We are over one third of the way through the 90-day session. It has been a busy week of debating bills on the floor and listening to those coming to testify at public hearings on bills in the Education and Revenue Committees.

Bill Updates

• LB442–Livestock Friendly County Funding–has been voted out of committee to General File to be debated on the floor. It did come out of the Agriculture Committee with an amendment that directs the transfer of $2 million from the general fund to the Livestock Growth Cash Fund on July 31, 2023 or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible.
• LB626–The Heartbeat Act–has been voted out of the Health and Human Services Committee to General File to be debated on the floor. On Friday, February 24th, I made this my priority bill for this session.

Priority bills will begin being debated this week.

Bills to Watch

• LB376 is a priority bill from Senator John Lowe and is up for floor debate on Tuesday, February 28th. This bill creates a brand registration for the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission and will allow the Commission to more accurately and correctly identify alcoholic products being imported into or produced in Nebraska. This bill came out of the General Affairs Committee 8-0.
• LB77 (Constitutional Carry) is a priority bill from Senator Tom Brewer and will be coming up for floor debate this week. This bill would authorize concealed carry without a permit in Nebraska. Restrictions currently codified within the Concealed and Gun Permit Act relating to place and manner of concealed carry would be made to apply generally to any person carrying concealed and not to permit holders only. The crime of carrying a concealed weapon would still exist for minors and for persons who are prohibited from possessing dangerous weapons. I cosponsored this bill. 
• LB574 (Let Them Grow) is a priority bill from Senator Kathleen Kauth. This bill would prohibit the performance of gender altering procedures for individuals under the age of 19, provide for definition of terminology, and allow for civil action to be brought against violators of the act. I cosponsored this bill.

On February 28th, we are on day 35 of a 90-day session. For the rest of this session priority bills will be heard, then bills pertaining to the budget, and then any other bills that made it out of committee to General File. 

When these bills come to the floor and I sign on to them, I am confident they will not be amended in a way that will change the bill. I make my decisions about bills after the full floor debate. There is much work to be done in the days ahead.

Road repair updates

I have heard from many constituents over the past few weeks about concerns on road conditions and need for repair. I visited with the Nebraska Department of Transportation about these concerns and here is the update I received from their office. These projects are scheduled to begin this year or will resume work not completed in 2022.

• Highway 9–Bridges are scheduled to be done this spring and then resurfaced.
• Highway 75–Macy Wetland Bank to be repaired.
• Highway 77–N94 to Winnebago is out for bids for resurfacing; Walthill to Winnebago will have a box culvert replaced so there will be a detour planned for that project; Lyons to Walthill had maintenance done in 2021 and was crack sealed in 2022 with continued maintenance being done.
• I-129–South Sioux City Bridges are on the plan to be repaired and resurfacing done once the bridge work is completed.
• There is also a project in the works for 2024 for Highway 9 to be expanded two feet on either side.
• Potholes will continue to be worked on as weather permits.

One note–there may be delays to these projects based on weather conditions or other factors.

As always, I invite you to let me know your thoughts, ideas, concerns, or suggestions by contacting me by calling (402) 471-2716 or emailing me at jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.