News
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, March 7, 2021
Priorities This week, the Judiciary Committee will close out their final public hearings of the session while Speaker Hilgers continues to prep the kids for full-day floor debate. A large majority of bills remain in committees. This week sets up perfectly for...
NDA Encourages Pesticide Applicators and Specialty Crop Growers to Work Together to Protect Sensitive Crops
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s diverse geography, soil and climate support traditional crops, like corn and soybeans, as well as specialty crops, like fruits and vegetables. Specialty crops can be sensitive to pesticides used on neighboring farms, though, which is why the...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 28, 2021
Flush with Cash Our state economic prognosticators met last week. It seems their "wet index finger in the air" formula worked. State tax revenue will be higher than they predicted only four months ago. $462 million higher in fiscal years 20/21 ($204M), 21/22 ($165M),...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 21, 2021
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...
Media Release: Gov. Ricketts Applauds EPA Decision to Follow Court Ruling on Ethanol Blending
LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement following news that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would follow a recent Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on small refinery exemptions from ethanol blending requirements. “Today’s announcement...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 14, 2021
Scuffle Committees of the Legislature are still grinding through all-day hearings on every one of those 684 legislative concoctions. The Judiciary and Revenue Committees are always the busiest. Tuesday morning, Speaker Hilgers will interrupt committee hearings for a...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February, 7, 2021
Whiners The State COVID plan moved from blue to green. Yes, green is a more environmentally sensitive color choice. In virus circles, green means the maximum indoor warm body count jumps from 75% of capacity to 100%. Local Health Departments must bless gatherings of...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 24, 2021
Rules Bill introductions wrapped-up Wednesday, and the fat lady sang, "Hallelujah!". On the first day of the session, Speaker Mike Hilgers, with a nod to the COVID, asked his colleagues to limit their bill requests in hopes of reducing close contact with one another...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 17, 2021
Ahhhh The Legislature will not convene tomorrow in observance of MLK Day. Interestingly, two bills that would create new holidays are already on file. Juneteenth would replace Arbor Day as a state holiday, and May 19 would become El-Hajj Malik Shabazz, Malcolm X Day....
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 10, 2021
The kids are back! Forty-nine senators, dressed in their Sunday best, gathered Wednesday for the 107th Legislature's long (90-day) session. All passed the temperature test, most wore face coverings, and plexiglass partitions erected the last session stifled the mood....