Legislature

State Property Tax, Incentives Package Wins Initial Approval

Published by Scott Stewart on Sun, 08/09/2020 - 3:00am

Lincoln – Nebraska lawmakers advanced a compromise package last week to soften the impact of local property tax increases, preserve tax incentives for businesses and commit as much as $300 million in state money to a proposed disaster response facility in Omaha.

The measure won first-round approval Wednesday just days before this year’s legislative session was scheduled to end.

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Legislature Advances Parole Bill After Explosive Debate

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 1:00am

Lincoln – A bill that would allow some Nebraska prisoners to qualify for early parole won first-round approval from lawmakers Tuesday, despite one opponent who read a Dr. Seuss book out loud to try to delay the vote.

The surprise stall tactic by Sen. Andrew La Grone, of Gretna, drew a furious response from the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Steve Lathrop.

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Legislative News Briefs 8/7/20

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 12:00am

Tax-Increment Finance Change Amended, Moves to Select File

A bill intended to make certain redevelopment projects easier advanced from general file Aug. 4.

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Omaha Officials Testify Against Police Oversight Board Bill

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 3:00am

The Nebraska Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee heard testimony July 31 on a bill that would require certain Nebraska cities to establish citizen police oversight boards.

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Proposed Abortion Procedure Ban Hit Snag in Legislature

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 4:00am

Lincoln – A proposal to outlaw a common second-trimester abortion procedure in Nebraska hit a snag in the Legislature last week, leaving its prospects unclear. Opponents used a filibuster to keep the measure from coming to a vote after the allotted three hours of debate, forcing lawmakers to move on to other issues.

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Legislators Reject Push For Meatpacking Plant Reforms

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 2:00am

Lincoln — Nebraska’s meatpacking plants won’t have to worry about any new safety restrictions this year, despite outbreaks of the coronavirus among their workers, after a state lawmaker on Wednesday failed to secure enough support for the idea.

Sen. Tony Vargas, of Omaha, fell two votes short of the 30 he needed to introduce a bill in the waning days of the 2020 session.

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2 State Senators Self-Isolate After Coronavirus Exposure

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 07/30/2020 - 2:00am

Lincoln – Two Nebraska state senators who may have been exposed to the coronavirus isolated themselves Tuesday from their fellow lawmakers, taking seats in a distant upper balcony so they can still participate in legislative debate.

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Ricketts Touts Revenue, Virus Response to Lawmakers

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 07/29/2020 - 3:00am

Gov. Pete Ricketts touted Nebraska’s pandemic response and rosier-than-expected revenue outlook in his address to the Legislature on Friday, while pushing for lawmakers to adopt his signature property tax relief and tax incentives packages within the remaining 13 days of the session.

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Legislative News Briefs 7/29/20

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 07/29/2020 - 12:00am

Bill to Ban Abortion Procedure Pulled, Placed on General File

A bill that would ban a specific abortion method in Nebraska was advanced to general file July 21 after a successful procedural motion.

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Board: State Revenue Drop Won’t Be as Sharp as Expected

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 2:00am

Lincoln – Nebraska tax revenue will likely dip below earlier projections because of the coronavirus, but the state’s budget picture won’t be as bad as previously expected, a state board predicted.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board lowered its outlook Thursday for state tax collections in the current fiscal year, which began July 1.