Good morning, Nebraska! This past week marked the first full week of the legislative session. As always, the beginning of the session is spent on introducing new bills. Senators are able to introduce legislation during the first 10 days of the session only. This year, I introduced most of my bills on the first day, though I did drop three more bills this week and will introduce one more next week.

LB265 is a bill that will change provisions of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Act. As of now, a city that does not take part in this program is required to write a letter to the Nebraska Legislature, stating that they are not using the program. My bill simply removes that step as it’s a waste of time for the city administrators and senators to create and receive such a letter. This bill does not change any other part of the PACE program.

LB476  will use Nebraska’s existing stroke system of care task force as a foundation to establish and implement an improvement plan for a more comprehensive stroke system for stroke response and treatment and also maintain a statewide stroke data registry using the ‘Get with the Guidelines’ stroke data set provided by the American Heart Association.

LB478 changes how pension and retirement benefits are offered to firefighters in first-class cities. This is a change that has been needed for years but hasn’t been able to be accomplished yet. It’s an uphill battle but a fight I’m willing to have for these men and women who should have peace of mind when they end a career protecting others.

Next week, I’ll be introducing another compact bill, this time that covers licensed counselors. We’d be the first in the country to adopt the compact if the bill passed, and it offers the same kinds of benefits and removes the same hurdles that my other compact bills do.

In addition to the bills I introduced myself, I’ve also cosponsored additional legislation. That includes LB290 from Senator Machaela Cavanaugh that would adopt the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, and LB261 from Senator Linehan that makes adjustments to how military grave markers are distributed.  Currently in order to get this special grave marker, the deceased has to have served as an active-duty soldier during a time of war. I support Senator Linehan’s bill because it would take away the requirement to serve during a war, as well as include reserves and the National Guard, as long as they served in the guard after 1973. As we know, our National Guard is often Nebraska’s first defense in times of floods, fires, riots and more. They often put their lives on the line on our behalf right here at home.

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

Governor’s State of the State
On Thursday, Governor Ricketts came to the legislature to deliver his annual State of the State Address. The governor talked about several different topics, including the way this state has dealt with the pandemic and I agree with him that when it comes to doing what has to be done, the state has been mostly united in fighting the virus and trying to flatten the curve.

He and I agree that the fight isn’t over, even with vaccines starting to get distributed. Please don’t relax yet. Make sure you’re protecting others and we’ll get through this together.

Legislatively, the governor, Senator Sanders and I are teaming up on a bill that attempts to help military spouses who were teachers in other states and move here, obtain their license more quickly. This bill is similar to measures I’d already worked out with the Department of Education a few years ago, but it puts the measure into state statute rather than an agency rule and goes just a little further in cutting more red tape in this area.

Hearing Schedule Update
On Friday morning, Speaker Hilgers announced there is going to be a change to the way the Legislature carries out its committee hearings. Normally, at the beginning of the session, the day is usually split between floor debate in the morning and hearings in the afternoon.

This year. starting the week of January 25, committee hearings will start in the morning and run all day. The speaker is still working on the policies on how these hearings will be carried out and how testifying will work, in regards to making sure everyone has their voice heard while still being careful about keeping everyone as safe as possible in regards to COVID-19. He has promised to provide more details next week and in turn, I will share those details with you.

If you believe you’re interested in testifying or sending a letter in support or opposition to a bill this year, make sure to keep an eye on this as when hearings start and end may not be the only procedure that changes this year.

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Sunday, January 9th was Law Enforcement Appreciation day and night and I just wanted to take a moment to once again express my gratitude and appreciation for the men and women who put their lives on the line all over the country in order to protect us. After the events of the last few weeks, it seems especially important to point out the great service they provide.

I’m also privileged to represent District 3 and Sarpy County. It truly has the most well-trained & collaborative officers around, who continue to keep us safe. They are absolutely the best of the best.

Bellevue Food Pantry Hours Expanded
As we enter the new year, the Bellevue Food Pantry has expanded the hours in which it will distribute food. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, food distribution will take place from 9 am to noon and then from 1 pm to 4 pm. On Wednesdays, distribution will be the same in the morning but will last until 7 pm.

The expanded hours include distribution from 9 am to noon on the first and third Saturdays of the month. As this Saturday is indeed the third Saturday of the month, they will begin those expanded hours.

In order to receive a food pantry, all you need to do is prove you’re a resident of Bellevue with a current ID and proof of address

Good morning, Nebraska! Wednesday was the first day of the 2021 Legislative Session. I wanted to share the bills we will be working on this year from district 3.

LB5: Purple Star Program
It encourages but doesn’t require every school in the state to appoint a “military liaison” who will then create programming for students who might be recent transfers into the school district after moving here with their military family. The liaison may also set up a website that demonstrates how to establish a “military-friendly” atmosphere at the school. Choosing to participate in the programming would then designate the school as a “Purple Star” school.

LB6: Military Retirement Tweak
Changes provisions relating to the taxation of military retirement benefits. This is a bit of a tweak from last year’s military retirement bill, LB153. However, that bill was based on 1099’s received from the DOD. There are military retirees that do not receive form 1099 from the US DOD but receive it from The Office of Personnel Management. They are being told they’re not eligible under 153 and LB6 would make them eligible for the benefits under last year’s bill.

LB7: Sex Trafficking Good Samaritan Law
This bill makes sure that a victim of sex trafficking is protected from arrest if they are reporting a violent crime to law enforcement. It encourages cooperation with law enforcement by writing into state law what is already practiced by most agencies in order to foster that cooperation.

LB8: Electioneering
There are gaps in Nebraska’s current statute that enable “dark money” special interest groups to place influential ads that may sway voters during elections without knowing who is behind them. This would seek to fill in those gaps by requiring anyone who makes an advertisement or other kind of “electioneering communication” that costs more than $1,000 to file a form offering specific information with the election commission.

LB9: Annexation
This 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 landowners who are being annexed in aren’t “punished” by the annexation.

LB10: Definition of Disabled Veteran
This Changes motor vehicle and property tax exemptions for disabled veterans by changing the definition to exactly match the federal definition under 5 U.S.C. 2108. It no longer requires an amputation, allows more disabled veterans to take advantage of services, and removes confusion caused by clashing state and federal definitions.

LB11: Early Voting Bill
This creates a more uniform and accessible system for early voting, while still maintaining the safety and security of Nebraska’s election systems. It allows registered voters in Nebraska to request to be put on a list that says they always want to receive an early ballot. They can also request an early ballot from the Secretary of State’s office.

LB12: Commuter Rail
This bill would task the Department of Transportation to study the effectiveness, cost, and need for a commuter rail line between Lincoln and Omaha. It would then submit a report on the study to the legislature.

LB13: Protection Order Statute Change
This bill addresses protection orders from another state when that protection order relates to domestic or family abuse. Currently, certain prohibitions are already in place for Nebraska but we want to harmonize the language to include orders that might be issued in other states and jurisdictions as there have been examples where these individuals have fallen through the cracks.

LB14: Speech Language Pathologist And Audiologist Compact
Adopts the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology 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. Currently, there are six states that have enacted this compact and at least another six that are considering it. The compact goes into effect when 10 states join.

LB15: Occupational Therapy Compact
Adopts the Occupational Therapy Interstate Compact, which like the Audiologist compact will create better access for patients, offer telehealth alternatives, and remove hurdles for employment for professionals including military spouses and family members. This compact was just sent to states in November so Nebraska could be the first, or among the first to adopt.

LB20: Birth Control Bill
This will reduce interruptions in birth control, helping to reduce unintended pregnancy and abortion in Nebraska by having public and private insurers cover the quantity of contraceptives dispensed in accordance with the prescription—up to 12 months of contraceptives at a time but it won’t require a 12-month supply on the first pickup under private insurance, allowing an initial 3-month prescription to make sure it is safe for that consumer to use prior to expanding it. The intent is to close health inequities in rural Nebraska, those reliant on public transportation, and women who must travel for work or abroad.

This list does not include the many bills I’m also planning on cosponsoring this legislative session.

New License Plates
Starting on January 1, the DMV issued several new license plate designs for Nebraska service members and veterans, as well as options for the public to show support and help fund veteran-related programs. Many are plates that were requested by area Veterans/Veteran’s Organizations in my district and across the state.

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I was not a huge fan of the “Support Our Troops” plate design the DMV picked out for the plate. But t is an opportunity to show your support for the brave men and women in our armed forces. The funds also go to a very good cause as they will be used for a Veteran’s Employment Program here in Nebraska.

New Military Campaign plates will be available for recipients of:

• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal

Alphanumeric service medal plates are $5 a piece and $40 for ones with a personalized message.

The Support Our Troops plates are $5 for the alphanumeric plates and $70 for those with a custom message.

Back To School
Both Bellevue and Papillion-LaVista schools went back into session this past week after the longer than usual winter break. Both school districts are still offering options to attend class in person for students or to attend class remotely if families don’t feel as though it’s safe to be among big crowds during the pandemic.

You can read the more in-depth Return to School plans for Bellevue on the school’s website and the plan for Papillion-LaVista on theirs if you have any questions or concerns about their approach moving forward. With five more months to go in this school year and vaccines on the way, it’s my great hope that there will be no more disruptions to our children’s education and that we can return to business as usual next fall.