On the heels of some occasionally ugly anti-racism protests in Omaha and Lincoln, a panel of state lawmakers opened up two days of listening, as the public demands action.

One of those lawmakers, Sen. Ernie Chambers, spent the morning quietly protesting before round one. One of Nebraska’s two black state senators he’ll be 83 next month and tells NCN he has his share of doubts that the death of George Floyd marks the beginning of a major change in race relations here and across the country.

[See Chambers' comments and our full video report above]

At the same time conservative GOP State Senator Suzanne Geist of Lincoln says in a series of tweets that’s it’s time for change. That she’s “listening to her black brothers and sisters differently” than before and that she’s willing to learn.

But will state senators have the time to enact any new laws when they return to Lincoln next month?

Senator Steve Lathrop who headed up the Judiciary Committee hearing tells NCN he isn’t sure.

And if there is time, it’s wait and see if there are enough votes.