding. In the 2021 case,
Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) v. Bonta, California’s attorney general demanded that all registered nonprofits in the state submit their confidential donor list to state officials. In striking down the demand, the Supreme Court pointed to a litany of previous cases defending the right to privacy in association.
In the 1950s, Alabama state officials sought to force the NAACP to disclose its membership list. The state’s demand
was a straightforward and brazen attempt to smother the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. Fortunately, the court struck down the state’s demand unanimously and ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to join and support nonprofits without being monitored by state officials.
NAACP v. Alabama was followed by several other cases further establishing the right to privacy in association. Yet, despite these rulings and
AFPF v. Bonta, some state officials and activists continue to seek ways to compel nonprofits with missions they oppose to expose their supporters’ names and home addresses. The goal is always the same: to name-and-shame donors, intimidate and harass them into silence, and ultimately, shut down groups they disagree with.
Nebraskans now have an additional layer of privacy to protect them from those harms. They are not alone. Eighteen other states have adopted similar laws in recent years in response to the court’s 2021 decision and growing concerns about personal privacy and political violence.
The bipartisan privacy movement in Nebraska and elsewhere is a hopeful sign for our country. The Cornhusker State now becomes a landmark in that movement through the unanimous passage of LB 43.
A Nebraska quarterback commit is making headlines heading into his senior season. Five-star prospect Trae Taylor has been named by Rivals as one of the ‘five high school football transfers that will make a big impact this 2026 season.’
Taylor heads into 2026 after a strong 2025 season at Carmel Catholic (IL). In 11 games, he threw 3,571 yards, 38 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also ran 77 times for 633 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The five-star quarterback is transferring to Millard South (NE) this offseason and will join a team that went 12-1 this past season and won back-to-back Class A State championships. He is taking over as the starting quarterback, replacing Jett Thomalla, who signed with Alabama.
Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power writes that the transfer quarterback is well-rounded and one of the stronger arms in the 2027 cycle. He also believes that the development he has shown this late in his career should be seen as a positive.
“Brings a combination of high-end arm talent and refinement to the table. Has a whippy release that uncoils quickly to generate fast arm action. Added arm strength in the off-season prior to his senior year. Can drive the football to all areas of the field with palpable zip. Rips throws out to the far hash and up the seam. Throws a tight spiral that cuts through the wind. Has proven to be accurate in multiple settings. Hyper-trained and plays with a good level of consistency as a passer.”
Taylor is also the first Cornhusker commit to ever hold the title of Elite 11 MVP. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of The Opening Finals at Nike’s World Headquarters last month.
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College football programs would rather not play true freshmen. Programs would rather give the kids a year to mature, get reps and get stronger. Learn behind experienced players, learn the system, grow mentally and physically. Make inevitable mistakes on the practice field, not in games.
Nebraska is no exception.
But Huskers true freshman running back Jamal Rule might be an exception.
Rule, one of the stars of Nebraska’s spring game, recently was cited by CBS Sports as one of 11 Big Ten true freshmen to watch who could have an immediate impact in 2026.
There is buzz around the Nebraska program regarding Rule, a 6-foot, 205-pound, three-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C. In the spring game, Rule scored on a 75-yard touchdown sprint and had 119 yards on 10 carries. He also caught a pass for 15 yards.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule certainly has noticed. The early enrollee has them talking around the Huskers’ program and around Lincoln, too.
What Rhule said about Rule
“Jamal had a really good spring,” Rhule told reporters after the spring game. “What he looked like today, he looked like all spring long. He’s very conscientious. He’s big, he’s tough, he’s fast, he’s got home run ability.”
Rule comes along at an opportune time for himself and Nebraska, which lost 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year Emmett Johnson to NFL Draft and the Kansas City Chiefs. Without Johnson, who gained a conference-leading 1,451 yards on the ground last season, the Huskers’ running back room was a serious question mark coming into the season.
Now, Nebraska is dealing with the arrest of presumed starting running back Mekhi Nelson in Key West, Fla. Nelson was arrested last week, charged with aggravated battery, as first reported by Pete Nakos, of On3.
Nelson’s legal ramifications are unknown as well as how this will affect his football status.
What CBS Sports said about Jamal Rule
CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford wrote this about Rule in selecting him as a Big Ten freshman to watch: “Some would say he was overlooked a bit by the elite programs during the recruiting process, but this three-star out of Charlotte, North Carolina, was identified early as a must-have for the Huskers and checked every box for coach Matt Rhule and his staff.
“Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Syracuse were in on Rule as well, but Nebraska won his commitment and may have grabbed an unexpected freshman starter as a result.
“Hoping to prove a point during spring camp, Rule showed aggression and ran hard on every rep. The expectation is that the Huskers will take a by-committee approach in the run game this season following the departure of leading rusher Emmett Johnson, and Rule should get some totes along with Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson.”
Rhule, whose Huskers face a brutal schedule in 2026, said after the spring game that Rule is “certainly preparing to play this year as a freshman.”
What it could mean for the offense
An established running attack certainly could help new quarterback Anthony Colandrea and the offense. If Rule is the real deal, Nebraska’s now uncertain running back room could become a much-needed strength.
A running back who can break a big play would add a dimension to the Huskers’ offense that could allow them to run on obvious passing downs and keep defenses off-balance.
Opponents might be forced to specifically game-plan for that aspect of the Huskers’ offense. That added defensive focus on the running game could mean less attention paid to the passing attack — a potential Nebraska advantage.
A strong passing game begins with a strong ground game. That was a go-to, bread-and-butter Nebraska strategy for years.
Everyone will know soon enough, as the season begins in a mere two months.
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