UNICAMERAL UPDATE News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 43, Issue 15 / Aug. 11 - 13, 2020 Legislature adjourns sine die, six senators depart he second session of the 106th Legislature T adjourned sine die Aug. 13, the 60th legislative day of a session interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. In his remarks, Gov. Pete Ricketts congratulated law- makers on passing tax leg- islation that he called “gen- erational in its scope” and thanked them for remain- ing focused on legislative priorities during the “most trying and difficult of circum- stances.” Speaker Jim Scheer of Nor- folk suspended the session in mid-March in response to growing safety concerns Speaker Jim Scheer, one of six-term limited senators leaving the Legislature, addresses lawmakers on the final day of session. regarding the coronavirus pandemic. After calling senators back proving emergency funding to combat 285 bills this session, including into session for three days in late the pandemic, he again suspended measures to expand access to broad- March for the limited purpose of ap- the session. band Internet in rural areas, improve Senators reconvened oversight of the state’s Youth Reha- July 20 and finished bilitation and Treatment Centers and the final 17 days of provide a tax exclusion for military session in a changed retirement benefit pay. physical environment “We have accomplished a lot in this in which plastic barriers session whether we realize it or not,” and physical distancing Scheer said. guidelines limited con- Scheer also thanked senators for tact between senators, electing him speaker four years ago, staff members, the me- saying that he had done his best to dia and the lobby. uphold his pledge to be fair and Scheer said the consistent. completion of the ses- “It has been my honor to serve you sion illustrates Nebras- and my constituents in this body and kans’—and the Unicam- to serve as your speaker,” he said. eral’s—ability to weather Scheer is among six senators who adversity. are leaving the Legislature due to term He congratulated limits. The others are Lincoln Sen. Gov. Pete Ricketts thanked senators for their service to the state. lawmakers on passing (continued page 2) INSIDE: Tax package clears final round • Land bank options expanded • Military retirement tax break passed August 11 - 13, 2020 Legislature adjourns sine die, six senators depart (continued from front page) Kate Bolz, Omaha Sen. Ernie Cham- bers, Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford, Omaha Sen. Sara Howard and Omaha Sen. Rick Kolowski. Chambers, whose legislative career will stand as the longest in state his- tory, was first elected to the Legislature in 1970. He left office in 2008 due to term limits but returned in 2012. His many legislative achievements include twice gaining passage of bills to repeal the state’s death penalty and securing district elections for the Omaha City Council, Douglas Coun- ty Board and Omaha school board to encourage minority representation. In a farewell tribute Aug. 12, Lin- coln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks called him “a giant among us.” “His entire 46-year mission has been for the least, the last and the lost,” she said. “He was always con- cerned about—and is always concerned about—those who cannot speak for themselves.” The first session of the 107th Leg- islature is scheduled to convene Jan. 6, 2021. n Sen. Ernie Chambers, who chose not to deliver a farewell address, leaves the Legislature after 46 years of service. UNICAMERAL UPDATE The Unicameral Update is a free, weekly newsletter published during the legislative session. It is produced by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office through the Unicameral Information Office. For print subscriptions, call 402-471-2788 or email [email protected]. Visit us online at Update.Legislature.ne.gov, twitter.com/UnicamUpdate and facebook.com/UnicameralUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Kate Heltzel; Writers: Kyle Harpster, Ami Johnson, Mike Malloy; Photographer: Bess Ghormley Printed copies of bills, resolutions and the Legislative Journal are available at the State Capitol room 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 NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE August 11 - 13, 2020 “ I implore you to serve something bigger than your political party or your own point of view. Serve justice; serve fairness; serve compassion; serve your neighbor. Whatever it is, make it your north star.” — Sen. Kate Bolz “ Remember the awesome privilege and re- sponsibility that you have to serve the state.” — Sen. Sue Crawford “ Every time that I thought my experience here broke me, it always turned out to have made me stronger, more thoughtful and more effective.” — Sen. Sara Howard “ Quality education is my major goal ... thank you for the education you have given me.” — Sen. Rick Kolowski “ We have to learn that we respect each other, we [can] work with each other and that we have the ability—together—to do marvelous, marvel- ous things.” — Sen. Jim Scheer 106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 August 11 - 13, 2020 governing condominium asso- sponders with opportunities to receive ciations, including reducing the resilience training to help prevent or time allowed to recover damages mitigate the effects of post-traumatic from alleged deficiency in the stress disorder. design or construction of a con- The bill allows first responders to Omnibus banking bill passed dominium; establish a presumptive case of PTSD • LB902, introduced by Sen. Patty from cumulative injury or stress Senators passed a bill Aug. 11 that Pansing caused by conditions of employment makes a number of changes to state Brooks of as a personal injury for workers’ com- banking laws. Lincoln, pensation purposes. LB808, introduced by Sen. An- which To establish such a case, the first drew La Grone modern- responder must show that he or she: of Gretna, enacts ize and underwent a mental health examina- new sections in the reform tion before the onset of the mental Nebraska Model the terms Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks injury or illness, obtained testimony Business Corpora- of an irrevocable trust; from a qualifying mental health tion Act related to • LB929, introduced by Lind- professional attesting that he or she defective corporate strom, which exempt from the suffers from a mental injury or illness actions. Sen. Andrew La Grone Nebraska Real Estate License and participated in resilience training The measure contains provisions Act an unlicensed person who prior to the onset of the mental injury of six additional bills: provides a list of potential pur- or illness and annually thereafter. • LB775, introduced by Sen. Matt chases to a broker or real estate The state Department of Health Williams of salesperson; and and Human Services will reimburse Gothen- • LB1123, also introduced by first responders for resilience training burg, which Lindstrom, which expand the if their employers do not. make sev- definition of security to include Under the bill, only state-licensed, eral techni- student loans under the Public independent practicing physicians, cal changes Funds Deposit Security Act. psychologists and mental health prac- to the Ne- LB808 passed on a 47-0 vote and titioners are qualified to render an braska Real Sen. Matt Williams takes effect immediately. official PTSD diagnosis. Property Appraiser Act; The opportunities provided by • LB782, introduced by Gering Sen. LB963 will end on Jan. 1, 2028. John Stinner, Provisions of LB448, originally in- which allow troduced by Oma- students ha Sen. Mike Mc- within 120 Donnell, increase days of com- Resilience training; PTSD burial benefits for pleting an injury claims approved for first work-related inju- accounting responders ries or illnesses to degree to take Sen. John Stinner $11,000. Begin- test sections of the certified pub- Senators passed a bill Aug. 11 to ning in 2023, the Sen. Mike McDonnell lic accoun- address the mental cap will be adjusted by a maximum of tant exam; health strain experi- 2.75 percent per year. • LB767, in- enced by emergen- The bill passed on a 45-0 vote. troduced by cy first responders. Omaha Sen. LB963, spon- Hair discrimination ban approved Brett Lind- sored by Gordon strom, which Sen. Tom Brewer, A bill that extends employment change laws Sen. Brett Lindstrom provides first re- Sen. Tom Brewer discrimination protections was passed PAGE 4 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE August 11 - 13, 2020 by the Legislature Aug. 11. grade-appropriate credits earned by Language assessment program LB1060, introduced by Omaha Sen. the student during the expulsion from for deaf children approved Machaela Cava- certain accredited institutions. naugh, clarifies Among other changes, the bill also Senators approved a bill Aug. 11 that existing pro- creates and modifies several proce- that requires special language assess- tections against dures for student discipline hearings. ments for children who are deaf or racially based Under LB515, a student or the stu- hard of hearing. employment dent’s parent or guardian may request LB965, introduced by Omaha Sen. discrimination the designation of a hearing examiner Mike McDonnell, requires the state include hair tex- Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh other than the hearing examiner rec- Department of Education, in collabo- ture and protective hairstyles, including ommended by the superintendent.