Forecast This

Monday, the Legislature will stand in recess. It’s a four-day workweek! Come to think of it; every week is now a four-day workweek. If you believe that state senators have a cozy gig, you’re sadly mistaken.

During the legislative session, these people are running flat-out between three full-time jobs. Their elected position, their families, and real jobs that supplement the $1,000 a month salary we pay them. Cozy gig indeed.

To that point, Sen. Wayne (Omaha) introduced constitutional amendment LR 18CA. Yet another, in a long line of attempts to increase from two to three, the number of consecutive four-year terms state senators can serve. Twelve years in a row gives me a headache.

To THAT point, Sen. Wayne also introduced constitutional amendment LR 2CA to legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, consumption, and sale of cannabis in any form. Coincidence?

The public hearings for 684 bills, twelve constitutional amendments, and a bushel basketful of state board appointments will end on March 12. All-day floor debate begins March 15.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board meets twice a year to predicted future state revenue receipts. Last October, they determined that revenues would be $285 million higher in this fiscal year (7/1/2020 – 6/30/2021). FY 2021/2022 would see a revenue increase of $118 million. Finally, they Carnaced (Johnny Carson?) an additional $307 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022.

NEFAB convenes this week to review the accuracy of their forecast and predict future state revenues. That process really isn’t very complicated. Board members gather on the 14th floor of the State Capitol, hang a windsock on a pole, and wait for the wind to pick up.

Bill Tracker

General File

LB90 (Halloran) MONITOR – Amends the Nebraska Pesticide Act by reallocating the pesticide registration fee distribution. It further amends the Nebraska Commercial Fertilizer and Soil Conditioner Act by allowing the Director to adjust the inspection fee each July 1.
LB91 (Brandt) MONITOR – Expands the date after germination or viability testing that native flower and grass seeds may continue to be sold or offered for sale without retesting and allowing seed viability testing instead of germination rate testing for certain seeds.
LB177 (Lindstrom) SUPPORT – Changes provisions relating to liens under the Uniform Commercial Code.

Held In Committee

LB52 (Lathrop) MONITOR – Immunity for injury or death resulting from COVID-19 exposure.
LB79 (Briese) MONITOR – Changes the minimum amount of relief provided under the Property Tax Credit Act.
LB84 (Bostelman) MONITOR – Hearing 2/26 – Changes provisions relating to tax incentive performance audits and redefines a term under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act
LB133 (Erdman) MONITOR – Adopts a consumption tax and eliminates other taxes.
LB139 (Briese) MONITOR – Provides general safe harbor and premises liability protections on potential COVID-19 lawsuits.
LB239 (Hilkemann) MONITOR – Restricts phone use to hands-free while driving.
LB290 (M. Cavanaugh) OPPOSE – Adopts the Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Act.
LB329 (Wayne) MONITOR – The minimum average wholesale price of gasoline to be used to calculate the state gas tax shall be $2.44.
LB422 (Briese) MONITOR – Reduce state sales tax from 5.5 cents to 5 cents and eliminate some sales tax exemptions.
LB430 (Revenue) MONITOR – Shell bill.
LB432 (Revenue) MONITOR – Shell bill.
LB433 (Revenue) MONITOR – Shell bill.
LB483 (J Cavanaugh) MONITOR – Creates a $250,000 climate change study and plan.
LB543 (Brandt) MONITOR – Hearing 2/25 – Adopts the Agricultural Equipment Right-To-Repair Act, which would allow farmers to fix their own machinery.
LB622 (Friesen) MONITOR – Limits real property valuations’ growth and provides for adjustments to assessed values.
LB625 (Vargas) MONITOR – Hearing 2/25 – Imposes a surtax on certain taxable income and uses the tax proceeds for early childhood education.
LB634 (J. Cavanaugh) OPPOSE – Hearing 3/10 – Provides a cause of action for unsafe disposal of treated seed.
LB644 (B. Hansen) MONITOR – Property Tax Request Act to increase transparency for impacted political subdivisions to raise their property tax levies.
LB672 (Murman) SUPPORT – Hearing 2/24 – Changes the sales and use tax exemption on agricultural machinery and equipment.
LR5 (Graegert) MONITOR – Recommendations from the Healthy Soils Task Force delivered to the Legislature.
LR11CA (Erdman) MONITOR – Constitutional Amendment to create a consumption tax and eliminate other taxes.