Legislative Updates

It’s almost crunch time. Senators have begun meeting in full-day session. We’ve passed the 50-day mark of the 90-day legislative session. We’ve discussed only a handful of priority bills and we still have the budget to deal with in May. …

The Legislature spent the better part of the mornings this past week debating a bill calling for a comprehensive study of our tax system. As amended, LB 613 creates the Tax Modernization Committee, whose purpose is to review and study the state’s tax laws, including, but not limited to, sales…

A good portion of this past week was spent debating the death penalty. LB 543 would change the maximum penalty for first degree murder in Nebraska from death to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. …

This past week marked the deadline for the designation of priority bills. Every senator may designate one bill as his/her individual priority bill. Every committee can designate two priority bills and the Speaker of the Legislature has the authority to designate twenty-five bills as speaker…

The Legislature began debate on a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize wagering on prerecorded or “historic” horse races that are replayed at licensed racetracks on video terminals. …

The Legislature began meeting in full-day session this past week, following the completion of the public hearing process. The Speaker of the Legislature warned senators of the workload that is ahead of them, with just twenty days left and many priority bills yet to be discussed. …

Earlier this month, the Appropriations Committee heard testimony on a bill that would transfer $40 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to Natural Resource Districts with integrated management plans that have entered into contracts to construct or implement streamflow enhancement projects. …

Should police be able to stop a motorist for not wearing a seat belt or for texting? As a member of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, one afternoon this past week was spent discussing these issues. The current law requires all front seat motorists to wear seat belts. …

Over 12 hours of testimony was presented at the public hearings this past week before the Revenue Committee on the two bills introduced at the request of the Governor to eliminate or reduce the individual and corporate income taxes. …

Two weeks of public hearings have been completed. All 655 bills that were introduced will be scheduled for a public hearing by March 21. This past week, senators began meeting as a body in the mornings to discuss the legislation that has already advanced from the various committees. …