Lincoln – The Education Committee heard testimony Jan. 21 on a bill that would allocate lottery funds to certain education-related grant programs for several years.
A lobbyist for the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association expressed concern about a bill to clarify who may access forensic interviews of children in cases of child abuse or neglect.
Nebraska legislators largely concluded bill introductions with the adjournment of the 10th day of the legislative session last Thursday.
In total, 484 bills and 24 resolutions have been introduced, according to a Daily Record tally. An additional 481 bills and 11 resolutions carried over from last session.
Lincoln – Last Wednesday, the Nebraska Family Alliance presented Gov. Pete Ricketts with its inaugural Defender of Life award in recognition of his work to protect pre-born babies in Nebraska.
Ricketts received the honor at a prayer breakfast hosted by NFA at the Lincoln Cornhusker Marriott Hotel. The prayer breakfast coincided with the governor’s proclamation of a Statewide Day of Prayer to end abortion.
Lincoln – Nebraska’s new economic development director was confirmed last Thursday by lawmakers who praised him for his business experience.
Senators voted 42-0 to keep Tony Goins of Lincoln in charge of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Goins in July to replace Dave Rippe, who stepped down to return to his home in Hastings.
Lincoln – A state lawmaker has placed a hold on a bill to make violating state law regarding food labels for plant-based proteins count as a deceptive trade practice.
Lincoln – A bill that would lower Nebraska’s property taxes by shifting more state aid to schools won support last week from the state’s top agricultural and business groups but faced strong opposition from schools that don’t want restrictions on their taxing power and don’t trust the state to maintain its funding.