On Thursday, September 14th, Governor Pillen appointed Senator Tom Briese as state treasurer. Briese will assume the duties of the office on November 1, 2023. He will complete the remaining term of John Murante who will become director of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (NPERS). “Senator Briese has the respect of his peers and has been a great representative for District 41 in the Legislature,” said Governor Pillen. “He’s a proven leader on tax reform policy reform, which will serve him well in his role as treasurer.” “I am honored to be selected by Governor Pillen to serve Nebraskans as treasurer,” said Senator Briese. “I have truly enjoyed my time in the Legislature and am proud of the accomplishments achieved during my tenure, as well as the relationships that were forged. I look forward to this new opportunity and continuing to serve the people of our great state.” I want to congratulate Senator Briese on his new position and wish him well. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve with him in the Legislature. (Strimple, Laura. “Governor Appoints Briese as State Treasurer,” Governor Pillen Press Release. 14 September, 2023. https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/governor-appoints-briese-state-treasurer. Accessed 14 September, 2023.)

This week I would like to finish sharing with you the final portions of LB227 which was the Health and Human Services Committee priority bill.

• LB245 increases the per diem reimbursement for members of the Board of Barber Examiners from $75 to $150.
• LB261 changes the requirements of a split apprenticeship for individuals studying mortuary science by allowing the apprentice license to be completed while attending a mortuary science school.
• LB286 provides confidentiality to physicians who participate in a wellness program unless a peer coach determines that the physician’s condition constitutes a danger to public health and safety.
• LB84 extends eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP eligibility in Nebraska is currently set at 165% of the federal poverty level (FPL), but was scheduled to drop to 135% of FPL on October 1, 2023. This bill extends the sunset date for expanded SNAP eligibility to October 1, 2025.
• LB75 grants the state’s Child and Maternal Death Review Team the authority to conduct reviews of the rates, trends, and causes of severe maternal morbidity in the state.
• LB419 expands Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from 60 days to at least 6 months. DHHS may submit a state plan amendment for 12 months. Senator Ben Hansen, chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee, spoke in support of the amendment. “One of the underlying things I hear from [my constituents] is ‘what are we doing to take care of those who are having babies in the state of Nebraska,’” Hansen said. “I think this is a big step forward to address that concern.”
• LB765 eliminates the regional trauma advisory boards and replaces them with regional trauma committees and updates definitions.
• LB570 creates the Overdose Fatality Review Teams Act to design a regulatory framework for establishing county level multidisciplinary teams to collect data related to opioid overdose deaths in Nebraska. The state Department of Health and Human Services would develop regulations to carry out the act and teams would begin providing annual de-identified data on local incidents, causes, and contributing factors of opioid deaths by June 1, 2024.
  (Portions of this taken from “Health services package amended, returned to final reading”. Unicameral Update. May 25, 2023. http://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=34455)

Congratulations to Judge Sara Bauer from Fremont on her appointment as County Court Judge for the Sixth Judicial District. Governor Pillen appointed her on Thursday, September 14th to fill the judicial vacancy due to the resignation of Judge Douglas L. Luebe. Bauer is currently an assistant city attorney in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She has worked in numerous firms, particularly in Omaha; and helped establish and grow the local office for Gurstel Law Firm P. C. She has a strong background in civil law. During her time as an associate at Copple & Rockey P. C. in Norfolk, she handled juvenile, criminal, and domestic law cases, as well as civil issues. I wish her all the best as she begins this new role of Sixth Judicial Court Judge. (Strimple, Laura. “Governor Pillen Appoints Bauer as County Court Judge in Sixth Judicial District.” Governor Pillen Press Release. 14 September, 2023. https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-appoints-bauer-county-court-judge-sixth-judicial-district. Accessed 14 September, 2023.)

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