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UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 39, Issue 14 / Apr. 4 - 7, 2016 Exemptions for private renewable Independent redistricting energy companies commission advanced he Legislature’s re- advance districting process enators amended and advanced Twould include the a bill April 7 to encourage pri- help of an independent Svate renewable energy develop- commission under a bill ment—especially wind energy. given first-round approval Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm intro- April 4. duced an amend- Currently, the Legis- ment to LB824 on lature is responsible for select file, adopted drawing new governmen- 32-8, that would ex- tal boundaries every 10 empt private renew- years after the decennial able energy genera- census for districts per- tion facilities from taining to the U.S. House certain laws that Sen. Ken Haar of Representatives, the currently regulate facilities generating Legislature, Public Ser- electricity. vice Commission, Uni- Haar said Nebraska currently is versity of Nebraska Board third in the nation in terms of wind of Regents and the state energy potential but ranks only 23rd in Board of Education. development. He said Nebraska’s cur- LB580, introduced by rent regulations make it less welcom- Gretna Sen. John Mu- Sen. John Murante said the state’s current redistricting process (continued page 3) rante, would create the would benefit from the addition of an independent commission. Independent Redistricting Citizen’s encourages public trust.” No Unicameral Advisory Commission to assist in the An Executive Board amendment, Update Next Week process beginning in 2021. adopted 26-1, replaced the bill. Calling the measure the best redis- As amended, the commission The 104th Nebraska tricting model in the nation, Murante would be established by Jan. 30 of Legislature, second session, said LB580 is the result of several each redistricting year. Each of the has three scheduled days years worth of research into how to three legislative caucuses would ap- remaining: April 12, 13, and 20. effectively draw Nebraska’s district point three people to serve on the The final issue of this lines. He said a citizen-run process that commission, with no more than five session’s Unicameral Update is subject to final legislative approval members of the commission with the will be published after the would increase public confidence in same political party affiliation. Legislature adjourns sine the process. To be eligible for service on the die on April 20. Stories will “This is the best I think that we commission, a person must be a Ne- continue to be posted online can do,” he said. “It doesn’t eliminate braska resident and a registered voter next week at: partisanship—it isn’t perfect—but it who, at the time of appointment, had Update.Legislature.ne.gov. does minimize partisanship and it not changed political party affiliation (continued page 2) INSIDE: Winner-take-all election bill advances after cloture vote • Legalization of medical marijuana stalls April 4 - 7, 2016 Independent redistricting commission advanced (continued from front page) within the previous 24 months. opted by the commission; an excellent step forward to make sure Residents registered as lobbyists • any corresponding public hear- that maps are drawn for the benefit of within the previous 12 months, public ing reports; all Nebraskans.” officials, candidates for elective office • a summary of differences be- Papillion Sen. Bill Kintner op- and those holding a political party of- tween any of the redistricting posed the bill, saying senators should fice in Nebraska or the United States plans adopted by the commis- not “hand off” their responsibility would not be eligible. Also ineligible sion and the corresponding to draw district lines to an unelected would be an individual who is a rela- base maps developed by the commission. While redistricting de- tive of or employed by a member of research office; and cisions may be contentious, he said, Congress or the Legislature, a consti- • formal opinions from the sec- lawmakers should be the ones to draw tutional officer or an employee of the retary of state and the attorney the lines. University of Nebraska. general regarding the constitu- “We didn’t elect a computer to Omaha Sen. Heath Mello sup- tionality of the maps. do that,” he said. “People elected me ported the measure, which he said was The chairperson of the Executive because they knew where I stood.” necessary following the tumultuous Board would introduce a bill for each Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins redistricting undertaken in 2011. The redistricting plan adopted by the com- agreed, saying other issues—such as last bill would provide a more transparent mission within two days of delivery year’s vote to repeal the state’s death process that would focus on the public of the final maps. The bills would be penalty—have been just as contentious interest and not be driven primarily by placed directly on general file. as redistricting. partisan or political interests, he said. If any of the bills fail, do not pass “This is not a bill in my mind to “We tried to build what we thought or are vetoed by the governor, a new prevent contention in [the Legisla- was a process that works for the Legis- redistricting plan would be prepared. ture], but more a bill to protect both lature and a process that works for the Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln political parties,” he said. public,” he said. spoke in support of the bill, calling Murante said senators still would Under the bill, the following would the 2011 redistricting one of the most have the final say on any maps drawn. be delivered to the Legislature no later partisan and rancorous processes that “The Legislature isn’t giving away than 30 days after the census data is she has witnessed in her time at the any authority,” he said. received: Legislature. Following adoption of a technical • final maps illustrating each of “The current system that we have amendment on a 26-1 vote, lawmakers the six redistricting plans ad- does not work,” she said. “[This bill] is advanced the bill 30-5. g UNICAMERAL UPDATE The Unicameral Update is a free, weekly newsletter published during the legislative session. It is produced by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office through the Unicameral Information Office. For print subscriptions, call 402-471-2788 or email [email protected]. Visit us online at Update.Legislature.ne.gov 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 • 104TH LEGISLATURE April 4 - 7, 2016 Exemptions for private renewable energy companies advance (continued from front page) ing for private wind energy developers generation facilities that use natural than Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and gas in the exemption. He said electri- other states. cal generation using natural gas is Omaha Sen. John McCollister, the less expensive and more consistent bill sponsor, spoke in support of the than wind energy, which Friesen said amendment, saying that more private would create instability in the state’s development could lead to billions power grid. of dollars in capital investment, high- The amendment failed on an 11- paying jobs and new property tax 22 vote. revenue in rural Nebraska. Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango filed Committee “The regulations are killing Nebras- a motion to recommit the bill to com- ka when it comes to our public utilities mittee, saying that wind energy is not Hearing and wind development,” he said. reliable enough for the state’s public *Current hearing schedules available at: NebraskaLegislature.gov/calendar Sen. David Schnoor of Scribner power needs. spoke against the bill. He said wind “The reliability of renewables just Monday, April 18 energy development is viable now is not there yet,” he said, “and forc- Department of Correctional Services only because of federal production ing more and more renewables onto Special Investigative Committee (LR34) tax credits. the market and costing us jobs in our Room 1113 - 1:30 p.m. Open to the Public - Invited Testimony Only “I will always be opposed to wind current coal and nuclear power genera- Hearing To Discuss Issues Dealing With energy,” he said. “Why? From a simple tion is not right.” the Department of Corrections business standpoint—it will not pay The motion failed on a 12-21 vote. for itself.” Senators voted 34-3 to adopt a Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson McCollister amendment appropriat- Search for Bills opposed Haar’s amendment, saying ing $19,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 and Learn more about bills considered it would remove current safeguards again in FY2017-18 to the Nebraska by the Unicameral by logging on designed to protect public utilities Power Review Board, which had been to www.NebraskaLegislature.gov.