UNICAMERAL UPDATE

News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 42, #8 / Feb. 26 - Mar. 1, 2019 Revenue Committee considers tax proposals

Sens. and (left) introduced components of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ property tax plan.

Statutory minimum proposed Constitutional limit on local for property tax relief fund property tax increases proposed he Legislature would direct $275 million each year ities, counties and school districts could not in- to the state’s property tax credit program under crease the amount of property taxes they collect T a bill heard Feb. 27 by the Revenue Committee. Cby more than 3 percent from year to year under a The program uses state sales and income tax revenue proposed amendment to the state constitution heard Feb. to provide Nebraskans with credits meant to offset part of 27 by the Revenue Committee. what they pay in property taxes. LR8CA, introduced by Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan LB303, introduced by Omaha Sen. Brett Lindstrom on on behalf of Gov. Pete Ricketts, would place the proposal behalf of Gov. Pete Ricketts, would direct the Legislature to on the November 2020 general election ballot. If voters place $224 million in the fund in tax year 2018, the same approve it, the amendment would limit the total amount as in 2017. For tax year 2019 and beyond, the bill would of property tax revenue raised by a political subdivision in set the amount in the fund at no less than $275 million. any fiscal year to 3 percent greater than the amount raised “This is a straightforward approach to tax relief with- the previous fiscal year. out imposing a tax shift from other sources of revenue,” A political subdivision could exceed that limit by a Lindstrom said. specific amount only if a majority of legal voters approve Ricketts testified in support of the bill, although he in a special election.

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INSIDE: Meet Sen. Dorn • Eminent domain restriction fails to advance • Committee hearing schedule February 26 - March 1, 2019

Statutory minimum proposed for Economic forecasting board property tax relief fund lowers revenue projections (continued from front page) he Nebraska Economic Fore- acknowledged that it is not by itself a property is valued for tax purposes. T casting Advisory Board voted solution to the state’s high property “It’s clear that the property tax to decrease revenue projections taxes. He said setting the minimum credit relief fund policy is not working during a Feb. 28 meeting at the amount of property tax relief in statute to fundamentally lower property taxes Capitol. The board provides an would make it harder for future Legis- and does not create lasting reform, advisory forecast of general fund latures to reduce the fund and would only temporary relief,” Curry said. receipts used by the Legislature to give Nebraskans certainty about how Renee Fry, executive director of craft the state’s budget. much they could expect to receive in OpenSky Policy Institute, gave neutral Revenue projections for the credits each year. testimony on the bill. She said the current fiscal year and FY2019-20 Shane Greckel, a farmer from property tax credit fund has done were lowered primarily based on Bloomfield, also testified in support. little since its inception to reduce the anticipated decreases in sales and He said the property tax credit fund state’s reliance on property taxes to use tax receipts of $60 million provides relief directly to farmers and fund public schools. in FY2018-19 and $20 million in ranchers, who then spend that money Fry noted that the Appropriations FY2019-20. in their communities. While the credit Committee’s preliminary budget Total projected revenue receipts might amount to only $10 or $20 per would reduce state aid to schools by for FY2018-19 were lowered to acre, Greckel said, a farmer’s profits $38.5 million from the governor’s $4.72 billion, a decrease of $80 might be a mere $5 per acre. initial budget proposal. million. Projected total revenue “We have to work on extraordi- “They are fully funding the increase receipts for FY2019-20 were set at narily thin margins, so any amount in the property tax credit program $4.87 billion, a decrease of $20 helps,” he said. that is in this bill but at the same time million. Testifying in opposition to the bill reducing our funding commitment to In addition, overall projected was Sarah Curry, policy director for [state aid], which is directly counter revenue receipts for FY2020-21 were the Platte Institute. Instead of add- to the structural changes we think we set at $4.99 billion, a $10 million ing money to the property tax credit should be making,” she said. decrease. fund, she said, the Legislature should The committee took no immediate The next board meeting is sched- seek structural tax reform that limits action on the bill. g uled for April 25. g local tax levies and changes the way 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.

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PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019

Constitutional limit on local property tax increases proposed (continued from front page) The limit would not apply to the said. “With LR8CA, the people can John Hansen, president of the Ne- property tax revenue needed to pay vote to override the 3 percent cap if braska Farmers Union, also opposed the principal and interest on a political they believe local government needs the measure. If voters approve the subdivision’s bonded indebtedness. additional resources.” amendment, he said, “the ceiling will Linehan said the measure is an at- Frederic Oltjenbruns also testified become the floor,” meaning local gov- tempt to slow spending by local govern- in support. Oltjenbruns said he and ernments would raise their property ments, which rely heavily on property his family farmed near Ceresco until tax requests to the maximum. taxes to fund their operation. Control- last year when they moved their opera- Hansen also cautioned against ling school spending is especially impor- tion to Missouri because they could placing a cap in the state’s constitu- tant if the Legislature increases state aid not afford Nebraska’s high property tion because doing so would limit the to public schools in an effort to reduce taxes. In 2017, Oltjenbruns said, he Legislature’s ability to change the cap the state’s overreliance on property taxes paid approximately $50,000 in prop- if necessary. to fund public education, she said. erty taxes on 585 acres in Nebraska. “If there is going to be some sort “If we’re going to step up to the His property tax bill on 855 acres is of cost control as a part of a [tax re- plate and we’re going to pick up a Missouri last year was less than $1,200. form] package … the proper place for large portion of the funding for all “I hope you guys can straighten this it would be in statute, and it should schools,” Linehan said, “we also owe mess out before it goes from maybe not be in the constitution,” he said. it to the taxpayers … to make sure we the few of us to a landslide of farmers The committee took no immediate get control on the spending.” fleeing like refugees to other states,” action on LR8CA. g Ricketts testified in support of the he said. resolution. He said limiting increases Douglas Kindig, mayor of La Vista, Unicameral Update in property tax revenue is the only way testified in opposition to the proposal in your inbox to achieve sustainable tax relief. on behalf of the United Cities of Sarpy Readers can sign up to receive Coby Mach testified in support of County. He said the 3 percent limit on email updates by entering an the proposal on behalf of the Lincoln property tax revenue increases would email address on Independent Business Association. stifle growth in the fastest-growing Update.Legislature.ne.gov. He said the amendment would not county in the state. restrict political subdivisions from “Limiting revenue growth not only increasing their budgets using other hinders our ability to maintain the cur- sources of revenue, such as sales tax, rent service level and quality of public occupation tax or federal grants. services,” Kindig said, “it will impede “In order for any property tax improvements and the expansion of reduction proposal to make a lasting basic services necessary for growth.” impact,” Mach said, “we believe it Jack Moles testified in opposition must rein in property tax spending at to the resolution on behalf of the the local level where the property taxes Nebraska Rural Community Schools are actually levied.” Association, the Nebraska Council of Lincoln city council member Roy School Administrators and the Ne- Christensen testified in support of the braska State Education Association. resolution on his own behalf, saying it He said LR8CA would give school would enhance local control. districts little room to accommodate “For most Nebraskans, they don’t rising costs that are beyond their have the time to show up to the control, such as staff salaries, health numerous budget meetings for their insurance and the cost of meeting school, city, county and so forth,” he federal and state regulations.

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 February 26 - March 1, 2019 Meet the Senator Dorn brings a listening ear to the Legislature hen Adams Sen. Myron Dorn was sworn into said the motivating force behind his run for the Legislature office Jan. 9, he represented one of four genera- was the encouragement from those who watched the board W tions of his family gathered in the legislative work together during his three years as chairperson. chamber that morning. “From my perspective, I think they saw what I had the The eldest, Dorn’s 90-year-old uncle Wilmer, had asked ability to do,” Dorn said of his supporters. weeks before if he could attend his nephew’s swearing-in One lesson from his time on the board stands out: If ceremony, even though he has trouble getting around. you talk too much instead of listening, he said, you can “I know he’s super excited,” Dorn said. miss the big picture. Dorn said he made certain to hear Dorn’s wife, Julie, and his children, Kyle and Erin, also everyone who came to him for help, even if it was clear are “very much in favor” of him serving in the Legislature, that a resolution was out of his hands. he said, even if they are wary of the amount of time his new “When people visit with you about something or when job will keep him away from the family farm. they have an issue,” he said, “they want to feel that they It will be difficult, too, for a man who said he holds no had somebody that was interested or had somebody that ambition in life other than to be a farmer. Dorn grew up really listened to their concerns and their thoughts.” g on his parents’—now his brother’s— farm near Adams. When he left home to study animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the 1970s, he came home as often as he could to help with farm work. Dorn grows soybeans and corn and raises cattle with his two young- er brothers, his son and a nephew. Over time, the brothers have del- egated decision making to the two younger men, a generational trans- fer of responsibility that Dorn said has been exciting to see. Just as Dorn has enjoyed watch- ing his son and nephew grow as young farmers, he looks forward to learning about the legislative process from more experienced senators. In fact, Dorn said, he is glad to start his term with a 90-day long session so that he has more time to learn about lawmaking—even if that means being inside the Capitol rather than outside on the farm.

Dorn, who served on the Gage Sen. Myron Dorn and his grandson, Dempsey, on the family farm near Adams in 2018. County Board from 2010 to 2018,

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welfare groups are urging cities across in different locales can be vastly differ- the country to require pet stores to ent,” he said. “Local governing bodies source dogs only from animal shelters need to be able to react to those chal- rather than breeders. lenges without having their hands tied “I’m sure there are bad actors out by state law which prohibits them from Preemption of local pet store there,” she said, “but to wipe out pet being more restrictive than the state.” ordinances proposed stores as a class of business, I think is Misty Christo testified in op- The Agriculture Committee heard not wise.” position to the bill on behalf of the testimony Feb. 26 on a bill that would Geist brought an amendment to Nebraska Rescue Council. She said bar municipalities from enacting ordi- the hearing that would allow mu- cities in other states have passed ordi- nances to regulate pet stores. nicipalities to adopt local laws or or- nances banning pet stores from selling The Dog and Cat Purchase Protec- dinances governing permits, licenses, puppies from puppy mills. Businesses tion Act requires pet shops, dealers or fees, housing requirements or public opposing those measures now are seek- commercial dog or cat breeders to give safety regarding pet animals. It would ing protection from state legislatures purchasers a disclosure statement con- not preempt any municipal law, ordi- rather than sourcing their animals taining information about their new nance or regulation already in effect. from shelters, rescues and responsible pet at the time of sale, including its Testifying in support of the bill was breeders, Christo said. date of birth, sex, vaccination records Mike Gonidakis on behalf of Citizens “[LB382] appears to regulate the and a record of any serious health for Responsible Pet Ownership, a na- very industry that it protects,” she problem that does or may adversely tional nonprofit. Gonidakis said cities said, “but in reality it would place affect the animal. in other states have banned pet stores meaningless restrictions on pet stores LB382, introduced by Lincoln Sen. that do not source their animals from and secure the puppy mill-pet store , rescue shelters, effectively shutting pipeline by preventing localities from would require sell- down stores that sell only purebred enacting laws that regulate the sale of ers to make that dogs. He said LB382 is needed to pre- puppies in pet stores.” statement available vent that from happening in Nebraska. The committee took no immediate for customer re- Jack Cheloha, lobbyist for the city action on the bill. view. It also would of Omaha, testified in opposition to require pet shops the bill. He said Omaha has not shut to maintain re- Sen. Suzanne Geist down a pet store during his 25 years cords documenting the source of each working for the city, and no group pet for at least one year after its sale. has approached the city council with Additionally, the bill would pro- a proposal to restrict them. hibit pet shops from knowingly selling Although Geist’s amendment would Real estate fee waiver approved a dog that was produced by inbreeding preserve part of the city’s ability to Lawmakers passed a bill Feb. 28 or linebreeding a dog with its own adopt local animal welfare ordinances, that waives real estate licensing fees parent or offspring. Cheloha said, “it’s still something that for some veterans and their spouses. As introduced, LB382 would pro- we’re not comfortable with.” LB12, intro- hibit municipalities from regulating “We just don’t see the need for any duced by Bellevue pet shops. preemption in the bill whatsoever,” Sen. , Geist said the additional records he said. “It’s just not a problem in waives the $80 real requirements would protect Nebraska Nebraska.” estate license fee if consumers and that bill also would Robert Downey, president and a military member shield pet stores from potential ac- CEO of the Capital Humane Society or their spouse has tion by local governments to restrict in Lincoln, also testified in opposi- a valid real estate Sen. Carol Blood the sourcing of puppies and certain tion, specifically to the proposed license from another state or regula- breeds of dogs. preemption of local ordinances. tory jurisdiction. While no such ordinance currently “The challenges that can be pre- LB12 passed 47-0 and takes effect exists in Nebraska, Geist said, animal sented to animal control authorities immediately.

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 5 February 26 - March 1, 2019

Bill would change ATM fees Peru Sen. , sponsor of LB399, said the The Banking, Commerce and In- bill would be the surance Committee heard testimony first major revi- Feb. 26 on a bill that would remove a sion to the state’s Bill calls for assisted living requirement that financial institutions civic education oversight must charge the same automatic teller standards since machine fees to all other financial the Americanism The Executive Board considered a institutions. statutes’ adoption Sen. Julie Slama proposal Feb. 27 that would expand LB603, introduced by Omaha Sen. in 1949. The law requires school the oversight powers of the Office of Brett Lindstrom, boards to appoint three members to a the Public Counsel to include licensed would affect default committee on Americanism, which ap- assisted living facilities. interchange fees proves textbooks used in the teaching The public counsel—also known as that are charged of American history and government. the state Ombudsman’s Office—is an between institu- Among other provisions, the bill independent office that handles citi- tions during an would eliminate the current criminal zen complaints regarding the actions ATM transaction. penalty for violating the Americanism of administrative agencies of Nebraska The bill would not Sen. Brett Lindstrom statutes’ provisions. state government. change a bank customer’s ATM fees. As introduced, LB399 would re- LB572, intro- “The bill would modernized Ne- quire school districts to administer duced by Fremont braska statutes,” Lindstrom said. the 100-question civics portion of Sen. , Patrick Dwyer of MasterCard the U.S. Citizenship and Immigra- would extend the testified in favor of the bill. Dwyer tion Services naturalization exam to public counsel’s said Nebraska is the only state that students no later than eighth grade authority to all prohibits banks from charging vary- and again no later than 11th grade. A licensed assisted Sen. Lynne Walz ing fees. Without added flexibility, student’s score would be given to his living facilities in Nebraska. he said small cities would be at risk or her parents or guardians. Walz said the bill was the result of losing ATMs. An Education Committee amend- of a report submitted by the LR296 “We’re unable to negotiate with ment, adopted 42-3, would remove the State-Licensed Care Facilities Oversight both large and small institutions for requirement that districts administer Committee. The committee was formed ATM pricing, therefore having the the exam and instead would make it last year to examine assisted living facili- unintended consequence of limiting one of three options a district would ties in which many of the residents are the amount of ATMs we deploy,” have to include in its curriculum. diagnosed with a mental illness. Dwyer said. A district also could require a The oversight committee visited No one testified against LB603 and student to attend or participate in a many facilities across the state, Walz the committee voted 8-0 to advance meeting of a public body and then said, encountering “truly horrible” the bill to general file. complete a project or paper demon- living conditions, including black strating what he or she learned or mold, bed bugs and a lack of adequate complete a project, paper or class resources and supports. presentation on a person, event or Currently, the state Department of related topic from American history. Health and Human Services is required After six hours of debate spanning to visit a random sample of 25 percent Update to American civics four days, Slama offered a motion to of the state’s licensed assisted living requirements advanced invoke cloture, or cease debate and vote facilities each year, with no facility go- on the bill. The motion was adopted ing more than five years between survey A bill that would update social 42-3. Thirty-three votes were needed. visits. The ombudsman’s office can studies requirements for Nebraska After adopting a technical amend- visit facilities only in conjunction with schools advanced from general file ment, lawmakers voted 42-3 to ad- a DHHS surveyor, Walz said, a system Feb. 26 after a successful cloture vote. vance the bill to select file. that she described as inadequate.

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“We need to be sure that people “This [bill] goes beyond the juris- for all possible economic scenarios,” are safe and free from abuse, neglect diction of the state and the depart- Fry said. “Recessions are difficult to and extortion” Walz said. “Giving the ment in particular,” he said. predict and receipts can vary widely public counsel more oversight is just The committee took no immediate from projections.” one way to get a better grasp on what action on LB572. The committee also heard testimo- we’re dealing with.” ny on LB636, intro- Jerall Moreland, deputy ombuds- Additional legislative fiscal duced by Gering man for institutions with the Office tools sought Sen. , of the Public Counsel, testified in which would create support of the bill. He said the over- The Legislature would gain ad- the Financial Con- sight committee’s findings indicate ditional avenues to address state and dition of Counties that many assisted living facilities in local government budget concerns and Municipalities Nebraska are not well equipped to under two bills considered Feb. 28 by Task Force. Sen. John Stinner serve people with significant mental the Executive Board. The task force would consider the health issues—to the point of putting LB713, sponsored by Omaha Sen. advisability of creating a system and the people who live in them at risk. , would rating criterion to detect, monitor and Calling the findings “extremely add a new step in prevent financial distress in Nebraska disappointing” and “highly inhu- the Legislature’s cities and counties. It also would pro- mane,” Moreland said the state needs budgeting process. vide recommendations on the state’s more oversight than the system now The bill would re- role in alleviating such distress and provides, including an avenue for quire the legislative present its findings in a report to the independent inquiry into facility fiscal analyst to cre- Executive Board. operations. ate additional rev- Sen. Tony Vargas Stinner said many rural communi- “The job is not being done right enue and budget reports throughout ties face budget issues that leave them now,” he said. the biennium. struggling to provide basic services and Testifying in favor of LB572, Brad The reports would include a reve- adequate public safety, often through Meurrens of Disability Rights Ne- nue volatility report in even-numbered no fault of their own. When political braska agreed. years, a budget stress test in odd-num- subdivisions encounter economic “Given the egregious incidents … bered years and a long-term budget for crisis, he said, the impact also is felt increased direct oversight is needed,” major programs every four years. at the state level. he said. “This legislation, we feel, Vargas, who is chairperson of the “Outmigration trends over the would go a long way to meet that need. Legislature’s Planning Committee, last several decades have threatened It would provide an additional layer of said the bill is the result of that com- the stability of county and municipal protection [including] another avenue mittee’s work. Research shows that government tax revenues, putting for persons with disabilities to report states that engage in long-term budget tremendous stress on local infrastruc- incidents.” planning are better able to address tures,” he said. “I’d like some way of Darrell Klein, deputy director of economic volatility, he said. analyzing this.” the DHHS Division of Public Health, “In order to meet the needs of fu- The task force would include the testified in opposition. Although ture Nebraskans, we have to start that chairperson of the Appropriations licensed by the state, assisted living planning now,” Vargas said. Committee and one other member of facilities are privately owned and oper- Renee Fry, executive director of the Legislature selected by the Execu- ated, he said. OpenSky Policy Institute, testified in tive Board as nonvoting members. The The public counsel’s office has favor of the bill. She said that stress ten voting members would include the authority to enter and inspect a testing in the past might have helped the auditor of public accounts and DHHS 24/7 facility at any time, Klein the state avoid painful budget cuts in representatives from cities, counties said, but it is beyond their scope to difficult economic times. and schools. do the same with privately-owned “Stress testing is an important bud- Christy Abraham, representing the businesses without permission from getary tool [and] with a possible reces- League of Nebraska Municipalities, the owner. sion in 2020, it’s prudent to prepare testified in support of LB636, which

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 7 February 26 - March 1, 2019

she called a “sincere effort” to assist didates, all Republican, ran for sheriff. of the Commission on Military municipalities that are facing difficult “The Republicans in that county and Veterans Affairs; times. decided who their sheriff should be,” • seek advice and input from the She said a task force would be a Hughes said. commission on veterans’ work- good first step toward deciding which JD Schluntz, a former Harlan force development issues; factors should be taken into consider- County supervisor, testified in favor • research best practices and web- ation in determining when a munici- of the bill. The current system discour- sites from other states that are pality might be in financial distress. ages voting because many elections specific to veterans; and No one testified in opposition to essentially are decided in the primary • submit an annual progress re- either bill and the committee took no election, effectively shutting out voters port to the commission. immediate action on them. from other parties, he said. LB626 also would require the “If you’re a Democrat and it’s only department to hire necessary support Republicans running, what’s the use staff for the new position. of you voting?” Schluntz said. Pansing Brooks said she brought Westin Miller of Civic Nebraska the bill after constituents told her also testified in favor of the bill. He that neighboring states are providing said elections are better when they more assistance to veterans seeking Nonpartisan county election are about candidates and not parties. employment. She highlighted Home bill considered “Party affiliations can give you a Base Iowa, a website that allows veter- general idea about a candidate, but ans in that state to post a resume and Counties of 15,000 or fewer resi- they can also inhibit you from knowing search a database of businesses that are dents could hold nonpartisan county that candidate themselves,” Miller said. interested in hiring veterans. primary elections under a bill consid- No one testified against LB144 and “I believe this bill sends a message ered by the Government, Military and the committee took no immediate ac- to veterans and transitioning service Veterans Affairs Committee Feb. 27. tion on the bill. members, welcoming them and ac- LB144, introduced by Sen. Dan knowledging the fact that we want Hughes of Venango, would allow a Bill seeks to help veterans them here,” Pansing Brooks said. qualifying county, find employment Ronald Dupell of the Nebraska either through a Veterans Coalition testified in sup- voter-approved The Government, Military and port of the bill. He said it would help county board reso- Veterans Affairs Committee heard retain veterans, increase the size of lution or citizen testimony Feb. 27 on a bill that would Nebraska’s labor pool and reduce the petition, to remove create a new position in the state De- outflow of veterans leaving the state. political party la- partment of Labor to assist veterans “We have a pool of skilled, trained, bels from the pri- Sen. Dan Hughes looking for work. disciplined people at our fingertips,” mary election ballot for all elected LB626, in- Dupell said. county offices. troduced by Dupell added that the tax revenue The top two candidates would ad- Lincoln Sen. generated by retaining veterans and their vance to the general election regardless Patty Pansing families would help offset the bill’s cost. of party affiliation. Party labels would Brooks, would Veteran John Stewart also spoke appear on the general election ballot. create the posi- in support of LB626. He said veteran Hughes said that in the 74 Nebras- tion of veterans’ retention efforts are long overdue. ka counties with fewer than 15,000 workforce devel- Sen. “Iowa looks like a much better residents, political parties are less opment coordinator. place for a second career if I were to organized. Residents in rural coun- The coordinator, who must be a leave Kearney where I live to get a job,” ties often base their votes on personal veteran, would: Stewart said. knowledge of candidates, he said. • develop a website with a job- No one spoke against the bill and Hughes recalled a 2014 election in search tool specific to veterans; the committee took no immediate Red Willow County in which four can- • serve as an ex-officio member action on it.

PAGE 8 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019

Tourism promotion bill David Fudge, President of the when it comes to firearm laws.” considered Nebraska Travel Association, also Patricia Harrold spoke in support testified in favor of the bill. Fudge of the bill on behalf of the Nebraska The Nebraska Tourism Commis- said that when he first heard of the Firearms Owners Association. Most sion would have greater control over new tourism campaign he asked Ricks firearm owners already use the storage promotional products under a bill where he could buy a t-shirt with the method outlined in the bill, she said. considered March 1 by the Govern- new slogan. He said he was perplexed “This is a return to the common- ment, Military and Veterans Affairs when told that he couldn’t. sense approach that all the firearm Committee. “We’re missing a golden opportu- owners I know have used to transport LB637, introduced by Gering Sen. nity to turn people from all parts of their firearms ... and provides a means John Stinner, would the country into brand ambassadors,” or a method to keep the firearm se- allow the commis- Fudge said. cure,” Harrold said. sion to develop and No one testified against LB637 and Opposing the bill was Megan approve state mar- the committee took no immediate Gentrup of Omaha. She said it would keting campaigns action on it. allow “hidden” handguns to be carried and to produce, sell in public. and distribute tour- “We require law enforcement ... to ism promotional Sen. John Stinner take hours and hours of training [on products. Current law does not allow gun safety],” Gentrup said. “However, the commission to do so. with this bill, we would allow people to carry unloaded firearms in public Revenue generated by any sales Clarification of firearm with no [additional] training.” would be credited to the commission’s transportation considered promotional cash fund. The committee took no immediate “The commission must have the The Judiciary Committee heard action on the bill. ability to develop and sell promo- testimony Feb. 28 on a bill intended tional products as part of a marketing to allow people to safely transport Firearm protection orders strategy,” Stinner said. “LB637 is an firearms throughout the state. discussed essential tool for the commission to LB54, introduced by Kearney Sen. bring growth to our tourism industry.” John Lowe, would People who pose a safety threat John Ricks, executive director of allow a person to could be required to surrender their the Nebraska Tourism Commission, transport a legally- firearms under a bill considered Feb. testified in favor of the bill. He said possessed firearm 28 by members of the Judiciary Com- there is high demand for items bear- as long as it is un- mittee. ing the state’s new tourism slogan: loaded and stored LB58, introduced by Lincoln Sen. “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” in a case. , Since the unveiling of the slogan Lowe said the Sen. John Lowe would allow law in October 2018, Ricks said there has Nebraska Supreme Court previously enforcement or a been a 50 percent increase in traffic found that licensed gun owners who family or house- to the commission’s website and a 65 do not hold a concealed carry permit hold member to percent increase in requests for Ne- would be in violation of the state’s file a petition for braska travel guides. He estimated the concealed carry law if a weapon is an extreme risk Sen. Adam Morfeld value of media coverage of the slogan within a person’s immediate reach, protection order at $7.2 million. including in a locked glove box. against someone who they believe “That’s coverage you simply cannot LB54 would clarify the law so that poses an immediate safety threat. buy,” Ricks said. gun owners know that they are follow- Family members, roommates and The inability under current law ing it, he said. law enforcement are most likely to to sell t-shirts, coffee mugs and other “Right now, we’re in a gray area recognize warning signs, Morfeld said, items carrying the slogan is costing the when it comes to transporting fire- which is why the bill authorizes them commission money, Ricks said. arms,” Lowe said. “Clarity is crucial to petition the court.

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 9 February 26 - March 1, 2019

“This bill would save lives by allow- session of any firearm or permit found “Many shootings and gun suicides ing firearms to be removed temporar- in plain sight or discovered through a are preceded by warning signs that ily, with due process, from a person at legal search. indicate a person is a danger to him- extreme risk of harming themselves or If an extreme risk protection order self or others,” he said. “Temporarily others before warning signs escalate is terminated or is allowed to expire, preventing a person in crisis [from into violence,” he said. all surrendered firearms would be having] access to a firearm can mean A petition for an extreme risk pro- returned to the respondent after con- the difference between life and death.” tection order must demonstrate: firming the person is legally eligible to Opposing the measure was Patricia • evidence that a significant risk possess them. Harrold, representing the Nebraska of personal injury to the indi- A petitioner who files for an ex- Firearms Owners Association. The vidual or others exists; treme risk protection order based on Legislature should focus on providing • specific statements, actions or false information or with the intent to resources to law enforcement and the facts that show a reasonable fear harass the respondent would be guilty mental health community to address of future dangerous acts; of a Class III misdemeanor, which the issues behind gun violence, she • the number, type and location carries a penalty of up to three years said, instead of threatening people’s of any firearms believed to be in imprisonment, a $500 fine or both. civil liberties. the person’s possession; Anyone who possesses, purchases “Rather than addressing those • if known, any existing harass- or receives a firearm knowing he or needs, we’re attempting to come up ment, sexual assault, domestic she is the subject of an extreme risk with a quick and easier solution to or similar protection orders; protection order would be guilty of a address the potential for crime and and Class II misdemeanor for a first or sec- suicide,” Harrold said. “This bill pro- • any pending lawsuits, com- ond violation, which carries a penalty poses a real and tangible loss of civil plaints, petitions or other ac- of up to six months imprisonment, a liberties as a reasonable sacrifice in tion between the parties to the $1,000 fine or both. exchange for an incalculable degree petition. A third or subsequent offense of safety.” If law enforcement files the peti- would be considered a Class IV felony, Gregg Lanik of Lincoln also op- tion, the agency would be required which carries a penalty of up to two posed LB58, saying that a person’s to make a good faith effort to notify years imprisonment with 12 months right to possess a firearm could be any family or household members of post-release supervision, a $10,000 taken away in a “secret” hearing. who could be at risk of violence and fine or both. “The standard set in LB58 is not include referrals to mental health, Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeis- whether there is probable cause to domestic violence and counseling ter supported LB58. Forty percent of believe a gun owner has committed a resources. the people who committed suicide in crime,” he said. “Rather, the standard The court where the petition is the last 30 years used firearms, he said, is some subjective determination of filed could decide to issue a temporary the majority of whom were not legally whether the owner represents some protection order “ex parte,” or without prohibited from possessing one. danger.” giving notice to the respondent, if the “An extreme risk protection or- The committee took no immediate petitioner believes the respondent der would not be the most effective action on the bill. poses an immediate and significant tool in preventing all the tragedies,” safety risk. If reasonable cause is found Bliemeister said. “But my professional Study of missing Native for a risk protection order, it would be experience leads me to believe that American women and children valid for one year. some deaths would be avoided, trauma approved Upon issuance of an order autho- to the family mitigated and additional rized under LB58, the respondent time afforded to get everyone the as- Lawmakers passed a bill March 1 would be required to surrender to sistance needed.” that seeks to increase investigative re- local law enforcement any concealed Jayden Speed of Omaha also spoke sources dedicated to the state’s Native carry permit and firearms in his or her in favor of the bill, saying it would lay American community. possession. Additionally, law enforce- the groundwork to fight gun violence LB154, sponsored by Gordon Sen. ment would be authorized to take pos- in Nebraska. , directs the Nebraska

PAGE 10 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019

State Patrol to con- be combined with the provisions in jointed effort that would benefit from duct a study focus- LB286, Nebraska would be able to a long-term strategic plan or vision,” ing on the scope of establish a comprehensive and success- Koebernick said. the problem, iden- ful reentry program,” he said. Opposing the bill was Scott Frakes, tifying barriers and Membership on the council would director of the Nebraska Department creating partner- include: of Correctional Services. The depart- ships to increase • the director of the Nebraska ment already has two separate commit- the reporting and Sen. Tom Brewer Department of Correctional tees tasked with the duties outlined in investigation of missing Native Ameri- Services; LB286, he said, and creating a new can women and children. • the chairperson of the Board council would be redundant. The study will be conducted in of Parole; “While I recognize that this par- conjunction with the state Commis- • the director of supervision and ticular group would focus on reentry, sion on Indian Affairs, tribal and local services of the Division of Pa- the problem with creating multiple law enforcement, federally-recognized role Supervision; committees to address similar issues tribes and urban Indian organizations. • the director of behavioral health is that ideas presented by each group The Nebraska State Patrol will submit of the state Department of must be reconciled,” Frakes said. a final report of its findings to the Health and Human Services; The committee took no immediate Executive Board of the Legislature by and action on the bill. June 1, 2020. • the executive director of the The bill passed on a 45-0 vote. Nebraska Commission on Law Request for additional district Enforcement and Criminal court judge advanced Reentry plan for inmates Justice. discussed The governor would appoint eight Lawmakers advanced a bill from additional members—subject to legisla- general file Feb. 27 that would increase Members of the Judiciary Com- tive approval—to include an executive the number of district court judges in mittee heard testimony Feb. 27 on director of a state community college Douglas County. a bill that would establish a uniform association, a business owner who LB309, introduced by Omaha Sen. correctional reentry program for use employs former inmates, two former , would add one district throughout the state. inmates of a state correctional facility, court judge, increas- LB286, sponsored by Omaha Sen. a mental health and substance abuse ing the number in John McCollister, would create a Co- professional, a social worker, a crimi- Douglas County ordinated Reentry nal justice researcher from a Nebraska to 17. Lathrop said Council to estab- university or college and one full-time the bill is based on lish a statewide law enforcement officer or employee. a recommendation plan for people The state probation administrator, by the Judicial Re- upon release from a two members of the Legislature and sources Commis- Sen. Steve Lathrop correctional facility, two judges appointed by the chief jus- sion to ease the judicial workload. based on national tice of the Nebraska Supreme Court “Having an adequate number of best practices. Sen. John McCollister would serve as nonvoting members. judges is key to making sure people The council would meet at least Each member would serve an ini- have the same access to the courts and three times a year and make policy tial term of three years. receive the same attention from judges recommendations to the governor and Doug Koebernick, inspector gener- as litigants elsewhere in Nebraska,” Legislature. al of the Nebraska correctional system, he said. McCollister cited ongoing work testified in support of the bill. Work Gothenburg Sen. Matt Williams by the Sherwood Foundation, in con- has been done to reform the state’s spoke in support of the bill, saying that junction with various stakeholders, to current reentry procedures, he said, people in Omaha are spending two identify a number of challenges facing but more formal oversight is needed. to three weeks in jail, waiting for an the state. “While there are efforts going on available judge to hold a bond hearing. “If the foundation’s efforts can by various parties, it’s actually a dis- “We have three distinct branches

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 11 February 26 - March 1, 2019

of government, but our branch has “What we as a legislature need to do school campus should be acceptable,” certain oversight and responsibility is provide local school districts with Frederick said. over the judicial branch,” Williams as many options [as possible] in their The committee took no immediate said. “It is our responsibility to create tool box to address their specific issues action on the bill. a functioning judiciary and right now or concerns.” ... it is very difficult to say we have The governing board could require Bill would ban housing a functioning judiciary [in Douglas additional training for staff members discrimination County].” who carry a concealed handgun, place Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln limitations on who could carry and The Judiciary Committee heard expressed concern that the state’s when or impose any other restrictions testimony March 1 on a bill that would problem-solving courts, which are pre- deemed appropriate. expand protections against discrimina- sided over by volunteer judges, could Rachele Epp of Elkhorn supported tory housing practices. suffer if judges are spread too thin. the bill. She said concealed carry per- Introduced by Omaha Sen. Mach- “I’m not sure where I stand on mit holders are statistically some of the aela Cavanaugh, this yet, but I do know that there is a most law-abiding citizens. LB689 would big need for spreading the load and “For teachers, it seems reasonable prohibit sellers helping judges be able to see all the and logical to permit those who are or landlords people on their docket that they need concealed carry permit holders to from refusing to,” Geist said. carry during their workday,” Epp said. to sell or rent Senators advanced the bill to select “[This bill] leaves the decision to the to individuals file on a 35-0 vote. individual school districts across the based on their Sen. state. School districts that do not wish sexual orientation, gender identity Proposal considered to allow to pursue this level of staff and student or citizenship status. Discrimination concealed carry in schools protection are not required to do so.” based on race, color, religion, sex, Opposing the bill was Paul Schulte, disability, marital status and national Local school boards could autho- speaking on behalf of the Nebraska origin currently is prohibited. rize teachers and school employees to State Education Association. The Supporters of the bill are not ask- carry concealed weapons on school bill raises many questions, he said, ing for special treatment, Cavanaugh property under a bill discussed Feb. including what, if any, training school said, they simply are asking to be 28 by the Judiciary Committee. employees would receive on the use of treated equally. Under LB343, sponsored by Hast- deadly force. “I bring this bill for the simple, ings Sen. , any school “Teachers should not be placed in yet important reason: it is the right governing body a position of personal responsibility— thing to do,” she said. “People have a could authorize and by extension, personal liability—as basic right to housing or an assurance school employees armed first responders in an attempt that they may live in a safe and secure who hold a valid to deter school shootings,” Schulte home, free from discrimination and concealed carry said. hate.” permit to carry a Lincoln High School sophomore Cavanaugh brought an amend- concealed hand- Ainsley Frederick, representing the ment to the hearing that also would gun on school Sen. Steve Halloran Lincoln High Feminists for Change, prohibit housing discrimination based property or at school-sponsored ac- also opposed LB343. Students already upon a person’s source of income. tivities or athletic events. deal with the persistent fear of a po- Abbi Swatsworth, executive direc- School safety is not a one-size-fits-all tential school shooting, she said, and tor of OutNebraska, spoke in support or “cookie-cutter” issue, Halloran said. they should not also have to wonder if of the bill. Members of the LGBTQ “[School shootings] have parents, one of their teachers is carrying a gun. community are more likely to become students, school boards, communi- “I understand that this bill would homeless, she said, and are more likely ties and state legislatures looking only allow the option to school dis- to endure discrimination and harass- for solutions to make our schools a tricts, but I don’t believe there is any ment that extends their homelessness. safer learning environment,” he said. situation in which having a gun on a “Protecting people from discrimi-

PAGE 12 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019 nation is simply about treating others Reform of restrictive housing deemed it necessary. how we would want to be treated procedures proposed The committee would be required ourselves,” Swatsworth said. “LGBTQ to hold a hearing to consider evi- Nebraskans want to provide for their A bill that would make several dence—an inmate’s history of violent families and stable housing is a key changes to Nebraska Department or threatening behavior, escape at- element in family life.” of Correctional Services (NDCS) tempts or affiliation with a security Also supporting LB689 was Dani- procedures for inmates in restrictive threat group—to determine if con- elle Conrad, executive director of the housing and solitary confinement tinued restrictive housing would be ACLU of Nebraska. Conrad said a was heard Feb. 27 by the Judiciary appropriate. recent public opinion poll conducted Committee. Written notice must be given to the by the University of Nebraska found Restrictive housing is defined as inmate of the review hearing and the that 72 percent of Nebraskans from confinement that provides limited evidence that would be considered by across the state and political spectrum contact with other inmates, strictly the committee. He or she could speak support the kind of protections out- controlled movement while out of cell in person to the committee, provide lined in the bill. and outside-of-cell time of less than 24 evidence, and call and cross-examine “Housing discrimination laws that hours per week. witnesses. protect LGBTQ people from being Under LB739, introduced by Oma- An inmate could appeal the com- unfairly evicted, denied housing or ha Sen. Tony Vargas, the department mittee’s final decision in court. If refused the ability to buy or rent hous- could not place a successful, he or she would be released ing based on their sexual orientation member of a vul- immediately from restrictive housing. and gender identity are important,” nerable popula- Finally, the bill would redefine she said. “So, not only would you tion in restrictive solitary confinement as isolation in be on the right side of history, you housing. Vulner- a cell for an average of 22 or more would stand in support of your fellow able populations hours per day. Nebraskans.” would include any Amy Miller, legal director of the Marilyn Asher of Omaha opposed inmate who is 18 or Sen. Tony Vargas ACLU of Nebraska, supported LB739. the bill. She specifically objected to younger, pregnant or diagnosed with a Nebraska is third in the nation for the the provision that would prohibit serious mental illness, developmental most prisoners per capita held in soli- discrimination based upon citizenship disability or traumatic brain injury. tary confinement, she said, which may status, she said, because it would force These inmates could be placed tem- be the reason incidents of prisoner her to participate in an illegal activity. porarily in immediate segregation to suicide, fatal riots and staff assaults “I’m opposed because it forces me protect staff, other inmates or inmates have increased. to possibly rent to an illegal, nonciti- awaiting classification as a vulnerable “The troubling use of solitary con- zen and [if I do not] I could be accused population member. finement has such severe effects on of criminal conduct,” Asher said. Vargas said the Legislature needs people’s mental health that continues John Chatelain, representing the to make sure inmates are not placed long after they’ve left, whether they Metropolitan Omaha Property Own- arbitrarily in restrictive housing. return to the general population or ers Association, spoke in opposition “I think it’s appropriate to provide their home communities,” Miller said. to the proposed amendment. Some a clear process [when placing] people “However, despite all these tragedies, property owners choose not to accept in restrictive housing for a lengthy pe- the department has doubled down on government-subsidized housing vouch- riod of time,” he said. “If it is deemed the use of solitary confinement. ers, he said, because the process can be appropriate by the department staff, Also testifying in support of the bill costly and time consuming. there ought to be an opportunity for was Brad Meurrens, public policy di- “I don’t believe we should be med- the inmate to be heard.” rector for Disability Rights Nebraska. dling in the business of the landlord to NDCS could not place an inmate Use of solitary confinement often the extent that we insist on accepting in restrictive housing for more than has drastic and harmful effects on [subsidized housing],” he said. 90 days in a calendar year, unless a inmates, he said. The committee took no immediate specialized inmate classification com- “It does not require much of a action on the bill. mittee convened by the department stretch to understand that solitary

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 13 February 26 - March 1, 2019 confinement could create additional “Next to property taxes, there is state could raise revenue by exporting or exacerbate underlying mental nothing more important to my district energy generated through renewable health conditions for persons who are than the ongoing, adverse effects wind sources. in one or more of those vulnerable energy is having on my constituents,” “We are moving globally in the di- populations [outlined in the bill],” Brewer said. rection of clean energy. We are recog- Meurrens said. Brewer called the current law “im- nizing the need to move quicker than NDCS Director Scott Frakes op- moral” and said the threat of eminent we have in the past,” Wishart said. “I posed the bill. The provisions of domain was “a loaded gun in the don’t think we should be going in an LB739 demonstrate a “profound room” during negotiations regarding anti-business, anti-renewable energy misunderstanding” of the use of access to land. direction.” restrictive housing, how people are Sen. of Brainard Senators voted 23-8 on advance- assigned and the efforts made to meet said he supported the bill. He com- ment of LB155 to select file—two votes the needs of people held in restrictive pared using eminent domain to build short of the number required. housing, he said. a wind turbine to a grocery store using “It is a reality that people commit eminent domain to create parking violent, disruptive acts in prison, lot access by building a road through which requires them to be separated someone’s back yard. from the general population for their Sen. of Henderson own safety, the safety of others and also supported LB155, saying wind the security of the institution,” Frakes energy companies “target absentee Retirement plan administration said. “Despite the perceptions of some landlords” to surround and subse- changes adopted people, use of restrictive housing is quently pressure resistant land owners not capricious, punitive, random or to allow access to their land. He said Lawmakers gave final approval Feb. without reason.” the bill would help give resistant land 28 to a bill that makes a number of The committee took no immediate owners a better negotiating position. governance and administrative chang- action on the bill. Omaha Sen. John McCollister said es to the Public Employees Retirement the bill sends a message that Nebraska Board (PERB), Nebraska Public Em- opposes renewable energy. He said ployees Retirement System (NPERS), the bill was unnecessary because no Nebraska Investment Council, Class V Nebraskan has used the power of emi- School Employees nent domain allowed under current Retirement Plan Eminent domain restriction law to gain access to a neighbor’s land. and the Class V fails to advance McCollister added that LB155 plan’s board of would take away the authority of coun- trustees. A bill that would curtail certain ties to regulate wind energy. Introduced by uses of eminent domain failed to ad- Also speaking against the bill was Seward Sen. Mark vance from general file Feb. 27. Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha. In the Kolterman, LB33: Sen. A private citizen no longer would future, he said, Nebraska will need to • increases the per diem for PERB be able to request generate more renewable energy and members from $50 to $75; the use of eminent it must expand wind farming to do so. • exempts legal compliance audit domain in order “This is going to impair the growth contracts from bidding require- to provide access of wind energy development, which ments; to build transmis- may be the fundamental purpose of • increases from one to two the sion lines or other the bill,” Lathrop said. number of three-year extensions infrastructure re- Lincoln Sen. ex- on actuarial contracts that the lated to a privately Sen. Tom Brewer pressed concern about the message PERB may issue; and developed wind energy project under LB155 would send. She said renew- • changes the presentation date LB155, introduced by Gordon Sen. able energy could allow Nebraska to of the NPERS and Nebraska Tom Brewer. be energy independent and that the Investment Council annual

PAGE 14 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019

reports to the Legislature from ment, he said, but that will take at the judgment they are required to pay. March 31 to April 10, beginning least eight years under current budget Agricultural land makes up ap- in 2020. conditions. proximately three-quarters of the Finally, the bill grants the Class V If constitutional or statutory provi- county’s property valuation, Lauby School Employees Retirement Plan sions prevent a public corporation or said, meaning farmers will pay a dis- employer and its board of trustees the political subdivision from budgeting proportionate share of the taxes used same exclusion from the state’s public sufficient funds to pay a judgment in to pay the judgment. records law that applies to all other full, LB473 would require the public Don Schuller gave neutral testi- plans administered by the PERB. corporation or political subdivision to mony on the bill, saying the idea of LB33 passed on a 47-0 vote and pay the portion of the judgment that it a state loan has merit. However, be- takes effect immediately. can under the law and then apply to the cause the Beatrice Six were convicted state treasurer for a loan to pay the rest. under state law, he said, the state has If the state treasurer determines a responsibility to pay the judgment. the loan to be proper, he or she would “Innocent people of Gage County make the loan—with an interest rate need help in paying this judgment, not of 0.5 percent per year—from funds a loan,” Schuller said. available for investment in the state The committee took no immediate State loan for federal judgments treasury. action on the bill. proposed The bill would require the govern- ing body of the public corporation or The Revenue Committee heard Additional state aid from political subdivision to budget and testimony Feb. 28 on a bill that would expanded sales, income taxes levy a sufficient amount to meet a allow a political subdivision to apply proposed repayment schedule determined by the for a state loan to help pay a federal treasurer until the loan, with interest, The Revenue Committee heard judgment against it. has been repaid. testimony March 1 on a bill that would In 2016, a federal judge awarded Dorn said a state loan with a repay- use new sales and income tax revenue more than $28 million in damages to ment term of more than eight years to provide more state aid to schools the six men and women wrongfully would allow the county to reduce its in an effort to reduce property taxes. convicted of the rape and homicide levy from the current 50-cent maxi- Bellevue Sen. of a Beatrice woman in 1985. The mum, easing the annual property tax , individuals, commonly known as the burden on Gage County residents. sponsor of LB614, “Beatrice Six,” had sued Gage County “LB473 allows for the judgment to said the bill pro- in federal court after DNA evidence be paid quickly … while still holding vides the Revenue exonerated them. Gage County accountable for the total Committee with Adams Sen. Myron Dorn, spon- amount of the judgment,” Dorn said. “a menu of compo- sor of LB473, said James Nelson, a Beatrice attorney, nents” to choose Sen. Sue Crawford he introduced the testified in support of the bill on behalf from as it prepares its own tax reform bill to help the of the Nebraska State Bar Association. proposal. residents of Gage He said LB473 would allow plaintiffs to “Nebraska has a property tax prob- County, which be paid more quickly and would help lem,” she said. “LB614 is a responsible raised its property any county, city or school district with solution on the table that provides tax levy for the a federal judgment against it to “stop structural reform while protecting key 2018-19 fiscal year Sen. Myron Dorn the bleeding and just move on.” services like health care, roads and in order to pay the judgment, as re- Testifying in opposition to the bill K-12 schools.” quired by law. was Gregory C. Lauby, a Gage County The bill would raise the excise tax Dorn said the county increased its resident. A state loan could reduce on cigarettes from $0.64 cents per property tax levy from approximately the annual property tax bill of Gage pack to $2.15 per pack and the tax 38 cents per $100 of valuation to the County property owners, he said, but on alcohol and spirits from $3.75 per statutory 50-cent limit. It will use the it would not reduce the amount of gallon to $8.02 per gallon. LB614 also additional revenue to pay the judg-

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 15 February 26 - March 1, 2019 would impose sales and use tax on each school district. The amount of would “severely penalize” Nebraska S candy, soft drinks and bottled water. aid would be a percentage of state- corporations and LLCs that do busi- In addition, the proposal would wide average general fund operating ness outside the state. The bill would change several state income tax pro- expenditures and would be distributed make Nebraska less attractive to new visions. Nebraskans currently may proportionately to each local system. businesses, Quinn said. subtract federal itemized deductions Finally, the bill would require “The worst thing we can do is cre- from their federal adjusted gross in- school boards to publish a budget ate an environment which is not a come for state income tax purposes. summary before approving a budget friendly place to do business,” he said. Under LB614, they could subtract only for the upcoming fiscal year. The sum- Also testifying in opposition was those deductions that are medical and mary would include the percentage of Bruce Grewcock, chairman and CEO dental expenses. the school’s budget that comes from of Kiewit, an Omaha-based construc- The bill would end an exclusion federal, state and local sources and tion and engineering company. He allowing owners of S corporations and would be published at least three days said employees are required to sell limited liability companies to avoid pay- prior to the budget hearing. any Kiewit stock back to the company ing Nebraska income tax on business Renee Fry, executive director of when they leave their job or retire. income derived from sources outside OpenSky Policy Institute, testified Without the capital gains exclusion the state. It also would end an income in support of LB614. She said the that LB614 would eliminate, Grew- tax exclusion on the extraordinary proposed supplemental school aid cock said, many employees would dividends paid on and the capital gain and increase in allocated income taxes leave Nebraska before retiring to avoid from the sale or exchange of a corpora- could allow school districts to reduce paying taxes when they sell their stock. tion’s capital stock acquired through their property tax levies by 8 cents on “I know property taxes are a prior- employment with that corporation. average. ity for the Unicameral—and rightly Additionally, the bill would elimi- Fry said the proposed budget sum- so—but the solution to reducing taxes nate a tax exemption for the first mary would be a better approach than should not drive businesses, people $10,000 of valuation of tangible per- placing a limit on school spending, and investment out,” he said. sonal property. as other bills introduced this session Brian Gilliland, general manager The Legislative Fiscal Office es- would do. of a Lincoln-based Coca Cola distribu- timates the changes would generate “This additional level of trans- tor, testified in opposition to the bill $297 million in fiscal year 2020-21. parency would hold local officials on behalf of the Nebraska Beverage LB614 would direct that additional accountable without treating all Association. He said LB614 does not revenue to school aid and would in- school districts with a one-size-fits-all define “soft drink,” making it unclear crease the state’s credit on the federal approach,” she said. which products would be subject to earned income tax credit from 10 Kari Loseke, president of the Blair sales and use tax. percent to 15 percent. Community Schools Board, also testi- “We do not believe our industry’s The bill would distribute allocated fied in support. She said the proposal products should be singled out and de- income taxes to schools based on 20 could allow the district to reduce its clared to not be food,” Gilliland said. percent of a local system’s income tax levy from the current $1.05 statutory The committee took no immediate liability rather than the current 2.23 limit to $0.86, providing significant re- action on the bill. percent. lief to the district’s property taxpayers. Beginning with school fiscal year “We believe expanding the income 2018-19, it also would require the tax base, repealing some exemptions state Department of Education to and increasing certain consumption reimburse each school district in the taxes seems to be a sustainable way to following fiscal year at least 80 percent immediately fund public education,” of the total excess allowable costs for Loseke said. Roads project bill approved special education programs and sup- Testifying in opposition to the port services provided by the district. bill was Ron Quinn, executive vice Lawmakers passed a bill March 1 The department would determine president of Tenaska, an Omaha- that allows the Nebraska Department supplemental state aid to be paid to based energy company. He said LB614 of Transportation to complete roads

PAGE 16 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019 projects more efficiently. compensate for a reduction in gas tax sioner to collect and pay applicable Under LB82, introduced by Hen- revenue, Bostelman said, which pays for sales taxes imposed under Nebraska derson Sen. Curt Friesen, NDOT road maintenance and repair. law on behalf of short-term renters. can apply for pre- “Due to the nature of their power Senators approved LB57 on a vote approval to use source, alternative fuel vehicles are not of 46-0. practical road contributing to the care and mainte- design standards nance of the roads the way motor fuel Occupation tax reporting that might not vehicles are,” he said. sought meet all current The fee would increase to $85 in statutory design 2020, and then increase $10 annually Metropolitan-class cities would be standards, but Sen. Curt Friesen until reaching $125 in 2024. required to report the impact of occu- that provide significant benefits to Testifying in support of the bill was pation taxes under a bill considered by users at a reasonable cost. John Brandeau of Papillion. As an the Urban Affairs Committee Feb. 26. The bill allows the department, owner of an alternative fuel vehicle, Omaha is the state’s lone metropolitan- counties or municipalities to apply he said he is more than happy to pay class city. for programmatic pre-approvals, which his fair share. Sen. Mike Mc- apply to an entire category of roads “If you drive a vehicle on the pub- Donnell of Omaha projects that are materially similar. lic roads, you should share a cost in introduced LB445, LB82 also allows each county and maintaining [them],” Brandeau said. which would re- municipality to electronically certify No one testified in opposition to quire designated completion of one-year and six-year the bill and the committee took no cities to produce road improvement plans required immediate action on it. an annual report Sen. Mike McDonnell annually by state law, rather than detailing the following: submitting hard copies of both plans • the purpose of the tax; to the Nebraska Board of Public Roads • any special project designation; Classifications and Standards. • the amount of tax dollars col- The certification must be included lected; in the county or municipality public • a list of how the money was spent Short-term rental bill approved record and be adopted by its govern- or budgeted to be spent; and ing board. The Legislature passed a bill March • the scheduled or projected end The bill passed on a 46-0 vote. 1 that prevents a municipality from date of the tax. banning Airbnb or other short-term McDonnell said he wanted to pro- Fee increase proposed for rental companies from operating in vide citizens with more information alternative fuel vehicles the state. regarding the fees they pay. LB57, introduced by Sen. Adam “Transparency builds trust,” he said. Owners of alternative fuel vehicles Morfeld of Lin- McDonnell said he would offer would pay higher registration fees coln, prevents an amendment to expand the bill to under a bill discussed Feb. 26 by the bans on short-term more cities. Transportation and Telecommunica- rentals, defined as Nicole Fox of the Platte Institute tions Committee. 30 or fewer days. testified in favor of LB445, calling it LB366, introduced by Brainard Sen. Municipalities still a common-sense way to provide more Bruce Bostelman, may regulate short- information to the public. would increase the term rental proper- Sen. Adam Morfeld “Taxes are confusing for most current $75 fee ties for health and safety reasons and people, and occupation taxes are to $125 over five the bill does not affect regulation of particularly poorly understood,” Fox years. Increasing homeowners’ associations. said. “In legal theory, these taxes the registration fee The bill also authorizes an online are imposed on businesses, but in for alternative fuel practice, the costs are passed on to Sen. Bruce Bostelman hosting platform to enter into an vehicles is a way to agreement with the state tax commis- consumers and many taxpayers want

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 17 February 26 - March 1, 2019 more information about how these Greg Youell, Executive Director of revenues are used.” the Omaha-based Metropolitan Area No one testified against the bill and Planning Agency, testified in favor the committee took no immediate ac- of the bill. He said the population PUBLIC tion on LB445. of MAPA’s four-county region would reach 1.2 million by 2050. All those HEARINGS Expansion of regional public people need jobs, he said. transit sought “A regional transit authority will provide a framework to improve tran- ublic hearings on bills The Urban Affairs Committee sit service and better connect unem- Ptypically are held in the heard testimony Feb. 26 on a bill ployed and underemployed people to afternoons during the first designed to expand mass transit in training and jobs,” Youell said. half of the legislative ses- Nebraska’s larger cities. Jerry Janulewicz, Grand Island city sion. Committees have regu- LB492, introduced by Omaha attorney, also testified in support of larly scheduled rooms and Sen. Justin Wayne, LB492. He said the bill would benefit meeting days, although they would adopt the Grand Island and neighboring towns. sometimes meet in different Regional Metro- “This would be an organization, rooms at varying times in or- politan Transit much like an airport authority, that der to accommodate testifi- Authority Act. It would have board members with a ers or large audiences. would allow a mu- laser focus on public transit and how nicipality or group best to provide services and expand The weekly schedule of com- of municipalities Sen. Justin Wayne services,” Janulewicz said. mittee hearings is published within a metropolitan statistical area Also testifying in support was on the last legislative day of to create a regional metropolitan transit Stephen Osberg, the director of the week throughout the leg- authority or join an existing one. The transportation development for the islative session. The schedule transit authority would be governed by Greater Omaha Chamber. Osberg said is available on a table in front a seven-person board and would have expanding transit services would help of the Clerk’s Office, in the the power to issue revenue bonds. create a greater sense of place and help Sunday editions of the Lincoln Under the bill, an existing transit businesses attract employees. Journal Star and the Omaha authority that serves one or more “This is about getting people where World-Herald, in the weekly municipalities within the same metro- they need to be for work, education, Unicameral Update and at politan statistical area could connect recreation and shopping regardless of www.nebraskalegislature.gov. to a RMTA. An ordinance to create where they live,” Osberg said. or join a RMTA would require a two- Dustin Antonello of the Lincoln thirds vote of the governing authority Independent Business Association tes- of each municipality involved. tified against the bill. He said LB492 Wayne said he introduced the bill would create a government entity after constituents told him that long with the power to raise property taxes gaps in bus schedules can mean that and take property through eminent missing a bus turns into missing work. domain. “The fact of the matter is that if “At a time when the Legislature is you miss a bus [in Omaha] and an- focused on solving the property tax cri- other bus doesn’t come for another sis in Nebraska, it does not make sense two or three hours, your work day to allow for the creation of another is gone,” Wayne said. “We’ve got to government body with the power to have a public transportation system levy property taxes,” Antonello said. that works, not just [for] those who The committee took no immediate have the ability to call an Uber, but action on LB492. g for those who don’t.”

PAGE 18 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019 Committee Hearings Current hearing schedules are available at: NebraskaLegislature.gov/calendar Monday, March 4 and from fines and licenses LB732 (Vargas) Adopt the Mobile Food Appropriations LB104 (Linehan) Change distribution of Unit Act and change fees for a mobile Room 1524 - 1:30 PM the Nebraska Education Improvement food unit LB425 (Hilkemann) Appropriate Fund funds to the Board of Regents of the LB650 (Wayne) Adopt the Teach for Appropriations University of Nebraska Nebraska Program Act and change Room 1524 - 1:30 PM LB552 (McDonnell) Change provisions relating to the Nebraska Agency 48: Coordinating Commission appropriations relating to the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund and the for Postsecondary Education Tree Recovery Program Excellence in Teaching Cash Fund Agency 50: Neb. State College System LB562 (Stinner) State intent relating to Agency 83: Community College Aid University of Nebraska facilities and General Affairs appropriations Room 1510 - 1:30 PM Banking, Commerce & Insurance Agency 51: University of Nebraska System Appointment: Harry Hoch - Neb. Liquor Room 1507 - 1:30 PM Control Commission LB228 (Hughes) Prohibit certain Banking, Commerce & Insurance LB137 (Blood) Adopt the Fantasy insurance practices relating to a Room 1507 - 1:30 PM Contests Act and provide a gambling person’s status as a living organ donor LB15 (Blood) Adopt the Children of exception LB619 (Kolowski) Require coverage Nebraska Hearing Aid Act LB149 (Quick) Change provisions under insurance policies for mental LB501 (Hunt) Require insurance relating to vapor products health services delivered in schools coverage for in vitro fertilization LB397 (Briese) Change provisions LB569 (Morfeld) Adopt the Out- procedures relating to tobacco and other nicotine of-Network Consumer Protection, LB316 (Kolterman) Adopt the Pharmacy products and tobacco manufacturers Transparency, and Accountability Act Benefit Fairness and Transparency Act LB734 (Hunt) Provide for licensure of charter bus services under the Education Business & Labor Nebraska Liquor Control Act Room 1525 - 1:30 PM Room 1003 - 1:30 PM LB432 (Groene) Include tax-increment LB526 (McDonnell) Change provisions Transportation & Telecommunications financing valuation in adjusted valuations relating to compensation for temporary Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM for purposes of state aid to schools and disability under the Nebraska Workers’ LB39 (Hilkemann) Change provisions change school district levy authority Compensation Act relating to occupant protection system LB671 (Linehan) Provide for sparsity LB448 (McDonnell) Change provisions enforcement and change certain aid in the Tax Equity and Educational relating to compensation for burial violations from secondary to primary Opportunities Support Act expenses under the Nebraska Workers’ enforcement LB674 (Linehan) Change the base Compensation Act LB40 (Hilkemann) Change provisions limitation for school districts LB487 (La Grone) Require the Nebraska related to provisional operator’s LB534 (Cavanaugh) Require public Workers’ Compensation Court to adopt permits, LPD and LPE learner’s postsecondary educational institutions an evidence-based drug formulary permits, and interactive wireless to conduct an annual sexual assault LB418 (Cavanaugh) Change provisions communication devices climate survey relating to certain medical debt collection LB620 (Kolowski) Provide for involving workers’ compensation enforcement of violations relating to use Transportation & Telecommunications LB364 (Quick) Change provisions of handheld wireless communication Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM relating to a limit on fees under the devices as a primary action LB611 (Brandt) Require train crews of Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act LB634 (Hilkemann) Require three-point at least two individuals LB408 (Quick) Change provisions safety belt systems for school vehicles LB401 (Quick) Adopt the Midwest relating to compensation paid upon as prescribed Interstate Passenger Rail Compact the death on an employee under the LB521 (McDonnell) Change and eliminate Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act Tuesday, March 5 provisions relating to automated vehicles Agriculture Education Room 1003 - 1:30 PM Urban Affairs Room 1525 - 1:30 PM LB45 (Chambers) Repeal the Black- Room 1510 - 1:30 PM LB120 (Crawford) Require teacher Tailed Prairie Dog Management Act LR14CA (Wayne) Constitutional and school staff to receive training on LB304 (Crawford) Exempt certain amendment to authorize municipalities behavioral and mental health operations from the definition of a food to pledge property taxes for up to LB416 (Friesen) Change distribution of establishment under the Nebraska Pure twenty years if more than one-half of funds from the temporary school fund Food Act the property in a redevelopment project is extremely blighted

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 19 February 26 - March 1, 2019 Committee Hearings Current hearing schedules are available at: NebraskaLegislature.gov/calendar LB648 (Wayne) Change the Community Health & Human Services Thursday, March 7 Development Law Room 1510 - 1:30 PM Appropriations LB721 (Lindstrom) Provide for LB59 (Cavanaugh) Change Room 1003 - 1:30 PM insurance eligibility for spouses and investigation and reporting provisions Agency 81: Commission for the Blind dependents of deceased or disabled under the Children’s Residential and Visually Impaired firefighters of cities of the first-class Facilities and Placing Licensure Act Agency 82: Commission for the Deaf LB564 (Bolz) Change the Civic and LB518 (Linehan) Adopt the Support for and Hard of Hearing Community Center Financing Act Trafficking Survivors Act Agency 67: Equal Opportunity LB731 (Hunt) Change provisions relating Commission to new or updated comprehensive plans Judiciary Agency 68: Latino-American adopted by municipalities Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM Commission LB520 (McDonnell) Provide requirements LB179 (Hilgers) Authorize the appeal of Agency 70: Foster Care Review Board for safety standards and operating proce- certain motions as final orders dures for road construction and mainte- LB231 (Pansing Brooks) Change Government, Military & Veterans Affairs nance in cities of the metropolitan class provisions relating to legal defense of Room 1507 - 1:30 PM juveniles LB267 (Bolz) Provide a duty for the Wednesday, March 6 LB352 (Morfeld) Provide requirements county board relating to deficient Appropriations relating to the use of jailhouse informants bridges and authorize a tax levy Room 1003 - 1:30 PM LB377 (DeBoer) Provide for voidability LB336 (M. Hansen) Change the vote LB174 (Bolz) State intent relating to of certain releases from liability required to exceed certain budget appropriations for the Office of Violence LB595 (Albrecht) Change Office limitations Prevention of Dispute Resolution to Office of LB543 (Lowe) Change provisions LB446 (McDonnell) State intent relating Restorative Justice and Dispute relating to state contracts, state to appropriations for the County Justice Resolution and change powers and vehicles, and state personnel Reinvestment Grant Program duties of the office LB703 (Vargas) Appropriate funds to LB690 (Cavanaugh) Adopt the Healthy Health & Human Services the Nebraska Commission on Law Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women Act Room 1510 - 1:00 PM Enforcement and Criminal Justice Child Welfare Briefing Agency 78: Neb. Commission on Law Natural Resources Enforcement and Criminal Justice Room 1525 - 1:30 PM Health & Human Services Agency 21: State Fire Marshal Appointment: Mary L. Mercure - Niobrara Room 1510 - 1:30 PM Agency 35: Neb. Liquor Control Council Appointment: Lynette Kramer - Neb. Commission Appointment: Michael S. Thede - Neb. Rural Health Advisory Commission Agency 76: Neb. Indian Commission Ethanol Board LB460 (Health & Human Services Agency 40: Neb. Motor Vehicle LB700 (Bostelman) Provide for Committee) Change criminal Licensing Board decommissioning and reclamation of a background check provisions under Agency 24: Dept. of Motor Vehicles wind energy conversion system the Children’s Residential Facilities and Placing Licensure Act Government, Military & Veterans Affairs Revenue LB328 (Bolz) Adopt the Nebraska Room 1507 - 1:30 PM Room 1524 - 1:30 PM Family First Act, provide for non-court- LB211 (Crawford) Provide for nonpartisan LB720 (Kolterman) Adopt the ImagiNE involved response to reports of child nomination and election of county officers Nebraska Act and provide tax incentives abuse or neglect, and provide for a LB163 (Hunt) Permit counties to LB419 (Bolz) Change the Nebraska family finding project conduct elections by mail Advantage Act and create a fund and LB332 (Bolz) Change eligibility LB83 (Wayne) Provide for restoration grant program requirements and other provisions of the of voting rights upon completion of a LB413 (Brandt) Change application Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act felony sentence or probation for a felony submission deadlines under the LB711 (Cavanaugh) Change provisions Nebraska Advantage Act Judiciary relating to voting qualifications for any LB417 (Friesen) Change application Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM person convicted of a felony deadlines under certain tax incentive LB44 (Chambers) Eliminate the death programs penalty and change provisions relating Health & Human Services LB613 (Crawford) Change application to murder in the first degree Room 1510 - 1:00 PM deadlines under certain tax incentive LB207 (Morfeld) Create a Death Penalty Office of Inspector General of Nebraska programs Defense Standards Advisory Council Child Welfare and Foster Care Review LB238 (Pansing Brooks) Change Board Briefing

PAGE 20 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019 Committee Hearings Current hearing schedules are available at: NebraskaLegislature.gov/calendar requirements for witnessing death clarify licensing provisions under the Department of Health and Human penalty executions Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act Services relating to bone marrow and the Nebraska Installment Loan Act LB559 (Arch) Change provisions Natural Resources LB379 (Kolterman) Change provisions relating to the State Anatomical Board Room 1525 - 1:30 PM under the Delayed Deposit Services LB367 (Hughes) Eliminate provisions Licensing Act and the Nebraska Judiciary relating to fund transfers and change Installment Loan Act Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM a termination date under the Nebraska LB602 (Lindstrom) Adopt the Domestic LB164 (Hunt) Prohibit electronic Litter Reduction and Recycling Act Stock Insurance Company Division Act transmission or online posting of certain photographs or videos, redefine Revenue Education sexual exploitation, and provide for Room 1524 - 1:30 PM Room 1525 - 1:30 PM a registrable offense under the Sex LB279 (Bostelman) Provide a sales and LB431 (Groene) Change school finance Offender Registration Act use tax exemption for food sold by base limitation and local effort rate LB173 (Pansing Brooks) Define and veterans service organizations provisions redefine terms of coercion and without LB670 (Linehan) Adopt the Opportunity LB180 (Bolz) Change program eligibility consent and provide for applicability Scholarships Act and provide tax criteria under the Community College with respect to sexual assault credits Gap Assistance Program Act LB475 (Geist) Create the offense LB27 (Kolterman) Change provisions of sexual extortion, redefine sexual Tuesday, March 12 related to the use of proceeds from exploitation, and provide for a Agriculture community college levies registrable offense under the Sex Room 1003 - 1:30 PM LB702 (Cavanaugh) Adopt the Campus Offender Registration Act Appointments: Chris Kircher, Dawn Safety Act LB478 (Vargas) Prohibit use of consent Caldwell, Jeremy Jensen - Neb. State by a minor as a defense or mitigation Fair Board Wednesday, March 13 of damages or liability in certain civil LB655 (Wayne) Change division fence Appropriations actions arising from sexual assaults provisions Room 1003 - 1:30 PM LB519 (Slama) Change statutes of LB334 (Stinner) Eliminate funding for limitations for certain sexual and Appropriations the Angel Investment Tax Credit Act trafficking offenses and authorize Room 1524 - 1:30 PM and increase funding and eliminate interception of communications relating LB642 (McDonnell) Create the Brain the termination date for the Business to such offenses Injury Trust Fund Innovation Act LB630 (Morfeld) Create the offense of LB666 (Dorn) Change Nebraska Health LB531 (Vargas) Create a fund and sexual extortion and change elements Care Cash Fund provisions and provide provide for a transfer of funds and penalties for sexual offenses for a transfer to the Board of Regents of LB551 (McDonnell) State intent relating the University of Nebraska for a program to funding for development districts Thursday, March 14 to train first responders and emergency LB694 (Vargas) Change matching fund Appropriations medical technicians in rural areas requirements under the Nebraska Room 1003 - 1:30 PM LB669 (Kolterman) Change Nebraska Affordable Housing Act LB171 (Pansing Brooks) Appropriate Health Care Cash Fund provisions and LB737 (Vargas) Change requirements funds to the Department of state intent relating to an appropriation for an annual status report relating to Administrative Services for pancreatic cancer research the Affordable Housing Trust Fund LB232 (Slama) Reduce the threshold LB673 (Hilkemann) Change Nebraska Agency 72: Dept. of Economic amount for claims against the state for Health Care Cash Fund provisions and Development prosecution costs state intent relating to an appropriation Agency 91: Neb. Tourism Commission Agency 65: Dept. of Administrative for data collection and analysis on Agency 60: Neb. Ethanol Board Services antimicrobial resistant bacteria Agency 9: Secretary of State Agency 19: Dept. of Banking LB481 (Bolz) State intent relating to Agency 22: Dept. of Insurance an appropriation to the Department of Health & Human Services Agency 87: Accountability and Health and Human Services Room 1510 - 1:30 PM Disclosure Commission Appointment: Laeth Nasir - Neb. Rural Agency 64: Neb. State Patrol Banking, Commerce & Insurance Health Advisory Commission Room 1507 - 1:30 PM LB654 (Wayne) Provide for a type 1 Health & Human Services LB265 (La Grone) Adopt the Unsecured diabetes pilot study Room 1510 - 1:00 PM Consumer Loan Licensing Act and LB541 (Walz) Provide a duty for the Division of Public Health Briefing

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 21 February 26 - March 1, 2019 Committee Hearings Current hearing schedules are available at: NebraskaLegislature.gov/calendar

Health & Human Services responders Act and require tests for lead-based Room 1510 - 1:30 PM LB708 (Brandt) Adopt the Uniform hazards in housing Appointment: Roger A. Wells - Neb. Partition of Heirs Property Act LB528 (Hilkemann) Change provisions Rural Health Advisory Commission LB712 (Friesen) Prohibit joint entities and relating to use of pharmaceutical LB62 (Howard) Provide for education joint public agencies from taking action agents and use of certain treatments regarding and treatment of against representative for their speech and procedures by optometrists trichomoniasis LB555 (Hunt) Adopt the Sexual Assault Friday, March 15 Judiciary Emergency Care Act and provide for Appropriations Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM disciplinary action against hospitals Room 1003 - 1:30 PM LB131 (Pansing Brooks) Change certain LB692 (Cavanaugh) Change provisions LB638 (Stinner) Change provisions provisions relating to minimum sentences relating to commemorative certificates relating to the transfer of excess LB176 (Chambers) Eliminate certain for a nonviable birth General Fund net receipts to the Cash mandatory minimum penalties Reserve Fund LB458 (Lathrop) Change provisions Judiciary Agency 16: Dept. of Revenue relating to child abuse or neglect Warner Chamber - 1:30 PM Agency 93: Tax Equalization and LB479 (Wishart) Prohibit sexual abuse of LB387 (Pansing Brooks) Change and Review Commission a detainee and change provisions relating modernize provisions relating to juries Agency 57: Neb. Oil and Gas to sexual abuse of an inmate or parolee LB427 (Howard) Change terminology Conservation Commission LB484 (Lowe) Change provisions relating to legitimacy of children Agency 75: Neb. Investment Council relating to assault on certain employees LB471 (La Grone) Provide a procedure and officers for consolidation of related civil actions Health & Human Services LB496 (Wayne) Increase penalties for in multiple judicial districts Room 1510 - 1:30 PM tampering with witnesses, informants, LB643 (McDonnell) Change death and Appointment: Rebecca A. Schroeder - jurors, or physical evidence and change disability-related prima facie evidence provisions relating to discovery in Neb. Rural Health Advisory Commission g provisions relating to emergency LB653 (Wayne) Adopt the Healthy Kids criminal cases Youth Legislature Registration Open igh school students with an ing the current legislative session. interest in law, government, Hleadership or public speaking are Registrants are encouraged to ap- encouraged to register for the ply for a Speaker Greg Adams Civic 2019 Unicameral Youth Legislature, Scholarship award, which covers which will convene June 9-12. the full cost of admission. Applicants must submit a short essay. Other The Unicameral Youth Legislature $100 scholarships also are available. is a four-day legislative simulation conducted at the State Capitol The University of Nebraska–Lin- Building and coordinated by the coln’s Extension 4-H Youth Devel- Clerk’s Office of the Nebraska opment Office coordinates housing Legislature. Student senators will and recreational activities for the sponsor bills, conduct committee camp as part of their Big Red Sum- hearings, debate legislation and mer Camps program. discover the unique process of the Registration forms can be obtained nation’s only unicameral. from the Legislature’s Unicameral Students will learn about the inner Youth Legislature page: workings of the Legislature directly www.NebraskaLegislature.gov/uyl. from senators and staff. Bills will be based on legislation considered dur- The registration deadline is May 15.

PAGE 22 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 26 - March 1, 2019

Senator Contact InfoUpdated 1/28/2019

Sen. Sen. Robert Clements Sen. Ben Hansen Sen. Steve Lathrop Sen. Thurston, District 17 Elmwood, District 2 Blair, District 16 Omaha, District 12 Grand Island, District 35 Room 1404 8th Floor 11th Floor Room 1202 Room 1406 (402) 471-2716 (402) 471-2613 (402) 471-2728 (402) 471-2623 (402) 471-2617 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist17 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist02 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist16 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist12 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist35

Sen. John Arch Sen. Sue Crawford Sen. Sen. Brett Lindstrom Sen. Jim Scheer La Vista, District 14 Bellevue, District 45 Lincoln, District 26 Omaha, District 18 Norfolk, District 19 8th Floor Room 1012 Room 2011 Room 2015 Room 2010 (402) 471-2730 (402) 471-2615 (402) 471-2610 (402) 471-2618 (402) 471-2929 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist14 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist45 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist26 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist18 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist19

Sen. Carol Blood Sen. Wendy DeBoer Sen. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan Sen. Julie Slama Bellevue, District 3 Bennington, District 10 Lincoln, District 21 Elkhorn, District 39 Peru, District 1 Room 1021 11th Floor Room 2000 Room 1305 11th Floor (402) 471-2627 (402) 471-2718 (402) 471-2673 (402) 471-2885 (402) 471-2733 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist03 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist10 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist21 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist39 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist01

Sen. Sen. Myron Dorn Sen. Sen. John Lowe Sen. John Stinner Lincoln, District 29 Adams, District 30 Omaha, District 4 Kearney, District 37 Gering, District 48 Room 1015 Room 1208 13th Floor 12th Floor Room 1004 (402) 471-2734 (402) 471-2620 (402) 471-2621 (402) 471-2726 (402) 471-2802 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist29 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist30 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist04 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist37 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist48

Sen. Bruce Bostelman Sen. Sen. Sen. John McCollister Sen. Tony Vargas Brainard, District 23 Bayard, District 47 Omaha, District 9 Omaha, District 20 Omaha, District 7 8th Floor 12th Floor Room 1402 Room 1017 Room 1000 (402) 471-2719 (402) 471-2616 (402) 471-2723 (402) 471-2622 (402) 471-2721 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist23 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist47 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist09 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist20 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist07

Sen. Tom Brandt Sen. Curt Friesen Sen. Dan Hughes Sen. Mike McDonnell Sen. Lynne Walz Plymouth, District 32 Henderson, District 34 Venango, District 44 Omaha, District 5 Fremont, District 15 12th Floor Room 1308 Room 1210 13th Floor Room 1403 (402) 471-2711 (402) 471-2630 (402) 471-2805 (402) 471-2710 (402) 471-2625 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist32 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist34 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist44 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist05 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist15

Sen. Tom Brewer Sen. Suzanne Geist Sen. Sen. Adam Morfeld Sen. Justin Wayne Gordon, District 43 Lincoln, District 25 Omaha, District 8 Lincoln, District 46 Omaha, District 13 Room 1423 12th Floor 11th Floor Room 1008 Room 1212 (402) 471-2628 (402) 471-2731 (402) 471-2722 (402) 471-2720 (402) 471-2727 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist43 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist25 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist08 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist46 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist13

Sen. Sen. Tim Gragert Sen. Sen. Mike Moser Sen. Matt Williams Albion, District 41 Creighton, District 40 Omaha, District 31 Columbus, District 22 Gothenburg, District 36 Room 1019 11th Floor Room 1018 12th Floor Room 1401 (402) 471-2631 (402) 471-2801 (402) 471-2327 (402) 471-2715 (402) 471-2642 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist41 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist40 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist31 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist22 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist36

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh Sen. Sen. Mark Kolterman Sen. Dave Murman Sen. Anna Wishart Omaha, District 6 North Platte, District 42 Seward, District 24 Glenvil, District 38 Lincoln, District 27 11th Floor Room 1306 Room 2004 12th Floor 8th Floor (402) 471-2714 (402) 471-2729 (402) 471-2756 (402) 471-2732 (402) 471-2632 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist06 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist42 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist24 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist38 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist27

Sen. Sen. Steve Halloran Sen. Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks Omaha, District 11 Hastings, District 33 Gretna, District 49 Lincoln, District 28 Room 1302 Room 1022 Room 1206 Room 1016 (402) 471-2612 (402) 471-2712 (402) 471-2725 (402) 471-2633 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist11 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist33 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist49 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist28

106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 23 Unicameral Information Office PRESRT STD Nebraska Legislature U.S. POSTAGE PAID P.O. Box 94604 LINCOLN, NE Lincoln, NE 68509 PERMIT NO. 212 03-23-05