The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are starting to bloom. April brings
warmth to Nebraska as the spring season advances rapidly.
HISTORICAL TIME IN NEBRASKA –The Legislature delivered the most significant tax relief for Nebraskans. $900 million package of tax cuts were approved. Income tax, corporations, property owners and Social Security recipients will benefit.
The biggest tax cut in over 30 years was LB873. This bill cuts the top income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.84%. It also cuts the corporate income tax rate from 7.81% to 5.84%. both cuts will be phased-in over five years. Nebraska has the highest income and corporate taxes of any state in the central time zone.
This legislation phases out income taxes on Social Security payments by 2025.
In addition, LB873 creates another refundable income tax credit for the portion of property taxes paid to community colleges. This is a credit you’ll claim starting next year on your state income taxes.
It has been a long 60 day session, but all 49 Senators worked diligently trying to get their bills passed.
Nebraska Human Life Protection Act LB933, the speaker made as his priority bill, fell two votes short of the 33 needed to end the filibuster and force a vote. The vote was 31-15. Those who denied protecting life were Senator Blood, Senator Bostar, Senator J. Cavanaugh, Senator M. Cavanaugh, Senator Day, Senator DeBoer, Senator M. Hansen, Senator Hunt, Senator McCollister, Senator McKinney, Senator Morfeld, Senator Pansing-Brooks, Senator Vargas, Senator Walz and Senator Wishart. Senators that were excused – not voting were Senators Lathrop, Pahls and Wayne. This bill would have prohibited the performance of an abortion on live, unborn child upon the occurrence of one of three events: the overturn of Roe v. Wade, an amendment to the United States Constitution, or the passage of enabling legislation by the United States Congress. I will continue to fight to protect and promote society’s respect for human life, including the life of the unborn. We made be called back in June for a special session if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The battle may have been lost this week but the war on the unborn, the voiceless and most vulnerable will be won.
My personal priority bill LB1213 – would ensure that outside database providers contracted to provide digital and online resources to students in grades K- 12 that make obscene and harmful materials available; was stopped due to lobbyist interference and will come back next year. In the mean time be aware of what your children are exposed to through their devices provided by tax dollars. “More to come”.
I thank all of you that supported the Nebraska Human Life Protection Act. My office received numerous emails and phone calls. Not all people were in support, but your comments were heard.
By this time next week, the session will be over. In my next letter I will report to you what was achieved during those past 60 days.
LB1014, introduced by Speaker Hilgers contains appropriations. Among the appropriations are $100 million for “shovel-ready” projects for qualifying sports complexes and nonprofits related to the arts, culture and humanities, $91 million for workforce housing and $20 million for water transportation infrastructure grants.
The bill also contains provisions of more than 20 proposals introduced this session, including:
• LB1089, sponsored by Gering Sen. John Stinner, which appropriates $55 million to the state Department of Health and Human Services for licensed and Medicaid-certified nursing facilities;
• LB1066, sponsored by Stinner, which appropriates $28 million to DHHS and the University of Nebraska for behavioral health care services;
• LB1172, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann, which appropriates $55 million for rate increases for certain providers of developmental disabilities services; and
• LB1201, sponsored by Bennington Sen. Wendy DeBoer, which appropriates $20 million to DHHS for grants to nonprofit organizations providing food assistance.
Lawmakers passed LB1014 on a 40-4 vote and the bill took effect immediately. There is something for everyone.
The bill allocating American Rescue Plan Act dollars would provide funds to some 40 projects and initiatives across the state. Among them: replacing aging rural ambulances, boosting health and human services provider payment rates, repairing wastewater systems in state parks, and funding nonprofit construction projects that were interrupted by the pandemic. Others include: developing rural and urban low-income housing, updating a climate change study, building a rural health complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and repairing an irrigation canal that runs from Fort Laramie, Wyoming, to Gering. Senators also provided for a grant program to start or expand child care centers, expanded mental health treatment, scholarships and loan repayments for health care providers and a program providing education and preventative medication to people at high risk of getting HIV.
My Legislative Assistant, Lisa Weeks has left. She was an asset to this office. We wish her well and will miss her. Please don’t hesitate to call the office and speak with Jacki, she will be happy to assist you.
The work that I do as your Senator I do for you, my constituents. Please contact my office with any comments or concerns. Your views are appreciated, I enjoy hearing from you. My Lincoln contact information is (402) 472-2716 or jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov. Have a great week.