NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS GEAR ARGUMENTS OVER BILL TO PAY TEENS LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE

LINCOLN- On Monday, members of the Business and Labor Committee heard testimony from proponents and opponents of Legislative Bill 15, a piece of legislation introduced by Sen. Tom Briese that would allow businesses to steer around the recent minimum wage hike passed by Nebraska voters and pay teen workers a starting wage of $9 an hour, before increasing to $10 in 2026. 

Emma Haar, a 15-year-old teen from Grand Island who balances two minimum-wage jobs, told the committee that, if passed, this bill would make her dreams of attaining financial security almost impossible. "This bill treats me like a child when I have the responsibilities of an adult," she said. Proponents of the bill argue that keeping teen wages low will allow small businesses in the state to stay afloat, particularly in rural parts of Nebraska. 

Briese said during the hearing that he was not attempting to undermine the ballot measure passed last year by Nebraska voters, but rather that he was attempting to "iron out the details" of the measure. "We shouldn't be making it harder for employers to hire young folks," he told the Business and Labor Committee.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS PROPOSE DISABILITY, RACIAL IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR CERTAIN LEGISLATION

LINCOLN- Most legislation introduced to the Nebraska Legislature features a fiscal impact statement, outlining the costs of introducing the proposal. However, under a set of newly-proposed bills, legislative bills 39 and 54, introduced respectively by Sens. Carol Blood and Terrell McKinney, legislators may have to provide to the Executive Board, if requested, with disability and racial impact statements. According to McKinney, such a change would advance Nebraska's value of "Equality before the Law."

"We must ensure that we pass legislation with all Nebraskans in mind," continued McKinney. During a hearing last Friday, dozens of supporters took to the floor in support of LB 39. including Kathy Hoell, a resident of Papillion, who said lawmakers often pass legislation with "little or no consideration" for those with disabilities. "Our community is very frustrated with able-bodied people making decisions with no consideration of the repercussions," finished Hoell.

Another large group of supporters testified in support of McKinney's LB 54, and many proponents argued that the bill, if passed, would help certain racial populations get more recognition from the Legislature. Jasmine Harris, director of public policy and advocacy at RISE in Omaha, also said that LB 54 would help identify disparities in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. 

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FORMER NORFOLK SENATOR TO FILL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA REGENTS SEAT

LINCOLN- Governor Pillen has appointed former State Senator Jim Scheer to replace Pillen's seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Scheer will sit in the District 3 seat across northeast Nebraska. Scheer is a Norfolk native and resident. Scheer will only serve the remaining portion of Pillen's term, extending until 2024.

"Jim is a public servant who will work to grow the University of Nebraska," Pillen said in a press release. "He believes in educational excellence, the importance of agriculture and fiscal conservative leadership." Scheer served two terms in the Legislature from 2013 to 2021. He was elected speaker in 2017. Previously, he served on the Norfolk school board and as the mayor of Norfolk. Between 2004 and 2008, he was on the Nebraska State Board of Education and served as the board president in 2011 and 2012.

Scheer is a graduate of the University and now owns and insurance agency as well auto part stores. The Board of Regents has eight members elected by district to six-year terms. The board next meets on Feb. 10. Pillen has now made two prominent appointments to major roles after appointing Former Governor Ricketts to the U.S. Senate in January.

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MATT MILTENBERGER WILL HEAD RICKETTS' SENATE STAFF

LINCOLN- After 8 years with the Governor, Matt Miltenberger will follow Senator Ricketts to D.C. and be his chief of staff. Senator Ricketts announced his staff this week and made sure to note that he is especially appreciative when it comes to the work Miltenberger has done in the past and is excited to see what the pair does in the future.

Prior to serving in the governor's office, Miltenberger was campaign manager for Ricketts when he was elected governor in 2014 and he subsequently managed the governor's transition efforts. Miltenberger has worked on multiple campaigns prior to Ricketts, and announced that he looks forward to the work that they will complete in Washington.

Alyssa Burleson, who was a member of former Sen. Ben Sasse's staff and has nine years of experience in Washington, will be deputy chief of staff for Ricketts. Joanna Rodriguez was named communications director and Paul Guaglianone will be legislative director.

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PILLEN TAX-CUT IDEAS WIN SUPPORT OF BUSINESS GROUPS, PROMPT CRITICISM FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGES

LINCOLN- Senator Linehan answered questions pertaining to her bill LB754. Under the bill, top individual and corporate income tax rates would be gradually reduced to 3.99% by tax year 2027. A second pair of bills, LB 804 and 806, would accelerate phased-in income tax cuts passed last year, allowing the reductions to 5.84% to go into effect in 2024 instead of 2027. Those two bills would presumably be supplanted by LB 754 if it passed.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said the state has more than a $2 billion surplus of state tax funds and needs to return that to Nebraska taxpayers in the form of lower tax rates. “It is imperative that we improve our tax climate so it is more welcoming for current and future Nebraskans,” Linehan said.

LB 783, introduced by Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman on behalf of the governor, would shift financing of Nebraska’s community colleges from property taxes and onto state sales and income taxes, as the University of Nebraska system is funded. A parade of community college administrators, board members and students opposed the legislation, expressing doubt that the state would live up to its funding commitment.

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PILLEN PLAN TO SHIFT VALUATION OF AG LAND GETS STATIC, EVEN FROM FARM GROUPS

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to relieve property taxes paid by farmers and ranches got a rough reception Friday, even from some farm groups.

The head of the state’s largest agriculture group, the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said Pillen’s plan to shift the valuation method from being based on recent sales of land to its production capability — as is done in Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas — needs more work to avoid increasing taxes.

“There is a sense that this isn’t ready for prime time,” said Mark McHargue, a Central City farmer and president of the Farm Bureau.

McHargue joined representatives of the Nebraska Farmers Union and a handful of school groups in saying that such a complicated, and momentous, change needs more discussion.

For one, McHargue said, making sure farmers and ranchers are “held harmless” and don’t see unintended tax increases is essential.

Under Legislative Bill 820, the Agriculture Valuation Fairness Act, the state would change the way it values agricultural land from the current market approach — which is based on recent sales of nearby ag land — to basing it on the productivity and income-producing potential of the land. A committee of five people would be formed to devise how land would be valued on its income-producing potential. Under the bill, statewide increases in valuations of ag land would be capped at 3.5% a year.

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BATTLE OVER PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS SCHOLARSHIPS RETURNS TO LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN — The annual battle over whether to devote public funds to private schools was renewed Friday at the Nebraska Legislature, with testimony extending into the evening.

Nebraska is one of only two states that doesn’t allow “school choice” by extending public state funds to private schools. Backers of parochial and private schools said Friday that the state should provide tax credits for donations to private school scholarships to help families have that choice.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan sponsored LB753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act. The bill, Linehan’s fifth attempt at the idea, includes a new provision this year, one that seeks to prioritize the scholarships for low-income families and for children with special needs or those who have experienced bullying.

Opponents said that LB 753 creates a more generous tax break for donors to such scholarships than for other causes and that about 70% of such aid benefits current – and not additional — private school students.

“If you want to help children, fully fund public schools,” said Williams, voicing a comment repeated by several opponents of the bill. They included Superintendent Cheryl Logan of the Omaha Public Schools and former State Sen. Brenda Council.

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NEBRASKA'S RESURRECTED PERMITLESS CONCEALED CARRY BILL CONTINUES SEEING DIVIDED PUBLIC OPINION

LINCOLN- In the latest attempt to allow residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit, the bill continued to see a split in opinion from Nebraskans. The hearing for LB77 had dozens of testifiers that waited in lengthy lines to share their opinion on allowing Nebraskans over age 21 to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

The hearing began at 1:30 PM and finished around 6:15 PM. There were dozens of in-person testifiers and hundreds of letters in both support and opposition. Currently in Nebraska, getting a concealed-carry permit requires passing a criminal background check, paying a $100 fee and taking an eight- to 16-hour gun safety class.

Brewer argued at the hearing that the fee prevents some Nebraskans from seeking a permit. He said that while he believes training is “essential” for gun owners, he doesn’t think it should be mandatory. He said multiple neighboring states have passed similar measures. “We’re not trying to make Nebraska a pioneer in this,” Brewer said. Similar legislation was brought last year, but failed in a filibuster by opposing senators.

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DEBATE IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE FORESHADOWS FIGHT OVER PROPOSED 6-WEEK ABORTION BAN

LINCOLN- A known debate that will reach the Nebraska legislature was foreshadowed this week amongst the body. Senator Hunt had filed a motion that would have recommitted the abortion bill (LB626) to the Judiciary committee rather than the Health and Human Services Committee. This prompted a 2-day heated debate that surely foreshadows what is to come.

The vote to recommit barely failed as party lines were very evident. Changing committees would have slowed down the forward progress of LB626, but it would not have stopped it in all. The bill would prohibit abortions after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, with narrow exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the woman. Physicians who violate the ban would be subject to losing their professional licenses.

The HHS Committee has four Republicans to three Democrats, while the Judiciary Committee has four of each, meaning the bill probably would have stalled there. But abortion rights opponents could have used another procedural motion to pull the bill out of committee to the full Legislature. Senators argued that the injury to doctors in the bill falls under Judiciary jurisdiction.

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THINK TANK SAYS PILLEN EDUCATION, TAX INCENTIVES WOULD 'QUICKLY DRAIN' STATE COFFERS IF ENACTED

LINCOLN- Last week, newly-elected Gov. Pillen announced his plan to bolster state education and offer tax incentives and state aid to K-12 schools. However, according to the OpenSky Policy Institute, which worked alongside the Insitute on Taxation and Economic Policy to release a report on Pillen's changes, the plan the Governor laid out would "quickly" drain Nebraska's $1.9 billion state revenue surplus. 

The report went on to detail that Pillen's plan might force the state to tap into its "rainy day" cash reserves, which are usually carefully used for one-time expenditures during times of economic recession, not long-term commitments. "To ensure our state's future fiscal health, it will be important for policymakers this session to prudently use the projected $1.9 billion on proven initiatives that empower hardworking Nebraskans to support their families and their communities," said the report. 

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Legislature's Revenue Committee, questioned how the initiatives could be analyzed before the Governor's budget has been introduced, which is set to happen on Wednesday. "We have over $2 billion in extra funding," said Linehan, "which clearly means that we are taxing people too much. To say that we shouldn't cut taxes shows a total disregard for the taxpayers."

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ADVOCATES SAY RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS FOR FELONS WOULD IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY

LINCOLN- Following the introduction of Senator Justin Wayne's legislative bill 20, which seeks to restore voting rights to felons after they've completed their sentences, advocates came together last Friday to in support of the change, saying that it's the first step in removing a "punitive" stigma and improving public safety. Currently, around 20,000 Nebraskans cannot vote because they are serving time in prison, are on parole for a felony crime, or have not waited the two-year period to regain their right to vote.

During a press conference sponsored by the Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, Sen. Wayne stated that "People who are engaged are less likely to reoffend." Demetrius Gatson, a representative from the ACLU, similarly defended the restoration of voting rights by saying, under the current system, "It's taxation without representation." LR4CA, introduced by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, is similar to Sen. Wayne's bill, but would instead eliminate entirely the clause that requires convicted felons to lose their voting rights. 

Nicole Porter, senior director of advocacy for The Sentencing Project, outlined the fact that over 4.6 million felony-convicted Americans are currently not allowed to vote. The Voting Rights Restoration Coalition is made up of 28 smaller organizations, including the ACLU, Black Votes Matter, the NAACP, and Civic Nebraska. 

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BILL AIMS TO PROTECT FARMERS FROM NUISANCE LAWSUITS, RESTRICTING WHO CAN FILE AND WHEN

LINCOLN- The Nebraska "right to farm" law has a proposed revision in the Nerbaska legislature. Under LB662, introduced by State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, only landowners who live within a half-mile of agricultural operation, and only those nearby landowners who have a majority interest in their land, could file nuisance lawsuits against an ag operation.

In addition, such lawsuits would have to be filed within one year,  rather than within two years as in the current law. Lawsuits would be disallowed if an operation was utilizing “commonly accepted” practices and was in “material compliance” with applicable laws and regulations. This comes as protections for farmers are being condemned by environmentalists. 

The proposal “eviscerates having nuisance laws,” according to Jonathan Leo, an environmental lawyer who lives in Omaha. “The bill effectively shuts down almost all public and private nuisance lawsuits against ‘agricultural operations,’ ” Leo said. Ballard said the bill was inspired by concerns raised by large-scale chicken farms in his district.

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OMAHA STREETCAR DEBATE ROLLS INTO THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Omaha has already given the go to the streetcar through Downtown Omaha. Senator Lou Ann Linehan has different plans with legislation ready to block it. Among streetcar-related bills introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn is a call for the city or its streetcar authority to cover costs of gas and water utility work necessary to build the city-driven rail system. 

Such language takes aim at a current conflict between officials of the city and the Metropolitan Utilities District over who should foot the bill for an estimated $20.5 million of utility line relocation and reinforcement needed. Another Linehan bill calls for a restriction in tax-increment financing, a statewide development tool she believes has become overused, in some cases abused. TIF is the key revenue source in paying off debt for Omaha’s modern-day streetcar system. 

Linehan said she appreciates what the streetcar will do for Omaha. But the streetcar venture has financial implications beyond Omaha, said Linehan, chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee. She thinks more airing is needed and looks forward to learning more during public hearings in the State Capitol. 

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SENATOR SAYS STUDENTS BECOME MORE 'ENGAGED' WHEN INVOLVED IN SCHOOL POLICIES, POLL WORK

LINCOLN- Senator Dungan of Lincoln claims that civic engagement amongst high school students would increase if there was a program that had them work at polling places. Under LB225 students ages 16 and older could also fulfill their civics graduation requirement by working a shift as a poll worker and then writing about it.

The senator said the bill would help address a shortage of poll workers and would foster civic engagement by students. One supporter, Heidi Uhing of Civic Nebraska, said the proposal was part of a national trend to “broaden student participation” in civic affairs. Another supporter cited a recent Tufts University report that found students are inspired to become more involved in civics activities when they see other youths in leadership roles. 

Dungan said his proposal would leave it up to local school boards on how to select students for their civics subcommittee. Currently, students can satisfy their civics requirement in one of three days: take the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Test; attend a public meeting and write about it; do a project on a person or persons commemorated in a national holiday.

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STATE SENATOR TOUTS USING MILITARY VETERANS TO HELP ADDRESS 'CRISIS' IN TEACHER SHORTAGE

LINCOLN- As many know, the teacher shortage is increasing and poses a major threat to the future of education. Senator Ben Hansen has a solution to help aid that problem with LB188. The bill places veterans with mentors who would be assigned to help them work with students. Veterans would have to pass a test on the subject they would teach before they could enter the classroom.

“This bill fits the time,” Hansen said of his proposal. “It’s not just a teacher shortage, it’s a crisis now.” Hansen’s bill ran into a wall of opposition from past and present teachers, some with military backgrounds, during a public hearing before the Legislature’s Education Committee. Many pointed out that the training of soldiers and children is not the same.

Nicole Hochstein, an Air Force veteran, a former special education teacher and now a substitute teacher, said that even after obtaining her degree in education and her experience in student teaching, she felt unprepared when she finally got into the classroom full time. “We are essentially saying anyone off the streets can teach,” Hochstein said, of LB 188.

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PILLEN LEANS INTO 'OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS' DEBATE

LINCOLN- During a Tuesday press conference, newly-elected Gov. Pillen expressed interest in adopting a school choice model for Nebraska, saying that, "We are the last of two states...that don't have school choice. It is a really critical, fundamental thing that's got to happen in Nebraska." Pillen outlined his support for Sen. Linehan's LB753, which would provide up to $25 million a year in income tax credits for "opportunity scholarships" for families that need financial help to attend private schools. 

During the conference, Pillen also stated that, as he built his budget, he made sure to leave room for the "school choice" bill. If passed LB753's dollar-for-dollar tax credit would allow donors to reduce up to half of their income tax liability each year. Linehan, who has 30 co-sponsors on the bill, said Tuesday that "there's nothing more important to a parent than to be able to do the very best for their kid."

However, a good deal of criticism has targeted Linehan's bill, and Gov. Pillen's plan to adopt it. Dunixi Guereca, executive director of Nebraska Stand for Schools, said Linehan's LB753 is more of a tax break for the wealthy than a way to help private education. Guereca went on to state that the contents of the bill are an "out-of-state idea," not tailored to Nebraska's needs. 

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NEBRASKA STATE SENATOR PROPOSES LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PET INSURANCE

LINCOLN- Two weeks ago, newly-appointed Sen. Beau Ballard introduced LB296, formally titled the 'Pet Insurance Act', which would establish a legal framework in Nebraska for the policies and consumer protections for pet insurance, a growing industry in the country. Last year, The North American Pet Health Insurance Association reported that the industry exceeded $2.83 billion in value, growing 30% from the previous year. 

The consumer protections outlined in the bill mirror those of health insurance policies, and require insurers to disclose certain services, tell insurees about any waiting periods, and how a pet's preexisting conditions may impact insurance prices. Ballard said that he adopted a cocker spaniel, Cosmo, last year, and told the Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee that, if Cosmo needed care, Ballard would have to decide whether or not to pay the high costs associated with pet care. 

"Much like other things in life, veterinarian costs are skyrocketing," said Ballard, "and this type of insurance provides a little bit of ease on consumers that they can get some insurance and then pay for those unexpected occurrences."  Michelle Muirhead, assistant vice president at Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, said her company began offering pet insurance in August of 2022. Muirhead emphasized the importance of such a bill, saying that it will give pet owners the ability to pay for the medical treatment their veterinarian recommends, not just what they can afford on a given day. 

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MEASURES SEEK TO CHANGE NEBRASKA'S NEW VOTER-APPROVED MINIMUM WAGE PROVISIONS

LINCOLN- Just months after Nebraska voters approve a minimum wage hike schedule, two state senators have introduced bills to try to change the projected course. One of these bills, LB15 introduced by Sen. Tom Briese, would allow employers to pay less than the minimum wage to workers under the age of 20. Briese's bill would allow employers to pay youth workers, ages 14 to 17, $9 an hour until 2026, when it would increase to $10. 

Briese emphasized that this change was made to benefit small businesses, and said that employers would still be free to pay youths more if they choose. "As legislators, we can't allow provisions like this to force mom-and-pop stores out of business," said Sen. Briese. Another bill, LB327 introduced by Sen, Jane Raybould, would tweak the voter-approved motion to adjust the minimum wage each year after 2026 in accordance with inflation and the cost of living. 

As proposed, Raybould's bill would hold post-2026 annual minimum wage bumps to either 1.5%, or lower depending on the cost of living. A concern that prompted Raybould to introduce LB327 was that annual wage increases after 2026 were "not well defined." State Sen. Danielle Conrad stated that she will go the distance to stop both bills, claiming that they are attempts to "undercut the will of the people as expressed in the 2022 citizen initiative."

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MEASURE TO REPEAL MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW IN NEBRASKA RETURNS TO LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Under current Nebraska law, and since 1989, all motorcyclists are required to wear helmets while on the road. However, under a bill proposed by State Sen. Ben Hansen, LB91, riders may be able to do away with their helmet if they are over the age of 21 and have completed a basic safety certification course. 

According to Hansen, his bill would still keep Nebraska as one of the most restrictive states in the region when it comes to helmets, but will give riders over a certain age the freedom to make a personal choice about their own safety. "I would personally wear a helmet and would encourage everyone else to wear one," Hasen told the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, "But this is a risk they are free to take."

Backers of the proposed bill believe that current statute denies them a freedom granted by other states around the country, and argued that some motorcyclists avoid traveling through Nebraska so as to not be burdened by the law. Former State Sen. Dave Bloomfield, who fought for similar measures in past years, argued that Nebraska is losing out on thousands of riders who might stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and spend their money in the state. 

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NEBRASKA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TICKS UPWARDS AS NATIONAL RATE DROPS SLIGHTLY

LINCOLN- According to a report released by the Nebraska Department of Labor, private industry jobs, like construction and hospitality, have seen the greatest job growth when compared to other fields. Labor Commissioner John Albin said Tuesday that Nebraska has seen "the largest December to December growth since 1984" over the past year. Nebraska's unemployment rate for December 2022 was 2.6%, up slightly from 2.5% the month before and 2.3% last December. 

While Nebraska's unemployment rate saw a slight increase, the national gross rate has fallen every so slightly from 3.6% to 3.5%. One year ago, the national average sat at 3.9%. The report released Tuesday indicated that around 1.03 million Nebraskans are employed, and private industries saw the most growth, with fields like economics, manufacturing, transportation, and utilities seeing the biggest uptick.

When comparing certain fields this past December, construction and mining saw about 6,500 jobs be added, hospitality and leisure saw around 5,000, and trades saw a 4,000 job boost since last December. The data collected by the Labor Department come from surveys conducted by the Census Bureau. 

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