UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 40, Issue 2 / Jan. 9 - 13, 2017 Governor prioritizes tax relief, government efficiency Gov. Pete Ricketts gave his State of the State address in the legislative chamber Jan. 12. ith an emphasis on grow- Ricketts encouraged lawmakers to 2.7 percent average annual increase ing Nebraska, Gov. Pete advocate for citizens and called for a to K-12 education and an additional WRicketts proposed provid- restrained 1.7 percent average increase 3 percent increase in special education ing property and income tax relief, in spending. funding. increasing government efficiency and “It’s easy to view a government Ricketts said despite significant easing burdensome regulations in his budget as a bunch of numbers in rows progress made in addressing problems State of the State address to lawmak- and columns next to agencies and at the state Department of Correction- ers Jan. 12. programs, but behind the numbers al Services, further work and funding The governor applauded state agen- are people’s lives,” he said. “The dol- is required. His budget proposal would cies like the Department of Health lars that fund our budget are dollars reduce protective services vacancy and Human Services and Department earned by hard-working Nebraskans.” rates, upgrade technology and improve of Labor for implementing efficiencies The governor recommended that the Lincoln Correctional Center. that resulted in more than $34 million senators balance the upcoming budget In addition to providing for the ba- in combined savings to taxpayers. He by addressing the revenue gap without sic needs of more than 5,300 inmates, also called for continued easing of increasing taxes, reduce government the governor said the department has regulatory burdens that hamper job expenditures and maintain a cash successfully implemented programs growth, such as unnecessary licensure reserve of $500 million to adequately that improved the quality of life for requirements. address future economic uncertainty. inmates as well as correctional officers. The most important step in at- “Raiding the property tax credit Finally, Ricketts called for broad tracting new people and businesses relief fund, raising sales taxes and tax- property and income tax relief that to the state, however, is to address the ing food and groceries would all harm would ease financial burdens on state’s $900 million budget deficit by Nebraska families and be bad for our taxpayers and spur economic growth controlling state spending, he said. economy,” Ricketts said. for the state. The governor urged law- Reductions in state revenue have led Despite the decrease in state rev- makers to address the rapid increase to the current deficit as farm income enue, senators must continue to fund in property taxes paid by farmers and has decreased from $7.5 billion to $4 state priorities, he said. The governor’s ranchers. (continued page 2) billion over the last several years. budget recommendation includes a He said property taxes rose 137 per- INSIDE: Session calendar • Committee vice chairs elected • Hearing schedule • New bills January 9 - 13, 2017 cent on agricultural land between 2003 prioritize restrained spending fol- businesses and families looking to and 2013, despite declining cattle and lowed by tax relief. Helping middle relocate,” he said. “The reduction we crop prices. Ricketts called for a new, class families would in turn help the make to the budget to balance it and income potential-based property tax as- state’s economy. continued attention to controlling sessment method for agricultural land, “Let’s spur economic growth and spending will allow us to cut taxes and which he said was a fairer measure and make Nebraska more attractive to grow Nebraska.” g would slow the growth of agricultural land valuation increases. Committee Vice Chairpersons “If this system were in place for 2017, it would reduce ag land valua- Agriculture ..................................................Sen. Carol Blood tion by about $2.2 billion,” he said. Appropriations ............................................... Sen. Kate Bolz “This method is much fairer and Banking, Commerce & Insurance ...........Sen. Matt Williams standard across ag states, which is why many Nebraska ag producers have sug- Business & Labor ....................................Sen. Sue Crawford gested it to me.” Committees ...................................................Sen. Jim Smith Ricketts also said a decrease in the Education ................................................Sen. Rick Kolowski state’s highest income tax bracket was overdue and proposed a one-tenth of Executive Board ........................................ Sen. John Kuehn 1 percent reduction annually, starting General Affairs ............................................. Sen. Burke Harr in 2020, as long as revenue growth ex- Government, Military & Veterans Affairs ... Sen. Tom Brewer ceeds 3.5 percent. If revenue does not grow, the tax rate would not decrease. Health & Human Services ...................... Sen. Steve Erdman “Any single individual making Judiciary .................................... Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks $29,831 is caught in the highest tax bracket. Folks, $29,831 is not rich. It Natural Resources .............................Sen. Bruce Bostelman is middle class,” he said. “Nebraskans Nebraska Retirement Systems ........... Sen. Brett Lindstrom look at us and wonder why it’s so hard Reference ................................................... Sen. John Kuehn for us to let them keep more of their money.” Revenue .....................................................Sen. Curt Friesen Ricketts said concerns about other Rules ................................................. Sen. Paul Schumacher states’ efforts to cut taxes in an eco- Transportation & Telecommunications .........Sen. Jim Smith nomic downturn did not apply to his proposal. He said Nebraska would Urban Affairs ............................................. Sen. Matt Hansen 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 and follow us on Twitter.com/UnicamUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Heidi Uhing; Writers: Kyle Harpster, Kate Heltzel, Ami Johnson; Photographer: Bess Ghormley Printed copies of bills, resolutions and the Legislative Journal are available at the State Capitol room 1104, or by calling 402-471-2709 or 800-742-7456. Status of bills and resolutions can be requested at that number or can be found on NebraskaLegislature.gov. Live video of hearings and floor debate can be viewed on NET2 and at NetNebraska.org/capitol. Senators may be contacted by mail at this address: Senator Name, District #, State Capitol, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604 Assistance provided by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office, the Legislative Technology Center, committee clerks, legal counsels, journal clerks, pages, transcribers, mail room and bill room staff and the State Print Shop. The Unicameral Update is available as an audio recording from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service. Call (800) 742-7691 for more information. THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 105TH LEGISLATURE 2017 Legislative Session* Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 20 DAY 21 DAY 22 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 23 DAY 24 DAY 25 DAY 26 DAY 27 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 HOLIDAY DAY 9 DAY 10 DAY 11 DAY 12 DAY 28 DAY 29 DAY 30 DAY 31 RECESS 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 DAY 13 DAY 14 DAY 15 DAY 16 DAY 17 HOLIDAY DAY 32 DAY 33 DAY 34 DAY 35 29 30 31 26 27 28 DAY 18 DAY 19 DAY 36 DAY 37 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat March April 1 2 3 4 1 DAY 38 DAY 39 DAY 40 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DAY 41 DAY 42 DAY 43 DAY 44 RECESS DAY 58 DAY 59 DAY 60 DAY 61 RECESS 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DAY 45 DAY 46 DAY 47 DAY 48 DAY 49 DAY 62 DAY 63 DAY 64 DAY 65 RECESS 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DAY 50 DAY 51 DAY 52 DAY 53 RECESS RECESS DAY 66 DAY 67 DAY 68 DAY 69 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 RECESS DAY 54 DAY 55 DAY 56 DAY 57 30 DAY 70 DAY 71 DAY 72 DAY 73 HOLIDAY Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat May June 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 RECESS DAY 74 DAY 75 DAY 76 DAY 77 RECESS DAY 90 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DAY 78 DAY 79 DAY 80 DAY 81 RECESS 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 DAY 82 DAY 83 DAY 84 DAY 85 RECESS 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 RECESS DAY 86 DAY 87 DAY 88 DAY 89 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 HOLIDAY RECESS RECESS Federal & State Holidays Legislative Recess Days January 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day April 28 – Arbor Day February 17 May 1, 12, 19, 22, 30, 31 February 20 – Presidents’ Day May 29 – Memorial Day March 10, 24, 27 June 1 April 7, 14, 17 *The Speaker reserves the right to revise the session calendar January 9 - 13, 2017 Committee Hearings *Current hearing schedules are always available at: NebraskaLegislature.gov/calendar Tuesday, January 17 Banking, Commerce & Insurance Wednesday, January 18 Agriculture Room 1507 - 1:30 p.m.