UNICAMERAL UPDATE News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 42, #17 / Apr. 29 - May 2, 2019 Legislature overrides county sales tax veto awmakers voted April 30 to override the governor’s veto L of a bill that allows a county to impose a sales tax to help pay a federal judgment against it. LB472, introduced by Adams Sen. Myron Dorn, authorizes a county board to adopt a resolution to impose a sales and use tax of 0.5 percent on transactions within the county to pay a qualified judgment, which the bill defines as a judgment rendered against a county by a federal court for a viola- tion of federal law. Dorn has said the proposal is in- tended to help the residents of Gage County. In 2016, a federal judge awarded more than $28 million in damages to the six men and women Sen. Myron Dorn said the county sales tax authorized by LB472 would generate approximately $1.25 million in annual revenue that the county could use to pay a $31 million judgment. wrongfully convicted of the rape and homicide of a Beatrice woman in DNA evidence exonerated them. Gov. Pete Ricketts returned LB472 1985. The individuals, commonly Including attorneys’ fees and in- to the Legislature without his signa- known as the “Beatrice Six,” had sued terest, Dorn said, the county owes ture April 24 after lawmakers passed Gage County in federal court after approximately $31 million. it April 18 on a vote of 43-6. (continued page 2) Medication abortion bill debated bill that would require medical providers to pro- administered during a medical abortion—mifepristone—is vide additional information to women seeking not always effective in ending a pregnancy. A abortions stalled on general file April 29. The committee amendment represents a compromise, LB209, as originally introduced by Albrecht said, that would give every woman the option of Thurston Sen. Joni Albrecht, would continuing a pregnancy if she wishes to pursue it. require medical providers to inform a “[The compromise] was the result of a lot of hard work patient seeking an abortion that it may between people who have an interest in making sure that be possible to reverse a medical abor- any woman who changes her mind after starting a medica- tion if the patient changes her mind. tion abortion knows that it may not be too late and that she A Judiciary Committee amendment, can talk to a medical professional who can help her,” she adopted 39-3, replaced the bill. As Sen. Joni Albrecht said. “Its purpose is to ensure that every woman receives amended, medical providers would be required to inform the information she needs and deserves to make a truly a woman seeking an abortion that the first of two drugs informed and voluntary decision.” (continued page 3) INSIDE: Bill to raise vaping, smoking ages advanced • Bill advanced to clarify protection order process April 29 - May 2, 2019 Legislature overrides county sales tax veto (continued from front page) In his veto message, the governor also supported the motion, despite thing.” called the events leading to the intro- finding himself “between a rock and a Bayard Sen. Steve Erdman opposed duction of LB472 “tragic,” but said hard place,” he said. Although LB472 the motion. Although he voted to pass the Legislature should not authorize is the fastest, most financially sound LB472 because it “was the right thing political subdivisions to impose new way of paying the judgment against to do,” Erdman said, he opposed the taxes on Nebraskans without a vote Gage County, Groene said, it is an veto override because Dorn, as an of the people. exception to his principle that the Appropriations Committee member, Dorn offered a motion to over- people should be allowed to vote on supports an effort by the committee ride the veto, saying Gage County’s any proposed sales tax increase. to provide less property tax relief than voters did not have a say when the Taking the decision to a vote would proposed by the governor. county board voted last year to raise its impose election costs on the county Erdman said the larger increase property tax levy to pay the judgment, and delay implementation of the sales would have helped Gage County which at the time was the only way it tax if voters approve it, he said. property taxpayers. could do so. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha “You can’t be on both sides of the Dorn said imposing the sales tax also supported the motion, saying same issue,” he said. will reduce the time needed to pay the LB472 addresses a unique situation Also in opposition was Sen. Mike judgment from more than eight years that will not happen again. Not every Hilgers of Lincoln, saying LB472 to as little as six years, providing some decision is put to a vote of the people is based on the premise that Gage property tax relief to Gage County in a republican form of government, County residents would not vote for property owners. he said. the sales tax increase if given the op- Sen. Tom Briese of Albion sup- “The Supreme Court itself has portunity. He said the bill sets a prec- ported Dorn’s motion. He said it more said [that] some principles are so edent of removing the vote from the fairly spreads the judgment’s cost, important [that] they should not be people if the Legislature believes that which now rests disproportionately left to the vicissitudes of elections or voters would not do the right thing. on agricultural landowners already opinion polls,” Chambers said. “In Lawmakers voted 41-8 to override suffering from high property taxes. other words, the governmental entity the governor’s veto. Thirty votes were North Platte Sen. Mike Groene is to take the action and do the right needed. g UNICAMERAL UPDATE The Unicameral Update is a free, weekly newsletter published during the legislative session. It is produced by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office through the Unicameral Information Office. For print subscriptions, call 402-471-2788 or email [email protected]. Visit us online at Update.Legislature.ne.gov, twitter.com/UnicamUpdate and facebook.com/UnicameralUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Kate Heltzel; Writers: Kyle Harpster, Ami Johnson, Mike Malloy; Photographer: Bess Ghormley Printed copies of bills, resolutions and the Legislative Journal are available at the State Capitol room 1023, or by calling 402-471-2709 or 800-742-7456. Status of bills and resolutions can be requested at that number or can be found on NebraskaLegislature.gov. Live video of hearings and floor debate can be viewed on NET2 and at NetNebraska.org/capitol. Senators may be contacted by mail at this address: Senator Name, District #, State Capitol, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604 Assistance provided by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office, the Legislative Technology Center, committee clerks, legal counsels, journal clerks, pages, transcribers, mail room and bill room staff and the State Print Shop. The Unicameral Update is available as an audio recording from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service. Call (800) 742-7691 for more information. THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE April 29 - May 2, 2019 Medication abortion bill debated (continued from front page) In addition to other information Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha intro- already required under existing law, duced a motion to recommit LB209 the committee amendment would to the Judiciary Committee. A woman require a provider to inform a woman who decides she no longer wants an that if she changes her mind and wants abortion should be treated with com- to continue a pregnancy after taking passion, Hunt said, but directing her to mifepristone, she may consult the state speak to a stranger at a hotline or listed Department of Health and Human on a DHHS website is “irresponsible.” Services’ website. “What we’re telling women is that igh school students with an The amendment would direct their doctor is not who they should Hinterest in law, government, DHHS to publish information on the turn to when something has changed leadership or public speaking are agency’s website about the effective- for them,” she said. “This bill says that encouraged to register for the 2019 ness of mifepristone in ending preg- the Legislature doesn’t trust Nebraska Unicameral Youth Legislature, which nancy as well as contact information doctors who provide reproductive will convene June 9-12. for medical assistance should a woman health care and we don’t want women The Unicameral Youth Legislature change her mind and wish to continue in Nebraska to trust them.” is a four-day legislative simulation con- a pregnancy after taking mifepristone. Expressing concern about the ac- ducted at the State Capitol Building Blair Sen. Ben Hansen supported curacy of the potential language fea- and coordinated by the Clerk’s Office the bill. Informed consent legislation tured on the DHHS website, Lincoln of the Nebraska Legislature. Student like LB209 ensures that a patient Sen. Anna Wishart urged caution in senators will sponsor bills, conduct understands the treatment they are advancing the amended bill in its cur- committee hearings, debate legislation receiving, he said, including the risks rent form. She said she was willing to and discover the unique process of the and benefits to their health. work on an amendment to improve nation’s only unicameral. “This is making sure that the the information provided. Students will learn about the inner patient understands where they can “We have worked hard with the workings of the Legislature directly get information about a reversal to a amendments we’ve put in place to from senators and staff.