Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Recently, many of you received your new property valuation notices. Once again, many of you saw increases in your property value, even if you made no improvements to your property. This is not surprising given the high-demand for housing, farm, and ranch land. It is rare that a home or land is sold for less than the tax assessed value. When the market value of real estate rises, county assessors are required by law to adjust tax valuations to reflect those current market prices. In determining...
This week, I would like to discuss LB1010, the second significant energy bill that passed this year. LB1010 was a measure introduced by Sen. Tom Brandt to establish a legal framework for grid-scale battery energy storage facilities. Across the country and now in Nebraska, interest in grid-scale battery energy storage is growing. A 200-megawatt battery energy storage facility can be built out and deployed in as little as two years. In contrast, a new gas electric generation plant or high voltage...
In this most recent legislative session, I introduced a total of sixteen bills and one constitutional amendment resolution. Additionally, the Agriculture Committee, of which I chair, introduced two committee bills. Last week, I covered seven of these bills which became law. This week, I would like to outline the other seven of these bills which became law. My bill LB869 expands the number of local newspapers that publish the notice of unclaimed property and provides the State Treasurer’s O...
In this most recent legislative session, I introduced a total of sixteen bills and one constitutional amendment resolution. Additionally, the Agriculture Committee, of which I chair, introduced two so-called committee bills. Fourteen of those measures passed. This week, I would like to outline seven of my bills which became law. LB769 authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to create and issue up to three University of Nebraska State Museum License Plate designs. Alphanumeric plates will...
The 109th Legislature’s second session has adjourned sine die. As of the day of adjournment, the Legislature had passed 150 bills, excluding “A” (Appropriation) bills. Of the 107 priority bills designated this session, 75 bills were passed as standalone measures. Many priority bills were passed: LB525 to create first-of-its-kind agricultural data privacy protections for agricultural producers, LB958 to require Nebraska to pay the maximum amount of coverage for which Medicaid recipients are r...
This week, I would like to provide a broader overview of the proposed changes to the state's Brand Law. This session, I introduced LB1187 to allow the ability for the Brand Committee to adjust its inspection fee to help the Brand Committee manage a difficult budget situation. Due to the closure of the Tyson plant in Lexington earlier this year, as well as other factors, the Brand Committee's cash fund has depleted in recent years. Although the Brand Committee has indicated that it could...
This past week, the Legislature gave final approval to the two budget bills. During the long 90-day legislative session, the state’s biennial budget is crafted. During the short 60-day session, adjustments are made to the budget. Adjusting this session’s budget was a much more demanding task since senators had to weigh what agencies and programs would be cut. Combined, both budget bills contain a large collection of cuts, changes, and cash transfers which will bring the deficit down to abo...
This past week, Senators gave first-round approval to LB525, a bill introduced by Sen. Jacobson to protect data collected by farmers’ equipment. This measure would create a first-of-its-kind ag data privacy protection for agricultural producers on subjects like soil conditions, weather, and crop yields. This ag data has completely changed the landscape of agriculture thanks to the growing use of precision technologies in agricultural equipment. Senators also advanced LB1165 to the next stage o...
This past week, the Legislature gave first-round approval to the two budget bills which propose adjustments to the biennial budget that was passed last year. As I mentioned last week, the Legislature creates a two-year, biennial budget in odd-numbered years, and that budget must be balanced. The spending approved must not exceed the amount of revenue projected by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board in their most recent meeting prior to the end of the session. This frequently...
On Friday, Feb. 27, the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board met and revised its October revenue projections, adding another $175 million to the deficit. This board has nine members that are tasked with developing a consensus projection of economic activity in Nebraska. They provide an advisory forecast of the state’s General Fund revenue receipts. The consensus General Fund revenue forecast is used to set the operating budget for the State of Nebraska. Senators entered this l...
Thursday, Feb. 20 marked the last day for senators and committees to designate their priority bills for the year. A total of 107 bills and resolutions were prioritized. With the Unicameral now in the latter half of this short 60-day legislative session, the majority of the bills that will be debated from this point on will be priority bills and the budget. My personal priority for this session is LR283CA. Currently, the Nebraska Constitution specifies that every citizen of the United States shal...
This past week, the Agriculture Committee heard two bills at a public hearing: LB1187 and LB1258. Both bills propose changes to the state’s livestock branding law. The Nebraska Livestock Brand Act requires cattle owners in the western two-thirds of the state to comply with mandatory brand inspections. These inspections are overseen by the Nebraska Brand Committee and are meant to safeguard against cattle theft. Last year, the Agriculture Committee held an interim hearing to examine the L...
This week, I would like to highlight a number of the proposals that have been introduced this session that have the intent of reducing property taxes. Both the Education Committee and the Revenue Committee have begun to hold public hearings on these measures now that there has been some time for agencies and groups to analyze many of the different measures. LB1182 and LB1183 represent the two components of the so-called Apple Tax Plan that is sponsored by the group known as Advocates for All...
This past week, the Legislature continued to hold public hearings on bills. Three bills by Sen. Kauth, relating to social issues, garnered significant interest from across the state. LB730 would require schools and state agencies to designate restrooms and locker rooms based on sex. LB731 would adopt the Gender Transition Malpractice Accountability Act and allow for civil actions relating to gender-altering procedures. LB732 would prohibit health care practitioners from providing cross-sex...
With the holidays now fast approaching, final preparations are being made ahead of next year’s regular legislative session. Pursuant to the Nebraska Constitution, the Legislature will convene its shortened 60-day legislative session at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 7. In the latest memo provided by Speaker of the Legislature John Arch to senators and staff, public hearings on bills and resolutions will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20 and continue through the month of February. Full-day floor debate w...
In 1621, the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag Tribe met to celebrate the blessing they received from the previous year: a successful harvest. This gathering is considered the origin of our country’s modern Thanksgiving tradition. Thanksgiving initially continued largely as a regional observance in colonial New England. In these early years, the meaning of Thanksgiving varied by location. In some areas, Thanksgiving was a celebration of the autumn harvest. In other a...
On Wednesday, November 12, the Nebraska Examiner reported that the Executive Board of the Legislature is considering new security upgrades in the Nebraska State Capitol building. This announcement comes in light of recent acts of political violence across the country and a growing recognition by state and national lawmakers to reconsider existing security measures. Currently, the Capitol Security Division of the Nebraska State Patrol is charged with the safety and security of the Nebraska State...
On Oct. 31, the Agriculture Committee held its second and final interim public hearing for the year. This hearing was held for four interim study resolutions: LR153, LR168, LR257, and LR258. Additionally, the committee received a public briefing by Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge, Omaha Field Office of the FBI, regarding threats to the agriculture sector by domestic and foreign actors from the FBI perspective. LR153 was introduced by Sen. Storer for the purpose of gathering information...
Even though the Legislature stands adjourned for the year, senators and committees are already laying the groundwork for the next legislative session. One way this groundwork is laid is by the holding of interim study hearings by the various legislative committees. Interim study resolutions are typically introduced by senators or committees in the regular session in order to examine public policy issues in-depth during the time the Legislature is adjourned. This past week, the Natural Resources...
This past week, more than 100 new laws took effect. Under Article III, Section 27 of the Nebraska Constitution, no law shall take effect until three calendar months after the adjournment of the legislative session at which it passed, though the Legislature can move up the effective date of a law by a two-thirds of all the members elected. Since this year’s legislative session adjourned on June 3, this means over 100 new laws took effect on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in accordance with our state’s con...
A couple of months ago, I outlined two initiative petitions that have been filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office and are currently in circulation for the 2026 General Election. Since then, two additional initiative petitions have been submitted to the Secretary of State: (1) the Cap Annual Property Valuation Assessments Constitutional Amendment and (2) the Reduce Taxable Property Valuation Initiative. The Cap Annual Property Valuation Assessments Constitutional Amendment p...
For the past few weeks, I have continued a series where I highlight several of the priority bills and resolutions that are pending and could be scheduled early next session. This week’s newsletter will provide an overview of several more carryover priority bills and resolutions which could be potentially debated sometime early next year. LB632, by Sen. Hansen, would require healthcare facilities to dispose of fetal tissue following an elective abortion via cremation, interment by burial, or a...
I will continue a series where I highlight several of the priority bills and resolutions that are pending and could be scheduled early next session. This week’s newsletter will provide an overview of several carryover priority bills and resolutions whose fate, at least to me, is more uncertain going into next year. LB13, by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, would require that Nebraska file a state plan amendment for the Child Care Subsidy program to pay providers based on a child’s enrollment or aut...
This week’s newsletter will provide an overview of several bills and resolutions that are still held in their respective legislative committees but could conceivably be advanced to the floor subject to the outcome of any negotiations that happen during the interim. LR12CA, by Sen. Kauth, is a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to cap property tax valuations. As introduced, LR12CA would dictate that the maximum amount of any property tax cannot not exceed 1.5% of the full-cash value o... Full story
Last week, I started a series where I would highlight several of the priority bills and resolutions that are pending and could be scheduled early in the next session. This week’s newsletter will provide an overview of several more of these bills and resolutions. LB455 by Senator Hallstrom would modify existing laws relating to worker’s compensation. Under current law, if an employee is injured on the job, employers are required to file a report of first injury with the Nebraska Workers’ Compe...
