MARIJUANA BILL PALOOZA IN THE UNICAMERAL LEADS WITH MEDICAL PUSH

LINCOLN- Senator Wishart has been pushing for medical marijuana in Nebraska nearly her entire time in office. LB588 was before the Judiciary Committee on Thursday where Senator Wishart said, "We will go back to the ballot if this fails." If all signatures were collected, the initiative would place medical marijuana on the ballot in a presidential election year.

Wishart’s LB 588 would legalize medical marijuana to treat a specific list of illnesses and medical conditions, including chronic pain, brain injuries, seizures, autism, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease and PTSD. It would allow for six medical cannabis stores, three per congressional district, and all would have to contract with a registered Nebraska pharmacist, she said.

The bill received the majority of testimony in the proponent category. The handful of opponents who testified against LB 588 included new Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon. The Committee also heard LB22 and LB634, which aim to decriminalize marijuana and allow for the growth and distribution of the drug.

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BILL PROVIDING STATE TAX CREDITS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL 'OPPORTUNITY' SCHOLARSHIPS ADVANCES

LINCOLN- The fight over private schools receiving public funds will see another day in the Nebraska Legislature as it successfully passes out of committee. The bill would set aside at least $25 million a year in taxpayer funds for tax credits for donations toward private school scholarships, and was advanced on a 6-2 vote.

Senator Linehan feels confident she will be able to get the bill passed this year despite multiple failures in the past. Currently, Linehan has 31 cosponsors on the bill, she is 2 short of the 33 needed. One of the two votes against was from Senator Bostar. He went on to suggest that the bill be amended to allow the same tax credit for donations to public school foundations. Linehan said she was not opposed to that, but it was not included in the bill that was advanced.

Committee amendments to the bill changed the maximum amount of the tax cut would be $25 million a year for the first two years, rising to a maximum of $100 million if all the tax credit funds were being used. Second, an individual or business could get up to a $100,000 tax credit per year, which would be up to half of their total state income tax liability. Estates or trusts could donate up to $1 million a year.

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STATE INVESTMENT COUNCIL LOOKS AT SHIFTING BUSINESS FROM BLACKROCK AS INVESTMENT ADVISER

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Investment Council heard presentations from multiple investment managing groups this week as the council considers shifting Nebraska's adviser. This all comes as some investment firms, and primarily BlackRock, have come under fire for allegedly prioritizing divestment in fossil fuels in favor of investments in green energy and firms with emission goals.

Nebraska State Treasurer John Murante, a non-voting member of the Investment Council, has suggested that BlackRock is advancing a “left-wing agenda.” Attorney General Mike Hilhers picked up where Doug Peterson left off in criticizing the practice of environmental, social and governance investing.

The Council heard presentations from BlackRock and their competitor Vanguard. Gail Werner-Robertson, an Omaha businesswoman who chairs the Investment Council, said that the board plans more study before making any changes in the management of the state’s investments.

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PROPOSED STATE BROADBAND OFFICE TOUTED AS MORE EFFECTIVE, CREATIVE IN CLOSING 'DIGITAL DIVIDE'

LINCOLN- A Transportation and Telecommunication Committee hearing held on Tuesday revealed what many in the state call the 'digital divide,' where at least 80,000-90,000 mostly rural locations still lack broadband internet service. To help alleviate this issue, Gov. Jim Pillen proposed the creation of a new state broadband office, headed by the Public Service Commission, that would help state funds reach previously uncovered areas.

Under Gov. Pillen's plan, a state broadband director and nine other staff would be housed within the Nebraska Department of Transportation with a proposed cost of $1.7 million a year. The State Broadband office would be tasked with determining exactly how many unserved farms and homes lie in Nebraska, and dole out funds accordingly.

Emily Haxby, a Gage County supervisor, said, "This is a good policy. It's good to see the governor recognize how important broadband is to the state." Representatives of the AARP, the League of Nebraska Municipalities, and the Nebraska Farm Bureau testified in favor of Pillen's plan, which was contained in LB683 and heard in Tuesday's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee hearing.

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PILLEN PROPOSES $5 MILLION FOR MENTORING CHILDHOOD LITERACY PUSH

LINCOLN- Governor Pillen has proposed a new grant program to help long-established, youth-focused organizations recruit mentors for thousands of kids. The grant program would be funded by tax dollars with a recurring $5 million dollar fund. “The goal is simple,” Pillen said. “It takes resources to be able to keep recruiting people. We have to do more. … We’re trying to make sure every Nebraskan recognizes they, as a mentor, get a 10-to-1 return by becoming a mentor and get businesses to encourage it.”

Pillen said only one extra hour of reading a week is needed to boost proficiency by 25-30%. “Every kid doesn’t need a mentor, but every kid in Nebraska deserves a mentor,” Pillen said. “Who’s out there from the Greatest Generation that’s retired and (can) go and start reading to first-, second- and third-graders and … help them make sure that they can be proficient?”

The grants would be available to organizations that have offered mentoring services for at least 15 years. Nine organizations participating in Pillen’s news conference Monday would qualify, including 100 Black Men of Omaha and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Melissa Mayo of Mentor Nebraska said that Nebraskans who know the challenges facing young people can help confront social issues and divides that feel “monumental and insurmountable.”

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SENATORS SEEKING $200 MILLION DESIGNATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO START DEVELOPING NEW WATER SOURCE FOR LINCOLN

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, State Sen. Eliot Bostar introduced LB506, a bill that would allow the state to request federal funding to begin building a second water source for the city of Lincoln. The introduction of LB506 came just a day after Lincoln's Water Source Advisory Council issued a recommendation that Lincoln build a new municipal wellfield along the Missouri River and between Omaha and Nebraska City. 

Currently, Lincoln pipes most of its water from wellfields along the Platte River near Ashland, but a new source is expected to allow Lincoln to support further population growth of up to 400,000 people and sustain the city's needs through 2075. The estimated cost of such an endeavor is expected to be around $1.4 billion, and could take between 15 and 20 years to complete. Sen. Bostar's bill specifically requests that $200 million in federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery funds be appropriated to begin the project. 

The bill, if passed, would also require the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to award a grant to the city of Lincoln by September 30th to pay for a water treatment plant. Bostar outlined that, if the bill were not to pass, the city of Lincoln would have to exercise its right to water from the Platte River, which would likely affect upstream irrigators.

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NEBRASKA STATE EMPLOYEES UNION RATIFIES NEW LABOR CONTRACT CONTAINING HIGHEST SALARY INCREASES IN 35 YEARS

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Association of Public Employees represents over 8,000 employees in the state. On Tuesday, the Association announced that they signed a new two-year contract with the state, allowing union members to receive raises ranging from 10% to 27% starting in July. NAPE Director Justin Hubly stated that these were the highest salary increases state employees have received since the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act was passed in 1987. 

Starting in July, minimum salaries will increase by either 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% based on job classification. Additionally, employees who had adequate performance evaluations in 2022 will automatically advance two steps on the salary schedule, which equates to an increase of 7% to 22%.

On July 1st, 2024, minimum salaries will increase by an additional 2%, and again, members who performed adequately during upcoming 2023 evaluations will advance three steps on the salary schedule. Previously, NAPE members said raising wages was their top priority for 2023, since many state employees are struggling to make ends meet.

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MIRCH APPOINTED TO FILL OMAHA-AREA VACANCY ON PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

LINCOLN- An Omaha attorney and familiar place in the political world has been appointed to the Nebraska Public Service vacancy. Mirch, a former Omaha police officer, fills the opening left when Crystal Rhoades, an Omaha Democrat, was elected in November to serve as the Douglas County Clerk of the District Court. Governor Pillen said Mirch, "understands the future of Nebraska."

Mirch worked 10 years with the Omaha Police Department before earning his law degree from Creighton University School of Law. He still works part-time as a police officer in a small community. He ran unsuccessfully for the Nebraska Legislature in November, being outpolled by incumbent State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh in central Omaha’s District 6.

All five members of the PSC are now Republican after Mirch’s appointment. Commissioners are paid $75,000 a year. The commission regulates telecommunications carriers, major oil pipelines, railroad safety, passenger carriers and grain warehouses, among its responsibilities.

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PROPOSAL SLAMMED TO TRANSFER $14 MILLION FROM ENVIROMENTAL TRUST TO WATER FUND

LINCOLN- If you were to read deeply into Governor Pillen's new budget proposal, you would find a plan to divert $14 million from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to a state agency’s water resources fund. This is being referred to as "mockery" of the trust's intent. The trust was set up as an aid to environmental projects, not a piggy bank, says former politician Don Nelson. 

Officials with the Friends of the Environmental Trust and the Sierra Club of Nebraska also slammed the idea, questioning whether the recent disapproval of several grant requests by the Trust cleared the way for the transfer, and if the fund shift was legal. “There were a lot of proposals this year that deserved the Trust’s funds and didn’t get a fair shake,” said Sandy Scofield, a former state senator now with the Friends group. 

Lee Will, the state budget administrator under Gov. Jim Pillen, rejected the idea that any “conspiracy” to deny grants so that Trust funds — which come from the state lottery — could be used to finance tax cuts proposed by the governor. Will pointed out that the state has a $1.9 billion fund surplus that is allowing the tax reductions, so the $14 million being transferred from the Trust was inconsequential.

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UNION OMAHA FRANCHISE EYES NEW SOCCER STADIUM, AND LEGISLATURE IS ASKED TO PITCH IN FINANCIALLY

LINCOLN- The Omaha-based soccer team Union Omaha has plans for a new soccer stadium in north downtown Omaha. The stadium is expected to come with a price tag of $100 million and will be surrounded by new housing, a hotel, and entertainment options. State Senator Mike McDonnell has introduced a bill (LB621), asking for $50 million in state funds to make the project come to life. 

In a hearing of the bill earlier this week, Union Omaha President Martie Cordaro laid out the plan for the stadium to senators. The stadium would accommodate around 10,000 fans. McDonnell said the stadium project was considered — but not ultimately chosen — to be among the recommended slate of groups to share about $225 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding headed to North and South Omaha. The bill asks for the money to be provided from the state cash reserves. 

The 2021 USL League One champion has been searching for a new stadium site for around a year now. Currently, the team shares Werner Park with the Omaha Storm Chasers. The proposed stadium would open up the growth of Union Omaha and help increase the tier of competition. Mr. Cordaro said the expansion also opens up doors to additions such as a women's soccer team and youth training academy.

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COVID-19 CASES TICK UP IN LINCOLN; NEBRASKA NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE

LINCOLN- The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department reported 157 official cases last week, five more than the previous week. This is the first increase in Lincoln since the week of December 17th. However, despite the increase, Covid-19 cases in Nebraska have leveled off. Similarly, the number of Covid-19 related hospitalizations have declined slightly, with only 31 last week compared to 35 the week before. 

The Health Department also noted that wastewater sampling showed a significant increase in virus particles last week, and Health Director Pat Lopez announced the first local case of Covid-19 caused by the highly contagious XBB.1.5 subvariant. "As of now, our key indicators remain fairly stable. This newer variant is still spreading in the state and nationwide, but not as fast as anticipated," said Lopez.

Lopez confirmed that the Covid-19 risk dial in Nebraska will remain in the low yellow range for the second-straight week. Although XBB.1.5 has yet to catch on in Nebraska, only accounting for an estimated 4% of positive cases, it is expected to become more prevalent over time. 

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TEACHER SHORTAGE WORSENING ACROSS NEBRASKA, STATE REPORT SAYS

LINCOLN- According to a survey released by the Nebraska Department of Education, the teacher shortage plaguing the state has gotten worse over the past year. Compared to last year, according to the survey, the number of reported unfilled teaching jobs across the state is up nearly 60% over last year. Currently, special education teachers remain in the highest demand, and elementary education, career education, and language arts slots are proving hard to fill as well.

"You look at a one-year snapshot, and you see a number of vacancies, and that's concerning," said John Spatz, executive director of the Nebraska Association of School Board, "But, really, I look at the trend line, The trend line is what's concerning." Public and nonpublic schools all around the state reported a total of 768 unfilled positions at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, up substantially from the 482 unfilled positions reported last year. 

Spatz indicated that there's growing interest in Nebraska for pulling together lawmakers and higher education leaders to develop a long-term plan to address the shortage. "At some point, we've got to figure out a way to get more people into the profession and into school districts," said Spatz. According to the survey, the most common reason stated for positions going unfilled was that no one applied for the job at all. 

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SCOTT CORDES NAMED NEBRASKA'S NEW FIRE MARSHAL

LINCOLN- Following an announcement from Gov. Pillen last week confirming that Shane Hunter, due to serious personal health issues, was stepping down as fire marshal, Pillen announced last Friday that Scott Cordes will take over the job. 

"Scott will work hard to cut regulatory burdens on our volunteer fire departments and paramedics," said Pillen, "He understands we need to help volunteers so they can continue to protect their communities without red tape and unnecessary interference from the state."  Before his promotion to fire marshal, Cordes acted as the administrative department head overseeing all public safety activites for Norfolk, including police, fire, and emergency management. 

Cordes also served previously in the state fire marshal's office as a flammable liquids division inspector and deputy state fire marshal. In total Cordes has worked in the Fire Division for 25 years.

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DEB FISCHER NAMED TO U.S. SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, STAYS ON ARMED SERVICES

WASHINGTON D.C.- Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer has announced that her position remains on the Armed Services Committee, and she will now serve on the Appropriations Committee as well. Normal procedure allows Senators to join only one top-level committee, Senator Fischer has the honor of serving on two of the most respected committees.

The last Nebraska delegation to be seated on an Appropriations committee was now former Representative Jeff Fortenberry. Fischer still also retained her spot on the Agriculture and Commerce Committees which will be drafting a new 5-year farm bill this term. Fischer is the owner of a ranch in Cherry County and has served on the Committee for multiple years. 

Senator Fischer said her committee assignments have helped Nebraskans secure critical resources. Joining the Appropriations Committee, she said, would “make Nebraska even more of a powerhouse in the Senate.” Fischer is gaining seniority on Armed Services, which matters in a state where Offutt Air Force Base is a top national security asset and one of the region’s top economic drivers. 

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CARDIAC-ACTIVITY ABORTION BAN BILL DRAWS HUNDREDS TO NEBRASKA CAPITOL

LINCOLN- Dozens upon dozens of testifiers appeared at the Nebraska Capitol Wednesday as the Health and Human Services Committee prepared to hold its public hearing on LB626, a bill introduced by Sen. Albrecht that would restrict abortions after a heartbeat is detected. Sen. Ben Hansen, the chairman of the committee, allotted three hours of testimony to proponents of the bill, and three hours to opponents. 

Sen. Albrecht called LB626 the most important piece of Legislation considered this session. She went on to state that "we're not talking about women who want to have their baby, we're talking about women who want to not have their baby, elective abortions." Critics, of the bill, including State Sen. Megan Hunt, claimed that the bill does not give enough time for some women to figure out that they are pregnant.

"It's effectively a ban," said Sen. Hunt, "All they need to do is look at our sister states...passing abortion bans, and they can see exactly what we can expect." Many proponents of the bill argued that fetuses are not just "clumps of cells in the womb," and one supporter, Anna Olson, said that "these babies are not choices, they are children worthy of protection.

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NEBRASKA VOTER ID BILL REVISED BEFORE LENGTHY PUBLIC HEARING THAT DRAWS MOSTLY FOES

LINCOLN- Among the points that drew fire on Wednesday's public hearing for Sen. Slama's LB535, a bill to establish voter ID laws in Nebraska, was an amendment made that calls for all mail-in voters to notarize their ballot before sending it. Jaden Perkins, of the Heartland Workers Center, said that the bill is "full of flaws and bureaucratic B.S."

While critics dominated the legislative hearing, around a dozen proponents spoke on the bill, saying that passing Sen. Slama's bill would put Nebraska in line with 35 other states that require IDs for voting. Sen. Slama agreed, saying, "It is important that we ensure all eligible voters in Nebraska have access to the necessary identification. It is also important that everyone who has a right to vote can vote."

Secretary of State Bob Evnen joined other proponents of the bill in lauding it, claiming that 90% of all registered Nebraska voters already have a valid photo ID. However, for those that don't have a valid ID, Evnen stated that it's "very important that we address this group." The notary amendment that drew flack was, according to Slama, modeled after a similar law in Missouri.

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PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS LEGISLATION DIVIDES PUBLIC AT NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE HEARING

LINCOLN- Dozens of teachers and parents, proponents and opponents, flooded into the Nebraska Capitol on Tuesday night to speak on LB374, a bill that would allow parents to have more control over what their children learn in schools. Under the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Dave Murman, parents would be able to review all learning materials their children's school uses, and allow them to object to certain materials and lessons.

"Above all else, this bill aims to make clear that every parent is the foremost decision-maker in every child's life," said Murman. The hearing for the bill, which took place in front of the state's Education Committee, stretched on for more than four hours, and over 400 comments were submitted. The bill also prohibits what Sen. Murman called "data mining," which he said refers to questionnaires and surveys schools send out to ask personal questions, such as asking a child to indicate their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

A substantial portion of the opposition to the bill argued that it was introduced to push back against 'critical race theory,' but Sen. Murman refuted these claims, saying that the specific words 'critical race theory' do not appear in the bill. Among the proponents of the bill, the general sentiment was that parents should have the ability and the right to block their children from viewing any material they find inappropriate. 

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BANKERS SAY PROPOSAL ON 'ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE' TOO BROAD, AMENDMENTS NEEDED

LINCOLN- A proposal aimed at preventing the Nebraska State Treasurer from using state funds for "social and political" goals ran into complaints on Monday that it was too vague and intruded too much in banking decisions. Robert Hallstrom, of the Nebraska Bankers Association, told the Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee that banks have traditionally been free to "lend to, invest in, and generally do business with any activity or entity that is legal."

Hallstrom provided amendments to the bill, and discussed them with State Sen. Julie Slama, the introducer of the bill, and Treasurer John Murante. By implementing these amendments, said Hallstrom, the bill would gain the support of the Nebraska Bankers Association. The bill in question, LB67, has been called "woke capitalism" by Treasurer Murante, since it deals with 'environmental, social, and governance goals, a contentious and highly political topic. 

Slama, who chairs the Business Committee, said that taxpayer dollars "should not be used to further political or social agenda," and wants to create neutrality among treasurers with her bill. Murante, who is the past president of the conservative treasurer's organization who claimed that ESG is "woke," said that lawmakers don't need to worry about him utilizing taxpayer funds for ESG purposes. 

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OMAHA WOMEN SAYS 'HEARTBEAT' BILL WOULD INJECT POLITICIANS INTO 'DIFFICULT' PRIVATE DECISIONS

OMAHA- On Tuesday, four women from Omaha shared their traumatic abortion stories, urging Nebraska lawmakers to reject a proposal to further restrict the procedure. "This legislation takes away Nebraskans' ability to control their bodies and their future," said Abby Waller, who had an abortion after doctors told her that her fetus would not survive, "It shouldn't be up to politicians in the statehouse to make personal and private health care decisions."

On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature heard testimony on Sen. Albrecht's LB626, or the Nebraska Heartbeat Act, which would ban abortions once a heartbeat is detected. Many dozens of people testified at the hearing on Wednesday afternoon, and many proponents argued that the bill is a government intrusion into personal health care decisions.

Another person argued that "abortion bans are only going to end safe abortions." Kacie Ware of Omaha, who was abused and raped by an older man while in high school, stated that she believes implementing the heartbeat bill would have prevented her from getting an abortion because many women have to go through time-consuming "judicial bypass" procedures required for a minor to get an abortion.

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EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARS BILL AIMED AT EASING NEBRASKA'S TEACHER SHORTAGE

LINCOLN- The Education Committee heard about the Nebraska teacher shortage from teachers, administrators, and education advocates from all over the state. Public schools reported over 700 absences in teaching positions at the beginning of the school year. This is a 60% increase in vacancies from the 2021-22 school year.

Teachers were supportive of Linehan’s LB385, which would earmark $10 million to offer teachers up to three annual $5,000 incentives to stay on the job through their fourth year. Teachers widely backed Sen. Lynne Walz’s LB519, which would fund their certification fees, retention bonuses and a teaching excellence program and would pay student teachers. State Sen. Carol Blood also offered a bill teachers liked, LB413 would sign Nebraska onto a budding teacher certification compact with other states. 

The only bill educators really opposed over the course of the hearing was LB603. This bill would let certain nonprofits and companies certify teachers outside of colleges. Those opposed pointed to possible watering down of teaching preparation and allowing companies to profit off of the teacher shortage.

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