MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF MEASURES ADVANCE IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Property owners could get an estimated $3 billion worth of property tax relief over the next six years after the Nebraska Legislature's Revenue Committee passed a substantial package of bills. Members of the Committee voted 7-0 to send an amended version of LB243 to the floor of the Legislature, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Briese that combines several measures to increase Nebraska's two property tax credit programs. 

If fully passed, the bill would also cap school property taxes and eliminate all community college property taxes. The package represents the second major piece of Gov. Pillen's tax cut and school aid plan. The Revenue Committee advanced the first package of income tax cuts last week. The last of Pillen's plan, a bill to make changes in state aid to K-12 schools, is currently pending before the Legislature's Education Committee. 

Briese, who has long targeted property taxes with legislation, said this year's property tax package would offer "tax relief for everyday Nebraskans." During a committee hearing, Briese cited estimates showing that LB243 would cut the amount Nebraskans pay in property taxes by the same amount the income tax package is expected to.

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TWO-PERSON TRAIN CREW BILL ON HOLD FOR THIS YEAR IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Last Friday, State Sen. Suzanne Geist, who chairs the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, stated that she does not plan to seek action on LB31 this year, a bill that would require two-person train crews in Nebraska. Geist went on to promise that she would take up the issue again next year, but only if the Federal Railroad Administration does no rule on the issue in the meantime.

Sen. Mike Jacobson, who introduced the bill, was backed by numerous railroad workers, local officials, and varied supporters. All proponents of the bill called it a public safety and worker safety issue. Jacobson cited the recent derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio as a reason for the bill. 

Representatives from Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the two major railroads in Nebraska, opposed LB31, saying the issue should be handled through collective bargaining between the companies and their employee unions. They also said that railroads require the flexibility to go with a one-person crew as technology improves. 

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NEBRASKA DRAG QUEENS, ADVOCATES FIGHT PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT CHILDREN FROM ATTENDING DRAG SHOWS

LINCOLN- A myriad of drag queens and local LGBTQ advocates crowded into the Nebraska Capitol last Friday before a legislative hearing on Sen. Murman's LB371 was set to occur. The bill, which would prohibit minors under the age of 19 from attending drag shows, drew intense scrutiny from drag supporters who argue that the performances are joyful forms of entertainment. 

Under the bill, drag is defined as when a performer entertains while displaying a gender identity different from their sex assigned at birth. An amendment that was recently added to the bill would also classify drag shows as adult entertainment. If passed, anyone who is found to have brought a child to a drag show, including parents, would be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. 

"I have nothing against anyone dressing in drag or participating in drag shows, and I love everyone," Murman told his colleagues during a Judiciary Committee hearing, "But this is about making sure kids are not at drag shows and are not introduced to overly sexual and inappropriate behavior far too early." Sen. Carol Blood, a Judiciary Committee member, expressed concern over the bill, saying that it would also apply to performances of Shakespeare. 

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LEGISLATURE DEBATES WHO SHOULD OVERSEE UP TO $400 MILLION IN NEBRASKA BROADBAND FUNDS

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Nebraska Legislature began debate on LB683, introduced by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, which would remove the Public Service Commission's authority to award $400 million for broadband expansion in underserved areas and instead give that power to a new gubernatorial appointee leading the state broadband office. 

The new state office was created following an executive order in January, and Gov. Jim Pillen said that "affordable, accessible, dependable and high-speed broadband is essential" for the education of Nebraska youth. Several senators from both sides of the aisle, including Sens. Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran, Megan Hunt, and Machaela Cavanaugh, questioned the intent of the bill, and asked why the state would create a new state office rather than add staff to the public service commission.

"This might be a better alternative," Halloran told his colleagues, "The goal would be the same. The results would be the same. But it would be under the Public Service Commission." If passed, the bill would leave the public service commission in control of several smaller grant programs aimed at broadband expansion. Other lawmakers, including Sens. George Dungan and John Cavanaugh, who are both attorneys, worried that a provision in the State Constitution giving authority over "common carriers" to the commission might make LB683 unconstitutional. 

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS CRITICIZE 'ZERO-SUM GAMES' IN LEGISLATURE, LACK OF SUPPORT FOR NORTH OMAHA

LINCOLN- State Sens. Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne, who represent North Omaha, criticized their colleagues for playing what they call "zero-sum games," disallowing important legislation from passing that might help North Omaha. "These zero-sum games from either side have never benefited my community," McKinney told his colleagues, "Because if it did, my community wouldn't be the poorest economically, wouldn't have the poorest educational outcomes, wouldn't have the lowest life expectancy."

Weeks upon weeks of filibusters, largely in opposition to Sen. Kauth's LB574, have slowed the Legislature down to a crawl, causing Wayne and McKinney to express frustration. While both North Omaha senators have gone on record saying they know LB574 will cause harm, they know there are critical issues to address in the state and in North Omaha. 

"You keep telling Black people to wait, we're going to help you," McKinney said, "And when it's time to help, the political will isn't there." LB630, introduced by Sen. McKinney, was prioritized by Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, but was pulled from the agenda after the passage of LB574. Sen. McKinney expressed frustration at this, and stated that he doesn't expect the bill to come up again so long as the filibuster continues. 

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AUDITOR SAY STATE AGENCIES HAD MILLIONS IN 'QUESTIONED' SPENDING OF FEDERAL FUNDS

LINCOLN- A new state audit examined how state agencies used the millions of dollars in pandemic-related funds and if the money was properly used. At least two state agencies disagreed with the audit’s findings and maintained that their spending was justified. “They’re big dollar items, and they should not happen,” said State Auditor Mike Foley on Friday.

$12 million of personnel costs shifted from the state to the feds to cover COVID-19 personnel costs incurred by the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Auditors said the long-standing staffing problem was not caused by Covid. Additionally, About $3.6 million in excessive administration costs were charged to a federal rent- and utility-assistance grant administered by the Nebraska Military Department.

The audit said the state received $158 million in pandemic aid to assist low-income families, of which most was funneled to local governments to spend. The firm, Deloitte & Touche, was hired to administrate the program, and was given up to $14.6 million to do that. The report noted that the state was allowed 10% for administrative costs, or about $6.2 million for the remaining state funds, but that about $9.7 million was spent.

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NEBRASKA EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PICKS A NEW COMMISSIONER WITH A FAMILIAR NAME: MAHER

OMAHA- The Nebraska Board of Education chose Brian Maher, former executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents and a former superintendent in Kearney, Neb.; Utica, Neb.; and Sioux Falls, S.D as the next education commissioner of Nebraska. Maher was confirmed on 5-3 vote which is different from the last two commissioners who were unanimously approved.

Maher’s supporters — Patsy Koch Johns, Lisa Fricke, Patti Gubbels, Jacquelyn Morrison and Deb Neary — applauded his experience leading schools and education bureaucracies. “You could see that he was very, very experienced,” Koch Johns said. “Very careful and very calm … that’s something in Nebraska we need right now.”

Board members voting no — Elizabeth Tegtmeier, Kirk Penner and Sherry Jones — said they preferred a different candidate and questioned the fairness of the hiring process. “I find it interesting that this candidate is a longtime colleague of one of our consultants,” Tegtmeier said. Maher knows Joel from his time as a Nebraska superintendent.

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NEBRASKANS BELIEVE LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE STATE

OMAHA- According to a recent survey created by Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids, a partnership of community-based organizations that aim to build support for early childhood education, many registered voters in Nebraska believe the state lacks quality, affordable child care. Nearly three-quarters of respondents indicated that this is a serious problem facing the state, on par with concerns about crime and the cost of housing. 

"The extent of the crisis was worse than we anticipated and the findings show that Nebraskans really want solutions," said Kara Ficke, the campaign manager of We Care for Kids. Ficke expressed hope that the survey results will help highlight this issue and show that child care struggles are not isolated to just one part of the state. 

According to findings from both organizations, around 91% of counties in Nebraska with child care facilities do not have enough available facilities to meet parents' demands. 84% of respondents in the survey also indicated that Nebraska should support child care and early learning like it does K-12 schools and high education institutions.

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NEBRASKA GOP NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AFTER 9-MONTH VACANCY

LINCOLN- After operating for almost nine months without an executive director, the Nebraska Republican Party named one of its own to fill the role. Dawn Liphardt was chosen as the new executive director during a state central committee and executive committee meeting last weekend, according to party chair Eric Underwood, who was also reelected as chair during the two-day event after facing no challenges. 

Underwood had worked previously with Liphardt in his role as chair of the Lancaster County GOP, and brought her on as the state party's office administrator and statewide county coordinator. Liphardt had also served under Underwood during last year's tumultuous state party convention, which ousted the former chair and led to a mass exodus of party leadership. 

During that event, the party's previous executive director, Taylor Gage, resigned, leaving the position vacant for the past nine months. Following this, Underwood stated that he wanted to focus on the upcoming November elections, and not on electing a new executive director. However, during that contentious time, Liphardt assumed many of the responsibilities held by the executive director, which, according to Underwood, made her election to the position very easy. "It just made sense to put her in that position," said Underwood. 

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NEBRASKA HOSPITALS STRUGGLING FINANCIALY, WITH MOST OPERATING IN THE RED LAST YEAR, OFFICIALS SAY

LINCOLN- The increased costs of labor and supplies, and a failure of Medicaid and Medicare to fully reimburse services were the two main stressors on the state's hospital systems. Over half of the states hospitals operated in the red in 2022 and 2023 is expected to be no different. This has prompted cutbacks, service eliminations, and threats of closure for smaller rural hospitals. 

“This trend is very concerning. The current economic model for hospitals is simply not sustainable,” said Summer Owen, CEO of Great Plains Health in North Platte. Bryce Brackle, vice president of finance for Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, said his hospital sustained an $18.6-million loss in 2022 and is projecting another year of red ink in 2023. 

The Nebraska Hospital Association listed four factors for financial stress:

1. Labor challenges, including an exodus of employees during the high stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

2. Workforce costs have risen 26.8% since 2020.

3. Inflation. Medical supply costs are up 25.4%, and drug costs have risen 42.5%.

4. Reimbursement rates for patients on Medicaid and Medicare, which haven’t kept up, with the average loss for Medicaid care of 60%.

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NEBRASKA GOV. PILLEN NOT RELEASING EVENT SCHEDULE, CRITICIZED FOR LACK OF ACCESS, ACCOUNTABILITY

LINCOLN- Nebraska's newly-elected Gov. Jim Pillen is breaking more than 30 years of gubernatorial practice by not releasing information about his public schedule. During the ten weeks since Gov. Pillen and Lt. Gov. Kelly took their oaths of office, the administration has not yet provided schedules for either official. Inquiries about the lack of schedules have, allegedly, yielded silence or incomplete information from both offices. 

Previously, and for the past 30 years, the governor of Nebraska has released a schedule and provided advance notice of press conferences, speaking engagements, participation on public boards, and appearances at ribbon cuttings and Husker football games. The schedules also indicated when the governor expected to be out of town, leaving the lieutenant governor in charge. 

Pillen's spokeswoman Laura Strimple said that the change in practice is just a way the governor's administration is doing business differently, saying that, when Pillen does appear at events, his questions and comments are covered broadly. "Every governor determines the way they wish to communicate information and availability to the public and the media," said Strimple, "There is no requirement or formula for how it is done."

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$250 MILLION REDO OF TIRED REGIONAL MALL SIGNALS FURTHER CHANGE IN GRAND ISLAND

GRAND ISLAND- In an attempt to attract retail and regional tourism, the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island is set to get a $250 million revamp. The 50-acre Conestoga Mall site is to feature apartments and a hotel around a modern, downsized shopping complex that will offer a Target and a national tenant lineup yet to be identified. City officials have agreed to a package of public subsidies and incentives covering about a third of the project cost.

Included in the assist is $26 million in city-approved tax-increment financing and an occupation tax on on-site transactions that over time is expected to generate nearly $37 million to pay off financing bonds. The city will also pull a total of $10 million from the general fund. “This will re-energize shopping in Grand Island,” said Hall County regional planning director Chad Nabity. 

Cindy Johnson, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, said the Conestoga property was key to keeping intact Grand Island’s heritage as a shopping “destination.” In its better days, she said, the mall lured 250,000 people a year from the surrounding 90 miles who sought dining and other services in the city. Grand Island is just off Interstate 80 and accessible to traffic from U.S. Highways 281, 30 and 34. 

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THREE YEARS INTO THE COVID PANDEMIC, WHERE IS NEBRASKA HEADED?

LINCOLN- After three years of Covid-19, Nebraska and the nation alike have significantly eased restrictions and responses. During the first year, roughly 200,000 cases were confirmed in Nebraska. Thanks to a huge omicron spike, the second year brought even more cases — nearly 270,000. The third year, although effected by testing declines, has produced under 100,000 cases. 

For deaths, Nebraska counted more than 2,500 deaths during the first year, just over 1,700 during the second and slightly more than 600 in the third. The current national average is 350 Covid related deaths a day, while Nebraska reports about three of those deaths a day.The state’s COVID-related deaths over the past three years add up to nearly 5,000 Nebraskans 

In the same time period, there were 114 deaths from influenza and 24 from RSV. Covid was the state's third leading cause of death in 2022 with Cancer in second and Heart disease maintaining the first. Both the state and the national government have recognized we are at a turning point, although the WHO has announced that they ill maintain the international public health emergency.

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THURSTON COUNTY DENIES DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NATIVE VOTERS

OMAHA- Despite recent claims that Thurston County had redrawn the county board of supervisors districts to purposely discriminate against Native American voters who make up a majority of the county's population in order to ensure white politicians maintain control of the board, the County has denied the actions. The county claimed the lawsuit filed by both the Winnebago and Omaha tribes "have no basis in law or fact and are false." 

In a counterclaim, the county is asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit and declare the county's redistricting plan does not violate the law and protects all county residents' constitutional rights. The tribes are seeking a judge's order declaring the map violates the Voting Rights Act, preventing the county from conducting future elections using that map and requiring the implementation of a new districting plan that complies with the law. 

Natives make up 50.3% of the voting age population, compared with 43% of whites, in Thurston County, which is home to both the Winnebago and Omaha Indian reservations. Natives believe they should have a serious chance to elect officials in four districts, but were only given the advantage in three. The current board currently only has two members who are Natives and five who are white.

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NEBRASKA GOV. PILLEN URGES AWARENESS, ADVOCACY FOR THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen, alongside the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and several Nebraskans with developmental disabilities, proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Month. Pillen said he wanted to keep this March distinction, which was first established by President Reagan in 1987, alive to help with advocacy and support for people with disabilities. 

"Every person matters, and we need to put in a special month where we recognize and support the families that have developmental disabilities," said Pillen, "We're encouraging, and we are supporting and we are helping all others have normal, meaningful, purposeful lives every single day." Tony Green, director of the division of developmental disabilities at the Department oh Health and Human Services, also spoke at the event, stating that the state already supports around 5,100 Nebraskans with developmental disabilities. 

In addition, Green also said that Gov. Pillen's distinction will bring even more awareness to the issues people with disabilities face, such as barriers to employment. Pillen went on to encourage those in attendance to reach out to their state senators regarding his education funding proposals in the Legislature, which he says will include increases in special education funding. 

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GROWING COALITION POINTS ABROAD IN RELIEVING NEBRASKA'S WORKFORCE WOES

OMAHA- From downtown Omaha to the Scottsbluff National Monument, Nebraskans are confronting a chronic lack of in-state workers to fill jobs. However, a growing alliance of leaders statewide hopes to turn Nebraska's eyes abroad to solve this problem. This coalition of leaders and their organizations include the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Omaha Together One Community.

It also features representatives from the agricultural, business, health care, education, and labor industries. Together, this coalition of leaders and workers is calling on the state to welcome more immigrants, an action they see as a possible solution to Nebraska's pressing workforce shortage. Citing statistics that indicated that Nebraska had 49,233 open jobs, despite an all-time low unemployment rate, they say it's time for the state to become more open.

"Within the business community, there's no question that recruiting workforce is the number one priority," said Bryan Slone, president of the State Chamber. Nationwide, the coalition plans to encourage Congress to remove obstacles to legal immigration and promote statewide job recruitment. The coalition also says it has an advantage to achieve these goals, which is its connection with local nonprofits like Lutheran Family Services and Catholic Social Services, which have international contacts in many countries. 

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'YOU LITERALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT': OMAHA SENATOR SAYS HER TRANS SON WILL BE AFFECTED BY GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE BAN

LINCOLN- During debate on the contentious gender-affirming care ban, LB574 introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth, Sen. Megan Hunt, the first openly bisexual senator in the Nebraska Legislature, stated that Kauth's bill would negatively impact her son, who is transgender. The bill, which restricts gender-affirming care procedures for individuals under the age of 19, would also allow for civil action to be taken against medical professionals who violate it. 

During the debate, Sen. Hunt told her colleagues about her son. "My son is trans, and many of you have met him. Many of you have known him for years," she said, "And this bill, colleagues, is such an affront to me personally and would violate my rights to parent my child in Nebraska. And I just want to tell you that."

Sen. Hunt went on to express that she didn't "raise" her son to be transgender, and that she loves and supports him no matter his sexual orientation. "There aren't counselors making kids trans. There aren't counselors telling parents you have to get your kids on these drugs or else they're going to kill themselves," Hunt told the body.

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BILLS INTRODUCED IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE ELECTION SECURITY

LINCOLN- Following the 2020 presidential election, concerns over fraudulent voting came to a head after more people than usual utilized mail-in ballots to cast their vote. Because of this, two Nebraska senators have introduced three measures to increase election security in the state, despite little to no account of voter fraud. The bills include LB457, introduced by Sen. Rick Holdcoft, and LB's 193 and 808, introduced by Sen. Steve Halloran. 

The three bills, if passed, would require all voting machine parts to be manufactured in the United States, implement video recording devices in all voting locations, and give counties the option to hand re-count future races instead of utilizing machine counting, should they so choose. Supporters of the proposals based their arguments on the claim that several individuals in Nebraska received mail-in ballots for people who no longer live in the state, as well as fears that new technology could allow unauthorized individuals to tamper with voting machines. 

"As long as we have machines in use, in any form, we cannot be guaranteed 100% that we have accurate, total, truthful, elections," said Lina Vermooten, a supporter of the three bills. Despite these concerns, Nebraska Secretary of Stata Bob Evnen has gone on record saying that the state's elections, thus far, have been perfectly fair and trustworthy. 

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SEVERAL NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS OFFER MEASURES TO COUNTER PROPOSED ABORTION RESTRICTIONS

LINCOLN- Despite a majority of Nebraska lawmakers pushing to further restrict abortion access in the state, a string of measures have been introduced by opponents to ensure the protection of reproductive rights. On Wednesday, the Legislature's Judiciary Committee heard two such measures, one that would provide immunity for lost pregnancies, and another that would guarantee the right to privacy during a pregnancy.

LB391, the first of these measures, was introduced by Sen. Jen Day, and would provide both civil and criminal immunity for pregnancy outcomes that don't result in a live birth. LR20CA, the other measure, was introduced by Sen. Danielle Conrad, and would add the "right to individual privacy" into the Nebraska Constitution. However, if passed by the Legislature, LR20CA would go onto the 2024 ballot for voters to decide on. 

Both of these measures were introduced following the introduction of Sen. Joni Albrecht's LB626, a bill dubbed the "Nebraska Heartbeat Act" that would restrict abortions after 6 weeks, or once embryonic cardiac activity was detected. "If we truly believe it when we say we're not going to punish women," Sen. Day told the Judiciary Committee, "LB391 should be an easy, straightforward yes vote."

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'WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT': CREIGHTON, CWS ASK LEGISLATURE TO HELP FUND BASEBALL INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION

LINCOLN- LB444, introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan at the behest of Creighton University and the College World Series, would allocate over $25 million to the school's baseball program, allowing them to expand their campus and update the downtown stadium. On top of that, The College World Series told senators that the allocation of funds will improve the CWS experience for attendees and hopefully allow the organization to hold the yearly tournament in Omaha in the future. 

"We can't rest our laurels because we know everybody would like to have the college world series and we don't want to lose it," said Jack Diesing, College World Series President and Board Chairman. Diesing went on to highlight how other baseball conferences, like the Southeastern Conference, offer many more modernized facilities to athletes. 

If passed, Sen. Linehan's bill would allow Creighton University to build practice fields for CWS teams, as well as home fields for Creighton student-athletes and softball players. Diesing indicated that it's important to be proactive with their planning, and that the improvements will also improve North Omaha's access to baseball fields, since the allocation would allow for increased pedestrian access around Burt Street. 

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