Tension

Senator Brewer’s always contentious bill to eliminate the concealed carry handgun permit withstood an 8-hour filibuster before advancing to Select File. It wasn’t pleasant for either side of the aisle, but for pure entertainment value – four stars!

STARWARS, Speaker Hilgers’ $200 million, 3,600-acre sandpit in Sarpy County, significant amenities to Lake McConaughey, Lewis & Clark Lake, and Niobrara State Park is now on Select File.

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda, Star Wars Episode V.

Think you’ve got a tough week? Beginning Wednesday, Nebraska’s 1st District Congressman, Jeff Fortenberry, faces three federal charges in a Los Angeles federal courtroom. He stands accused of lying to FBI agents about receiving $30,000 in campaign contributions from foreign sources. BTW, both the receiving and the lying are illegal!

Sunday’s edition of our much-maligned Omaha World-Herald contains an excellent article by reporter Todd Cooper. He names the players, places, and circumstances surrounding foreign campaign contributions and the conduits who distributed those contributions to the Congressman.

Enjoy YOUR week!

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Final Reading

LB925 (Gragert Priority) Resilient Soils and Water Quality Act to accelerate the use of best management practices for healthy soil. Appropriates $250,000 per year for five years.

Select File

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. Defines native and nonnative plant species, seed germination, storage, testing, viability, and sales.
LB805 (Hughes) (Agriculture Committee Priority) Changes provisions relating to the Noxious Weed Control Act and management of black-tailed prairie dogs.
LB939 (Linehan) (Revenue Committee Priority) – Income tax cuts:
- Corporate income tax: 5.58% under $100,000. Above $100,000: 7.5% in 2022, 7.0% in 2023, 6.5% in 2024, 6.14% in 2025, 5.84% in 2026.
- Personal income tax: Above the top rate of $58,000 (married filing jointly): 6.84% in 2022, 6.34 in 2023, 6.14 in 2024, and 5.84% in 2025..

General File

LB290 (M. Cavanaugh) Oppose – Adopts the Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Act.
LB543 (Brandt Priority) Support – Agricultural Equipment Right-To-Repair-Act. See AM1800.
LB730 (Lindstrom) Revenue Committee Priority See AM2087 An employer who employs a qualified apprentice or trainee for at least seven months of a taxable year is allowed a $1,000 nonrefundable credit against the income tax paid.
LB806 (Bostelman) Provisions relating to land drainage by a landowner. See AM1979 “landowner shall not drain such landowner’s land using any pump or powered system if such drainage system would cause injury or harm to any other person.”
LB986 (Briese Priority) Failed to Advance Limits the property tax request for a school district by its property tax request authority. The limit does not apply to the tax request required to retire bonded indebtedness.
LB1014 (Speaker Hilgers at the Request of the Governor) Appropriations Committee Priority. The Governor’s recommendation to appropriate federal funds in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”). The State and Local Fiscal Recovery Program (“SLFRP”) allocated funding to both state and local governmental entities. The State of Nebraska, 93 counties, 4 metro cities, and 525 localities identified as “non-entitlement units of government” were eligible for a total award of $1.7 billion. The State of Nebraska has received $520 million. An additional $520 million is expected by May 2022.
- Support Public Health Response for COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
- Negative Economic Impacts to workers, families, small businesses and non-profits, etc.
- Replace Revenue Loss for government services in general fund revenue reductions.
- Premium Pay for Essential Workers – Support for workers who bear the greatest health risks.
- Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure for clean drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure; provide new and expanded broadband access.
LB1023 (Hilgers) McDonnell Priority STARWARS Lower Platte River Lake Development: construction of a combined reservoir within the floodplain that will create a 4,000-acre lake to provide new development, recreation, flood control, and water quality. Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area: marina projects to expand water access and recreational opportunities. Lake McConaughy: marina projects to expand water access and recreation. Niobrara State Park: A new event center and lodge.
LR264CA (Erdman Priority) Constitutional amendment prohibits the imposition of taxes other than retail consumption taxes and excise taxes.

Held In Committee

LB52 (Lathrop) Monitor – Immunity for injury or death from COVID-19 exposure.
LB79 (Briese) Monitor – Changes the minimum amount of relief provided in the Property Tax Credit Act.
LB133 (Erdman) Monitor – Adopts a consumption tax and eliminates other taxes.
LB329 (Wayne) Monitor – The minimum average wholesale gasoline price would be $2.44.
- AM411 Employer tax incentives for hiring felons, including those on parole or probation.
LB422 (Briese) Monitor – Reduces state sales tax from 5.5 cents to 5 cents and eliminates several sales tax exemptions.
LB483 (J Cavanaugh) Monitor – Creates a $250,000 climate change study and plan.
LB622 (Friesen) Monitor – Limits growth in property valuations and provides adjustments to assessed values.
LB694 (Blood) Provides a statute of limitations for exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals, prescription drugs, or medical devices.
LB761 (Dorn) The Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Act provides $10 million for agricultural producers to lead the nation in precision ag connectivity, sustainability, traceability, and autonomy. In addition, to provide high-speed internet service to high-cost and remote areas.
LB941 (Slama) Sales and use tax exemption for net wrap.
LB987 (Briese) Prohibits school districts from raising property taxes beyond 3% growth.
LB1030 (Friesen) Exempts all tangible personal property from property tax.