This week began with efforts to advance nearly a dozen bills from Select File, the second round of debate. Because bills must lay over for at least one day before Final Reading, bills had to be advanced and read into the record no later than Tuesday so that they could be passed and eligible for a veto override, if necessary, on the final day of the session.
Not all of the Select File bills advanced.
LB241, a bill to require COVID-19 protections for workers in meat-packing plants was bracketed until June 10. Two bills, LB529 and LB376, were both filibustered for four hours before cloture votes to end debate were unsuccessful.
LB529 would have allocated lottery funds for education programs. A “poison pill” amendment was offered that would have allowed educators to use a physical emergency safety intervention to protect the student or others from injury.
LB376 would have allowed the state to seek a federal waiver for a pilot program to provide respite care and other services for developmentally disabled children. The votes on these bills set the tone for the rest of the week with more filibusters, extended debate, and other delays.
By the end of Friday’s debate, the following bills were among those sent to the governor’s desk.
LB644 would require county assessors to send personalized postcards to all property owners when property taxes requested by counties, cities, school districts, or community colleges exceed allowable growth amounts. These entities would have to hold a joint hearing and each give a presentation on their tax request.
LB2 would change the valuation of ag land from 75 percent to 50 percent of its actual value for taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on school district bonds that are approved by a vote of the people.
LB307 would require counsel to be appointed for juveniles charged with a felony and court advisement of the juvenile’s right to retain counsel other instances. The Nebraska Supreme Court would develop a process to ensure that juveniles are provided the opportunity to consult with counsel in making the decision to waive the right to counsel.
LB51 would increase the number of hours of annual training for law enforcement officers and require each agency to be accredited. Officers would be prohibited from using chokeholds or carotid restraint control holds. The bill sets out limitations on service by noncertified conditional officers and prioritizes small agencies to receive grant funding for training and accreditation costs.
LB236 was introduced to give ordinance authority to counties to allow concealed carry of weapons without a permit. After an Attorney General’s opinion questioning the constitutionality of the bill, the original language was removed and replaced with requirements for the state to give notice of expiring concealed carry permits and a grace period for renewal.
LB103 would appropriate $2 million annually for the next two years for counties with a federal judgment in excess of $25 million if the total cost of the judgment equals 20 percent or more of the county’s budget and the county has set its levy at the maximum. Gage County would be eligible for funding.
LB388 would appropriate $20 million annually for grants to encourage the development of broadband internet service in unserved and underserved areas.
LB285 would change redistricting deadlines to reflect the delay in receiving census data and the Legislature’s upcoming special session. Other provisions of the bill update election laws and deadlines.
LB271 would allow counties to implement a twice-daily testing program as an alternative to incarceration for offenses involving operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
