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January 25, 2019                                                        Legislative Report Archive 

In This Issue

 

Bill Introductions Conclude

Residential Address Confidentiality to be Heard

Revenue Committee to hear Special Valuation Bills

Snapshots of County Issues

Schedule of Selected Hearings

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introsBill Introductions Conclude
Following a recess day in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, senators finished introducing 739 new bills and seven constitutional amendments on Wednesday, the tenth day of the session. This is the largest number of bills introduced during the first year of the biennium since 2005.
 
Public hearings on the new bills began on Tuesday afternoon and will continue through March 28. A full list of introduced bills is available on the Legislature's website. A hearing schedule is available as well.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, senators took up proposals to change the permanent rules of the Legislature. Until the permanent rules are adopted, the Legislature operates under the prior year's rules.
 
Tuesday's debate focused on setting a minimum number of hours of debate before cloture could be invoked to end a filibuster. Speaker Jim Scheer has followed the practice of allowing three hours of first-round debate on controversial bills, then three more hours if the introducer can show that he or she has the support to invoke cloture and take a vote on advancing the bill. The process allows more bills to be debated but can limit the number of speakers on each bill. The proposal was withdrawn by Rules Committee Chair Sue Crawford.
 
Senator Mike Groene offered a proposed rule change to elect committee chairs by roll call. They are currently selected by secret ballot. Groene argued that constituents expect every vote to be public and transparent. Opponents said that public elections of chairs can lead to committee chair elections based on party rather than qualifications. The proposal was defeated on a 25-22 vote.
 
Senators advanced three revisor bills from first-round debate on Thursday. Revisor bills are prepared by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes to make a technical correction or repeal an obsolete statute.
 
Today, senators advanced bills from General File to provide an exemption from real estate licensing fees for servicemembers and their spouses ( LB12) and a measure to exempt legal expense insurerers licensed in the state from paying premium taxes ( LB26). Counties receive $1,028 annually from the tax. Also advanced were bills to update real property appraiser laws to maintain compliance with federal standards ( LB77) and regulating ownership of accounting firms ( LB49).
 
General File debate will begin on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. on bills advanced by the Urban Affairs and Transportation and Telecommunications Committees. NACO supports LB82, which would allow counties to certify completion of the One-and-Six Year plans and other reporting documents to the state rather than submitting the entire document.



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residResidential Address Confidentiality to be Heard
The first of three bills that would change the way counties handle residential addresses in public records will be heard by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday, January 30.

LB152 would grant members of the Nebraska National Guard the same authority to request that their residential addresses be withheld from disclosure as is provided to law enforcement officers. Under a 2017 law, law enforcement officers can submit an application to the county assessor requesting that their residential address is withheld unless the information is requested in writing. The request also covers records in the register of deeds office. The hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Room 1507 of the State Capitol and will be livestreamed on NET.
 
Two other bills limiting disclosure of residential addresses were introduced but hearing dates have not been set. LB118 would expand the process used to protect law enforcement officers' residential addresses to licensed physicians and osteopathic physicians.
 
LB633 would repeal the provisions specific to law enforcement and require records held by registers of deeds, assessors, and other officials to be protected unless the information was requested in writing.


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capRevenue Committee to hear Special Valuation Bills
On Wednesday, January 30 at 1:30 p.m., the Revenue Committee will hear two bills, LB185 and LB250, that propose changing procedures for determining eligibility for special valuation of agricultural and horticultural land.
 
LB185 would require the owner or lessee of land consisting of five contiguous acres or less to provide an IRS Schedule F to document a profit or loss from farming for two out of the last three years in order to qualify for special valuation.
 
LB250 would set criteria for land in counties under 100,000 to qualify for special valuation.
 
The committee will also hear LB372, a measure to change land capability groups used to value ag land to the use applied by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Currently these are based on dryland farming criterion.
 
Later in the week, the committee will take testimony on the Department of Revenue's annual cleanup bill, LB512. The bill contains language that would allow valuations to be changed if a property receives significant damage during the year. Significant damage is defined as exceeding $10,000 or 10 percent of the property's value. At the same hearing on Thursday, February 1, the committee will hear three online sales tax bills: LB18, LB284, and LB291.
 
On Friday, February 2, the committee will hear three shell bills that would change income taxes ( LB288), require more frequent inspections of property ( LB289), and change the sales and use tax rates ( LB290). These bills are not intended to be advanced as introduced but will serve as placeholder legislation if needed by the Revenue Committee.


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snshSnapshots of County Issues
A number of bills introduced this week could have an impact on counties. Some of these include:

County Operations
LB522 (Linehan) Name and change the purpose of the County Civil Service Commission Act, change provisions relating to commission membership and duties, and provide for appointment of a human resources director
LB524 (Dorn) Change provisions relating to annexations under the Nebraska Budget Act
LB525 (Dorn) Change provisions relating to the sale of county land in fee simple
LB550 (Vargas) Require voter approval of fees and taxes on wireless services and eliminate the Prepaid Wireless Surcharge Act
LB581 (Albrecht) Require the use of generally accepted accounting principles in preparing budgets under the Nebraska Budget Act
LB583 (Hilgers) Provide powers for certain counties under the Transportation Innovation Act
LB584 (Hilgers) Change farm winery provisions and provide for a promotional special designated license
LB591 (Briese) Provide for alcohol impact zones and provide duties for the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission
LB609 (La Grone) Provide for reimbursement of actual costs of a rental vehicle by county and local governments
LB622 (Williams) Change provisions and provide for pooled collateral under the Public Funds Deposit Security Act
LB636 (Stinner) Create the Financial Condition of Counties and Municipalities Task Force
LB648 (Wayne) Change the Community Development Law
LB736 (Murman) Provide restrictions on occupation taxes, license fees, and regulation by counties and municipalities
LR14CA (Wayne) Constitutional amendment to authorize municipalities to pledge property taxes for up to twenty years if more than one-half of the property in a redevelopment project is extremely blighted
 
 
Courts
LB490 (Wayne) Consolidate offices of clerk of the district court and clerk magistrates
LB646 (Chambers) Eliminate cash bail bonds, appearance bonds, and related provisions
 
 
Elections
LB531 (Vargas) Create a fund and provide for a transfer of funds
LB608 (La Grone) Change and eliminate provisions regarding counting methods under the Election Act
LB618 (Hilgers Change provisions relating to electioneering
LB687 (Vargas) Provide for voter registration of applicants for driver's licenses and state identification cards
LB711 (Cavanaugh) Change provisions relating to voting qualifications for any person convicted of a felony
LB718 (Hunt) Require additional polling places prior to elections in certain counties
LB733 (Kolowski) Provide and change requirements for polling places
 
 
Juvenile Justice
LB485 (Lowe) State intent relating to an appropriation for the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney
LB510 (McCollister) Change applicability of Sex Offender Registration Act to certain out-of-state juvenile adjudications
LB651 (Wayne) Change funding provisions for the Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program
LB703 (Vargas) Appropriate funds to the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
 
 
Law Enforcement
LB589 (Chambers) Prohibit peace officers from serving as school resource officers
LB620 (Kolowski) Provide for enforcement of violations relating to use of handheld wireless communication devices as a primary action
LB658 (Wayne) Prohibit executive director of Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from taking certain disciplinary actions
 
 
Property Tax
LB482 (Erdman) Provide for an adjustment to the assessed value of destroyed real property
LB483 (Erdman) Change the valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land
LB493 (Wayne) Change provisions relating to property tax exemptions under the Nebraska Housing Agency Act
LB497 (Friesen) Adopt the School District Property Tax Authority Act and change revenue and taxation provisions
LB512 (Linehan) Change revenue and taxation provisions
LB523 (Linehan) Provide a documentary stamp tax exemption for certain deeds and a property tax exemption for certain charitable organizations
LB529 (Groene) Change provisions relating to a property tax exemption for hospitals
LB530 (Groene) Change the valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land for property tax purposes
LB560 (Geist) Change provisions relating to tax credits under the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act
LB601 (Lindstrom) Change a property tax exemption relating to educational, religious, charitable, and cemetery organizations
LB614 (Crawford) Change revenue and taxation provisions
LB623 (Williams) Change provisions relating to qualifications under the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act
LB661 (Friesen) Change income tax provisions and the distribution of certain income tax revenue
LB677 (Groene) Change provisions of the Property Tax Credit Act and provide school district property tax relief aid
LB695 (Groene) Change provisions relating to the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act, the Property Tax Credit Act, levy limits, and the base limitation
LB707 (Erdman) Authorize the Tax Equalization and Review Commission to hold certain hearings by videoconference and telephone conference - NACO Bill

 
Public Health
LB480 (Quick) State intent relating to appropriations to local public health departments
LB631 (Morfeld) Create the Medicaid Expansion Implementation Task Force

 
Public Records
LB633 (Wishart) Change provisions relating to real property owner information available to the public
 
 
Retirement
LB565 (Bolz) State legislative intent relating to a designated beneficiary determination under certain retirement systems
 
 
Roads
LB612 (Erdman) Authorize the display of roadside memorials
LB616 (Hilgers) Provide for build-finance projects under the Build Nebraska Act and the Transportation Innovation Act
LB698 (Bostelman) Change load provisions and penalties for commercial motor vehicles and commercial trailers


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selhrgSchedule of Selected Hearings
Every bill introduced by the Legislature is the subject of a public hearing. Following is a schedule of bills that are of interest to counties. Due to construction at the Capitol, the Judiciary and Transportation and Telecommunications Committees will meet in the Warner Chamber.
 
Note that bills not appearing on this list may be heard during the same hearing. A complete list of hearings is available on the Legislature's website. For tips about testifying at a hearing, click here.


Monday, January 28, 2019
General Affairs Committee
Room 1510 1:30 p.m.
LB56 (Lowe) Change special designated licensure provisions under the Nebraska Liquor Control Act

Transportation and Telecommunications Committee
Warner Chamber 1:30 p.m.
LB8 (Blood) Allow physician medical directors to display certain vehicle lights as prescribed
LB10 (Blood) Authorize the operation of lighted-billboard motor vehicles
LB80 (Friesen) Change motor vehicle identification inspection provisions
LB81 (Friesen) Change provisions relating to special stops at railroad grade crossings under the Nebraska Rules of the Road

Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee
Room 1507 12:00 p.m.
LB32 (Kolterman) Change defined contribution benefit investment options as prescribed under the County Employees Retirement Act and State Employees Retirement Act

Transportation and Telecommunications Committee
Warner Chamber 1:30 p.m
LB111 (Howard) change a certificate of title application signature requirement as prescribed
LB156 (Brewer) Provide for the operation of former military vehicles
LB192 (McCollister) Change provisions relating to veterans designations on operators' licenses and state identification cards

Urban Affairs Committee
Room 1510 1:30 p.m.
LB11 (Blood) Provide for interlocal agreements regarding nuisances


Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Room 1507 1:30 p.m.
LB152 (Brewer) State rights of Nebraska National Guard members and provide for confidentiality of member's residential addresses

Revenue Committee
Room 1524 1:30 p.m.
LB185 (Friesen) Change provisions relating to the special valuation of agricultural and horticultural land
LB250 (Walz) Change provisions relating to agricultural land and horticultural land receiving special valuations
LB372 (Erdman) Change provisions relating to classes and subclasses of agricultural land and horticultural land

Thursday, January 31, 2019
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Room 1507 1:30 p.m.
LB373 (Brewer) Provide setback and zoning requirements for wind energy generation project

Judiciary Committee
Warner Chamber 1:30 p.m.
LB354 (Pansing Brooks) Change provisions relating to sealing of juvenile records

Revenue Committee
Room 1524 1:30 p.m.
LB512 (Linehan) Change revenue and taxation provisions

Friday, February 1, 2019
Revenue Committee
Room 1524 1:30 p.m.
LB222 (Albrecht) Change the Volunteer Emergency Responders Incentive Act
LB288 (Linehan) Change income tax rates
LB289 (Linehan) Change provisions relating to county assessor inspections of real property for property tax purposes
LB290 (Linehan) Change the sales and use tax


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