Legislative Update

Good morning, Nebraska!

As has been the norm this session, the week was a busy one.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Hilgers decided to change how we do things this year. At least for the foreseeable future, the hearings are all-day, starting at 9:30 am, with a break at noon and then returning to hearings at 1:30 pm.

We kicked the week off with LB265 on Tuesday in front of the Urban Affairs committee. This bill is looking to create an exception for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Act reports. Currently, cities and municipalities that don’t take advantage of PACE must send in a letter that states they aren’t doing so. My bill would simply amend the language so they no longer need to send in the letter if they aren’t participating. This will save both city governments and legislative staff previously wasted time. It’s another way we can remove unnecessary red tape.

On Friday, I had two hearings in front of the Judiciary committee for LB7 and in front of the Government Committee for LB11. LB7 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. LB11 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.

Next week, I have one bill hearing, on Tuesday, February 9, again in front of the Urban Affairs committee. LB9 would change 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.

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.

Redistricing
I am honored to be named to the Nebraska Legislature’s redistricing committee this year. Drawing the districts in our state is an incredibly important task that we must undertake every 10 years. Unfortunately, the pandemic has affected exactly when we’re going to get the data and start this important work, just as it’s affected everything else.For those who would like to learn more about how this works and why we’re not getting the census data until later in the year, I found this article from the AP quite useful.
Alums Headed to the Super Bowl
In case you missed it, Bellevue Public Schools has not one, but two alumni heading to the Super Bowl this weekend. Bellevue East High School alumna Miranda Serna and Bellvue West graduate Erin McMaster are both members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheer squad.You can read more about their story in the Omaha World-Herald but I wanted to give these two hard-working young women a bit of a shout out as they proudly represent their home town on the biggest stage in the sporting world this weekend.

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, they will start vaccinating those who are 18 and over, if they have significant underlying health issues that would make them “high-risk” should they become infected. People such as teachers and child care providers are also expected to be vaccinated during this phase, which will likely run until mid-March.

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.