Bill would pair Arbor Day with Election Day

Nebraskans would celebrate Arbor Day on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years under a bill heard Feb. 24 by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

LB965, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Eliot Bostar, would move the state holiday to coincide with the statewide general election in even-numbered years. Arbor Day would remain on the last Friday in April in odd-numbered years.

Last year, Bostar introduced a bill that, among other provisions, would have designated Election Day as a state holiday. The proposal has not advanced out of committee. He said opponents argue that Nebraska already has too many state holidays.

“This is my response to that,” Bostar said. “Election Day should be a holiday. It makes a statement about the importance that we all place on civic responsibility.”

Westin Miller of Civic Nebraska testified in support of LB965. He said 19 other states observe Election Day as a holiday and that doing so in Nebraska would increase voter participation.

“It’s odd that we get a day off to celebrate presidents but not elect them,” Miller said.

Tammy Partsch, marketing director of Nebraska City Tourism, spoke in opposition to LB965. She said Arbor Day is a 150-year tradition with deep roots in Nebraska City and its celebration in April coincides with planting trees in springtime.

“That is our hometown pride,” Partsch said. “It’s being poached and being thrown under the bus as if it doesn’t matter.”

Beth Bazyn Ferrell of the Nebraska Association of County Officials also testified in opposition to the bill. She said 75 Nebraska counties observe Arbor Day but 18 do not, which could complicate achieving the bill’s goal of increased voter participation. She added that it would be impossible for county officials involved in an election to take the day off as a holiday.

The committee took no immediate action on LB965.