Legislative Update

Good morning, Nebraska!

We kicked the week off with LB9 on Tuesday in front of the Urban Affairs committee. This bill changes annexation requirements and property tax special valuation provisions for cities that might encompass or be built near a military installation. The way state law is currently written, annexation has to include contiguous or adjacent land, but that’s impossible for cities like Bellevue which have federally owned or NRD land in the middle of a potential annexation area. This would allow those cities to “cross” over NRD or Federal land. The special valuation provisions make it so rural landowners who are being annexed in aren’t “punished” by the annexation by a change in their valuation. If passed, this bill will change the future path of growth and economic development for the Bellevue community for the better.

Next week, I have one bill hearing, on Wednesday, February 17, in front of the Health and Human Services committee. LB554 is my third interstate compact bill this session. LB554 adopts the Licensed Professional Counselors Interstate Compact in order to create better access for patients, offer telehealth alternatives and remove hurdles for employment for professionals including military spouses and family members. This is a brand new compact, though there are already several states looking to adopt it. Like the others of this kind, it will go “live” when 10 states join. We should be clear that our office also supports reciprocity, but that does not address or military spouse who must move every 2-3 years. We not only want them to be able to work into Nebraska without additional hurdles, but move to their next post and be able to get to work quickly as well. That’s why our office LOVES these compacts and enjoys working with our friends at the DOD on your behalf. every year.

I also received some good news on LB476. That bill will use Nebraska’s existing Stroke System of Care as a foundation to establish and implement an improvement plan for a more comprehensive system for stroke response and treatment. The bill requires DHHS to collaborate with the task force to maintain a statewide stroke data registry using the ‘Get with the Guidelines’ stroke data set provided by the American Heart Association. It was advanced out of the Health and Human Services Committee this week to the floor and general file. Hopefully, we’ll be taking it up for debate in front of the entire legislature very soon and help it to become law yet in 2021.

I’ve also been happy to see several bills that I cosponsored get voted out of committee. That includes LB4, which raises the tuition assistance for undergraduate education under the Reserve Tuition Credit from 50 percent to 75 percent. It also removes a restriction that anyone with more than 10 years of military service couldn’t access the credit.

LB255 is another one I’m proud to support as it benefits families of first responders who gave their lives to help others. The bill creates the In the Line Of Duty Compensation Act to provide a one-time death benefit to the family of a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or another first responder who dies in the line of duty.

A reminder that if you want to participate in any of the hearings on my bills, there have been some changes to the way they are carried out this year. Because of the pandemic, Speaker Hilgers would prefer not to pack the room with testifiers but understands it’s a fundamental right to participate in the legislative hearings in Nebraska. To that end, only those who intend to testify on a bill will be allowed to sit in the hearing room. His office set up a system that will allow users to track the hearing online and enter comments on any bill being heard on the Legislature’s website. 

As always the committees are also accepting letters of support or opposition in lieu of testimony. Because of the added stressors that come from all-day hearings, those letters must now be submitted by noon the day before and they must be submitted to specially designated committee emails, rather than the clerk or the chairperson directly. 

In order to see exactly how you can participate in legislative hearings this year, you can go to this link.

For a full list and additional information about all the bills I’ve introduced and cosponsored, you can click the link here.

Head Start Sarpy Accepting Applications
Sarpy County/ESU #3 HEAD START is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 School Year!Head Start has no cost pre-k and early childhood programs for children from birth to age 5.
The only requirement is that families that want to take advantage of this program must live in Sarpy County and meet certain income requirements.
You can apply online at Sarpy Head Start’s official webpage and click on the “apply now” section. If you need assistance, please call 402-597-4982.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update
The Sarpy/Cass County Health Department issued an update on the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. The department has officially entered into Phase 1B where members of the public will begin getting vaccinated.

As is the case everywhere in the state at this point, the health department has started vaccinating the elderly first and is currently working on getting those who are 80 and over, covered. They will then move to 75 and over, then 70 and over, 65 and over and then onto other popular groups. However, the department is also working on getting first responders and educators vaccinated during this phase, though it’s still a lengthy process. The focus, after the aged, is indeed first responders. Then utility workers, homeless shelter employees, corrections officers, and then teachers.

If you do have any questions about the process the department is using in order to get people vaccinated, there is a number you can call to get assistance. 402-339-4334 and press option 1. This number has information about what tier the area is in, what to do if you’ve been called about an appointment to vaccinate, and other details.

In preparation for your name being called to get vaccinated, the state does offer a website where you can register to be notified when it’s your turn. You can sign up at this link. Keep in mind, tens of thousands of Nebraskans have already registered so they have a long list to work through and review. Still, it’s better to register now and wait, than wait to get registered.