Lincoln – A bill considered Jan. 28 by the Urban Affairs Committee would allow cities and villages to borrow money after a calamity.
LB 870, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford, would allow cities and villages to borrow directly from a financial institution only to repair or rebuild property or restore public services damaged or disrupted by a natural disaster.
Lincoln – The Business and Labor Committee heard testimony Jan. 27 on a bill meant to address the mental health toll experienced by emergency first responders.
LB 963, sponsored by Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer, would provide first responders with opportunities to receive resilience training to help prevent or mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Lincoln – Newborns in Nebraska would be screened for Spinal Muscular Atrophy under a bill discussed Jan. 22 by the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 825, introduced by Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann, would add SMA to the list of 32 required screenings for all infants born in Nebraska.
Lincoln – A public hearing was held by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Jan. 27 on a bill to provide funding for rural first responder training.
LB 761, sponsored by Adams Sen. Myron Dorn, would increase an existing “50 Cents for Life” motor vehicle registration fee by 50 cents, bringing it to $1 each year.
Lincoln – Students and teachers from private schools rallied at the Nebraska Capitol last Wednesday to recognize National School Choice Week, a campaign to promote alternatives to public schools.
Iowa City, Iowa – The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature has again denied press access to a liberal journalist whose blog is often critical of its policies, despite warnings from state and national groups that the restriction appears to be unconstitutional.
Des Moines, Iowa – A bill proposed by a group of Republican lawmakers last Wednesday that would have amended the Iowa Civil Rights Act by removing protections against discrimination for transgender people is dead, a powerful committee chairman said.
Mid-biennium adjustments to the state’s budget were considered by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee Jan. 29.
Three bills, introduced by Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk at the request of Gov. Pete Ricketts, comprise the governor’s mid-biennium budget recommendations:
Des Moines, Iowa – An animal welfare group gained access to an Iowa state lawmaker’s hog farm and has posted a video on the internet that shows pigs suffering and even dying in what appear to be inhumane conditions.
Lincoln – Nebraska lawmakers took a step last Monday to try to help survivors of human trafficking but stopped short of putting any new money into the initiative.