Although one measure that Clay County News is following has advanced out of committee to the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, most proposed law changes introduced this session—which began in early January—are sitting in committees, awaiting hearings or post-hearing decisions.
All introduced legislation is sorted into a committee where the bills have their first hearings. Public comments, whether in person or submitted in writing, weigh especially heavy in the committee hearings where listening senators are deciding which measures should advance in the lawmaking process.
There is an easy online process to submit comments: Go to https://nebraskalegislature. gov/bills/ and search for the bill of interest by number in the top righthand corner of the webpage, which will bring up the specific bill’s informational page; click on the “Submit Comments Online” button positioned under the bill’s history.
Clay County News will be following certain legislation we feel has more potential to impact Clay County, providing updates as the bills move through the legislative process until the end of the session on April 18. In each section, there are plenty more introduced bills that may interest readers. Let us know if you’d like us to add a bill to this list of weekly updates.
NOTABLE ACTION FROM JAN. 29-FEB. 2: GENERAL BILLS— Hearings Held LB845—which would prohibit tenant eviction of a child, his or her guardian, and/or a school employee during the school year—had its hearing on Jan. 31 in the Judiciary Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, hopes to provide children with stability and consistency by reducing forced family relocations as well as ensuring school staff can continue employment when they are in financial difficulties. Proponents, including the Lincoln-based Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and the Voices of Children in Nebraska based in Omaha, agreed that children who are evicted are at risk of delayed literacy skills, lower academic achievement, emotional disorders, and homelessness. Opponents included landlords, as well as the Statewide Property Owners Association and the Nebraska Realtors Association, who warned that this bill would hurt their income by allowing tenants to live rent-free for up to nine months of a year. The Statewide Property Owners Association, with offices in Lincoln and Omaha, and the Lincoln-based Nebraska Realtors Association testified that this bill gives tenants an excuse to not follow their leases. The Metropolitan Omaha Property Owners Association pointed out that this bill shifts the responsibility of a child’s housing stability from the parents to their landlords. The Judiciary Committee took no immediate action.
LB971, which would give military veterans a free hunting permit for use on Veterans Day only, had its hearing on Jan. 31 in the Natural Resources Committee. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1116, which would adopt the Grocer Reinvestment Option Act to provide funding to rural grocery stores, had its hearing on Jan. 30 in the Agriculture Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, intends to address food insecurity in rural Nebraska by opening up $2 million in business improvement loans and grants annually from 2024-2026 to locally owned grocery and convenience stores. She estimates that there are 139 qualified businesses in the state, 131 of which are located in rural areas. Qualified businesses must be located in an underserved community, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and employ no more than 25 full-time workers. The USDA’s definition of an underserved community is one in which at least 500 people live more than one mile from the nearest grocery store in an urban area or more than 10 miles from a grocery store in a rural area. Priority would be given to qualified businesses that commit to stocking food items available to income-qualified participants in food assistance programs. Proponents, including the Nebraska Farmers Union, testified that grocery stores are key to both quality of life in a rural area and a rural community’s sustainability and that communities that lose a grocery store also lose their appeal to families. There was no opposition, and the Agriculture Committee took no immediate action.
LB1248, which would eliminate sales and use tax on candy and soft drinks, had its hearing on Feb. 1 in the Revenue Committee. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
Hearings Held After Press Time The committee hearings for these bills were scheduled after this week’s edition of Clay County News went to print; a summary will be included in next week’s newspaper: LB1298, which would provide military veteran vehicle license plates at no cost, was scheduled for a a hearing in the Transportation and Telecommunications (TT) Committee on Feb. 6.
LB1332, which would adopt the Prepaid Card Consumer Protection Act to remove expiration dates and fees from the use of store-specific gift cards and long-distance calling cards, is scheduled for a hearing in the Banking, Commerce and Insurance (BCI) Committee on Feb. 5.
Hearing Scheduled LB1182, which would increase the Earned Income Tax Credit, has its hearing on Feb. 8 in the Revenue Committee.
PROPERTY TAXES & SCHOOL FUNDING – Hearings Held LB1316, which eliminate a public school district’s ability to raise its base growth percentage in order to increase its property tax request authority, had its hearing on Jan. 31 in the Revenue Committee. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1386, which would establish an educational savings account for each K-12 student enrolled in an accredited private school for up to $1,500 in educational expenses, had its hearing on Jan. 30 in the Education Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, feels that it’s the government’s responsibility to assist parents who choose to enroll their children in private schools since they have no choice but to support their local public schools through property taxes. Funds from the educational savings accounts could be applied toward tuition, textbooks, and school supplies. Proponents, including the Platte Institute based in Omaha, emphasized that parents have the right to education choice and the interest in non-public school has grown since 2020. Opponents, including the Lincoln-based Nebraska State Education Association, claimed that this bill violates the state constitution that prohibits allocating public funds to any non-public school. OpenSky Policy Institute, based in Lincoln, voiced concern about the bill’s sustainability since no funding sources has been identified. Last school year, there were 36,656 students attending K-12 accredited private schools in Nebraska; if each of these students received $1,500, the total cost of LB1386 would be $55 million. The Education Committee took no immediate action.
LB1397, which would change the classification of agricultural land if used for a solar or wind farm, had its hearing on Jan. 31 in the Revenue Committee. The bill’s sponsor is Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1414 and LB1415, both introduced at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen seeking property tax relief, had a joint hearing on Feb. 2 in the Revenue Committee. LB1414—which would adopt the Property Tax Growth Limitation Act to prohibit the property tax request of counties, cities or villages, natural resource districts, and educational service units from exceeding their property tax request authority—had its hearing on Feb. 2 in the Revenue Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, pointed out that local property tax collections have totaled $1.3 billion during the past six years, outpacing the $1 billion set aside for property tax relief during the same time. This bill would cap increases in property taxes except when voter-approved, to pay for principal and interest on approved bonds, and for infrastructure repair needed after a natural disaster. LB1415—which would adopt the Property Tax Relief Act to provide state aid to public schools, counties, and cities or villages in exchange for direct property tax relief—had its hearing on Feb. 2 in the Revenue Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk, explained that this bill would use funds from the Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act, which was created in 2020 to provide refundable income tax credits based on a taxpayer’s property taxes to their local public school district; however, most of the available credits go unclaimed. For fiscal year 2024-25, he estimated that there is $989.6 million available for public school districts, $437.2 million for counties, and $297.1 million for communities. Proponents, including the Lincoln Independent Business Association, testified that allowing political subdivisions to increase their property tax request by a real growth percentage—as proposed by LB1414, should suffice for these subdivisions to meet funding needs. The Nebraska Farm Bureau supported both bills but testified that neither bill can work alone. Opponents, including the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners based in Papillion, countered that a real growth percentage will not allow its operations to stay ahead of inflation. Milford Public Schools spoke against LB1415’s proposal to dismantle the Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act. The Revenue Committee took no immediate action on either bill.
Hearings Held After Press Time The committee hearings for these bills were scheduled after this week’s edition of Clay County News went to print; a summary will be included in next week’s newspaper: LB939—which would adopt the My Student, My Choice Act to change public school funding so that state funding is attached to each student’s enrollment status rather than to each student’s home district—is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 5.
LB1337, which would adopt the School Construction Financing Act to offer state aid to local public school districts, is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 6.
EDUCATION – Hearing Held LB1081, which would require certain student-teacher ratios for public school classrooms with both special education students and unaccommodated students, had its hearing on Jan. 30 in the Education Committee. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
Hearings Held After Press Time The committee hearings for these bills were scheduled after this week’s edition of Clay County News went to print; a summary will be included in next week’s newspaper: LB1029, which would excuse students from compulsory school attendance due to mental or physical illness, is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 6.
LB1066, which would authorize a public school board to allow religion elective courses taught off-campus, is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 5.
LB1146, introduced by Murman, would allow the suspension of preK2nd grade students due to violent behavior. This bill’s hearing is scheduled in the Education Committee on Feb. 6.
LB1193—which would allow a parent to request that a child repeat a grade due to academic needs, illness, or absenteeism—is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 5.
LB1339—which would allow authorized public or private school personnel to carry a firearm on school grounds, in a school-owned vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity if approved by a school board—is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 6.
LB1399, introduced by Murman, would increase transparency of public schools regarding instructional materials, library content, school presentations, and surveys and decrease the requirements for parents to opt their child out of educational activities. This bill’s hearing is scheduled in the Education Committee on Feb. 5.
HEALTH, SAFETY & MEDICAL – Advanced to General File The BCI Committee has voted to advance LB829, which would require insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screening, to General File with a possible amendment. The BCI committee’s pending motion to would specify that no insurance company can impose a deductible, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirements on any service or item integral to performing a colorectal cancer screening.
General File is the first stage of floor debate by the full Legislature. Not all bills advance out of committee to floor debate, and only some of the bills that are moved to General File move on in the lawmaking process. After General File is the second stage of floor debate, Select File, and then the vote-only Final Reading. Bills approved during this final vote are then delivered to Pillen’s desk to be signed into law.
Hearing Held LB1082, which would require insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization for state employees, had its hearing on Feb. 2 in the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs (GMVA) Committee. There was little discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
Hearings Held After Press Time The committee hearings for these bills were scheduled after this week’s edition of Clay County News went to print; a summary will be included in next week’s newspaper: LB876, which would adopt the Newborn Safe Haven Act to provide a safe place for parents to surrender custody of their newborn without prosecution for abandonment, is scheduled for a hearing in the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 7.
LB1139, which would adopt the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act to provide paid family and medical leave for up to 10 consecutive weeks per year or 60 days per year if on an intermittent basis, is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 5 in the Business and Labor (BL) Committee.
LB1391, which would require public and private high schools to have automated external defibrillators on hand in case of a heart attack at an athletic event, is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 6 in the Education Committee.
Hearings Scheduled LB1054, which would create the Child Care Safety and Security Act to offer grants to child care and early education programs for emergency response systems, has its hearing on Feb. 8 in the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee.
LB1274, which would require insurance coverage of prosthetics and orthotics, has its hearing on Feb. 13 in the BCI Committee.
LB1309, which would offer an income tax deduction for the costs of medical care not covered by insurance, has its hearing on Feb. 8 in the Revenue Committee.
LB1408, which would require hotels to post human trafficking informational posters and train staff on interventions, has its hearing on Feb. 12 in the BL Committee.
JUSTICE & LAW ENFORCMENT – Hearing Scheduled LB1340, which would allow enforcement of phone-related traffic violations not involving other offenses, has its hearing on Feb. 27 in the TT Committee.
LOCAL & COUNTY GOVERNMENT – Hearing Held LB1366, which would prohibit taking of property by the government through eminent domain without county or city/village voter approval as well as by private business for pipelines unless approved by the government or voter approval, had its hearing on Feb. 2 in the Judiciary Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, conducted an interim study prior to this session of the Legislature to find ways to increase transparency and accountability of eminent domain use. This study recognized a need for balance between the necessity of eminent domain and protection of property owner rights, he explained. In addition to putting tighter controls on when eminent domain can be invoked, this bill would give property owners the ability to reclaim their title or part of the condemnation award if their property is no longer needed for public use. Proponents, including private landowners whose properties were in the original Keystone KL Pipeline route, recalled the pipeline developer giving different easement offers to property owners and making threats of court if landowners didn’t readily accept their offer. The Nebraska Realtors Association, based in Lincoln, testified that this bill will ensure that property easements are sold for what they’re worth. Opponents, including the Columbus-based Nebraska Public Power District and the Nebraska Power Association based in Holdrege, voiced concern that this bill could give a county board the ability to impede a project that could benefit a million of people. The Lincoln-based League of Nebraska Municipalities and the Metropolitan Utilities District, based in Omaha, pointed out that community-owned wastewater treatment facilities and electricity or natural gas distribution systems are often located outside of city limits but that this bill would allow county boards to hinder city planning. The Judiciary Committee took no immediate action.
Hearings Scheduled LB1067, which would phase out the inheritance tax, has its hearing on Feb. 8 in the Revenue Committee.
LB1190, which would adopt the Professional Service Contract Reporting Act to require city and county governments to publicly reveal recipients of its professional service contracts, has its hearing on Feb. 13 in the Urban Affairs Committee.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – Hearings Held LB1018, which would require that positions of public employment no longer require a college degree except as required by law, had its hearing on Feb. 2 in the GMVA Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, has filed a pending amendment to clarify that applicants without a college degree but with commensurate career experience or skills are to be considered as equals to applicants with a college degree. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1259, which would provide classroom improvement bonuses to public school teachers, had its hearing on Jan. 30 in the Education Committee. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1263, which would provide $2,500 scholarships to students enrolled in a trade skills program, had its hearing on Jan. 30 in the Education Committee. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1394, which would exempt Nebraska National Guard members from state income taxes, had its hearing on Feb. 2 in Revenue Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tom of Gordon, introduced this bill at the request of Pillen. There was limited discussion, and the committee took no immediate action.
LB1400, which would adopt the Relocation Incentive Act to provide income tax incentives to people who relocate to Nebraska for employment, had its hearing on Feb. 2 in the Revenue Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, had originally introduced this bill at the request of Pillen. Ballard explained that this bill would offer a refundable state income tax credit of up to $5,000 per qualified employee that the employer paid relocation costs. To qualify, the employee must be paid an annual salary of $70,000$250,000 and commit to residing in Nebraska for two years. The employee could, after relocating to Nebraska, exclude him- or herself from state income tax for one year. Proponents, including the Nebraska Insurance Federation (NIF) based in Lincoln, estimates that the state insurance industry will need to fill 2,000 jobs during the next 10 years but finding qualified candidates is difficult. NIF suggested amending the bill to include state premium and retaliatory taxes since insurance companies don’t pay state income taxes. The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Lincoln-based Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry agreed that assisting businesses to relocate workers will help fill the state’s current 80,000 open jobs. There was no opposition, and the Revenue Committee took no immediate action.
Hearings Held After Press Time The committee hearings for these bills were scheduled after this week’s edition of Clay County News went to print; a summary will be included in next week’s newspaper: LB1213, which would require employers to provide 20 hours of paid leave annually for school-related activities, is scheduled for a hearing in the BL Committee on Feb. 5.
LB1238, which would adopt the Special Educators of Tomorrow Act to offer $2,500 scholarships to college students pursuing a teaching career in special education, is scheduled for a hearing in the Education Committee on Feb. 5.
LB1416, which was introduced at the request of Pillen, would adopt the Child Care Capacity Building and Workforce Act to offer grants to child care programs to increase child capacity, hire more staff, or exist in a county otherwise unserved by a licensed child care program. This bill is scheduled for a hearing in the BCI Committee on Feb. 6.
Hearings Scheduled LB1333, which would offer up to $150,000 or $300,000 in matching grants to new businesses depending on phase of development, has its hearing on Feb. 14 in the Appropriations Committee.
AGRICULTURE – Hearings Scheduled LB1368, which would adopt the Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act to offer incentive payments to farmers who reduce the use of commercial fertilizer, has its hearing on Feb. 13 in the Agriculture Committee.
LB1369, which would require local electric distribution systems to interconnect with agricultural self-generation electric facilities such as on-farm wind or solar energy, has its hearing on Feb. 8 in the Natural Resources Committee.
