Currently, people in Nebraska who want to bet on sports have to go to a casino, to another state, or to an illegal betting site. Under a proposal by Sen. Eliot Bostar, they would be able to bet online from anywhere in the state. Bostar said a study by the internet security company Geocomply during last year’s football season showed Nebraskans’ demand for online sports betting.

“There were 3.9 million attempts to access regulated online sports books from inside Nebraska's borders, and 42,000 border crossings, with 92% going into Iowa to place a bet," he said. "The demand for mobile sports betting is clear, and it's in our best interest to regulate and benefit from it. Nebraska's property taxes are among the highest in the nation, heavily impacting homeowners, farmers and small business owners. Directing revenues from online mobile sports betting to the property tax credit fund can provide much needed relief."

Bostar said sports betting would produce $32 million a year in revenue for the state. That would be about six-tenths of a percent of the more than $5 billion in property taxes levied per year.

Among those supporting the proposal was Lance Morgan, CEO of Warhorse Gaming, which runs casinos in Omaha and Lincoln. The proposal would require online sports betting operations to partner with existing Nebraska casino operators. It was also supported by the Sports Betting Alliance, which includes sports betting companies FanDuel, Draft Kings, Bet MGM and Fanatics.

Opposing the proposal, Nate Grasz of the Nebraska Family Alliance said by making gambling more accessible, it would hurt children and families. And he sought to counter the argument that it makes sense for Nebraska to capture revenue from betting already taking place.

“It's been said that all we're doing by not legalizing online sports betting is sending revenue across the river. A clear and growing body of evidence suggests otherwise," he said. "States with online sports betting have seen massive spikes in addiction, bankruptcy, suicide and domestic violence, while decreasing household spendings and savings. Legalization dramatically increases access, acceptance and advertising, which drives increased participation, loss and human suffering."

The committee also heard from opponents like Jacob Wolff, who said he himself had lost thousands of dollars to online gambling when he lived in a state where it was legal.

Bostar’s proposal is in the form of a state constitutional amendment, meaning that if it is advanced by the committee and approved by the Legislature it would be up to voters to approve or disapprove the measure in next year’s general election.

Also Monday, the Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee advanced a proposal to return Nebraska to the winner-take-all system of allocating its Electoral College votes for president.

Currently, Nebraska is one of only two states, along with Maine, that doesn’t give all its Electoral votes to the statewide winner. Instead, the state gives two of its five votes to whoever gets the most votes statewide; the other three are given to whoever wins each of the three congressional districts. A Democratic presidential candidate has not won the statewide vote since 1964, but has picked up one vote in the Omaha-area second district in three of the last five elections.

The Republican Party and many of its officeholders have supported a return to winner-take all, arguing that the current system dilutes Nebraska’s influence. Democrats have opposed the change, arguing the current system better reflects voters’ will.

Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, praised Monday’s committee vote, calling it “great news for Nebraska.” But the future of the idea remains uncertain. There are 33 registered Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, exactly the number that would be needed to overcome a filibuster against the bill. One of those Republicans, Sen. Dave Wordekemper, voted to advance the bill out of committee. But he said that doesn’t necessarily mean he will support it when the full Legislature votes on the issue. In a later interview, Wordekemper explained his thinking:

“I know it's an important issue to some people," he said. "I believe the way we do our votes now is legitimate. I think it matters for everybody's voice to be heard. I understand we don't do it with the rest of the country, but I think that's what makes Nebraska unique. It makes a lot of candidates or their representatives come to Nebraska. I think that's important. We matter here."

Wordekemper said he prefers another measure advanced by the committee, which would leave it up to voters to decide the issue.

In other action Friday, lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that would put into state law what is the current legal interpretation, that drivers for companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash are considered independent contractors, not employees. The vote of 33-15 was almost strictly along party lines, with Wordekemper the sole Republican to vote against it, and Sen. Jane Raybould the only Democrat to vote for it.