Attempt to Override Governor’s Veto Fails in Nebraska

On Wednesday, April 2, the Nebraska Senate failed to override the Governor’s veto of LB 671-the mountain lion hunting ban. Pushed by Senator Ernie Chambers, the motion which needed 30 votes to pass only garnered 24 yes votes.

“This is a huge win for sportsmen and scientific wildlife management,” said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA’s president and CEO. “Nebraska sportsmen should thank Governor Heineman for vetoing this bill-and the sportsmen-friendly legislators that sustained the veto.”

On Monday, March 24, the Nebraska legislature passed the bill that removes the authority of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to manage the state’s growing mountain lion population. The effort to ban mountain lion hunting is being driven by Senator Ernie Chambers. Senator Chambers has vowed to oppose every proposal of the state’s Game and Parks Commission until the mountain lion season is banned.

On Friday, March 28th, Governor Dave Heineman vetoed the bill. In his veto message, Governor Heineman stated “Nebraskans expect responsible wildlife management. LB 671 eliminates an important tool used to accomplish it. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission should retain the ability to determine those management actions which are necessary to protect both the health and safety of our citizens and the wildlife in our state. Removing the agency’s authority to manage mountain lions through hunting at this time is poor public policy.”

Nebraska added mountain lions to the state’s list of game animals in 2012 when Governor Heineman signed LB 928 into law. In 2013, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission took a measured approach designed to maintain, or slightly reduce, the population of mountain lions in the state.

Contact: Kali Parmley (614) 888-4868 x 226