I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Hoskins on their quasquicentennial (125th). What a great accomplishment for this small town with a big heart. I look forward to celebrating with them.

We enjoyed attending Winside’s “Old Settlers” Family/Kids Day on Sunday, June 16th. It was a thrill to attend the 9th Annual Gene Topp Memorial Car/Truck/Tractor Show that began with the presentation of colors by American Legion Post #252. We watched the Kiddies Parade and then enjoyed homemade pie and ice cream at the auditorium. We finished our day by listening to the Burt Heithold Band before heading home.

Bill Updates
This week I would like to go over LB867, one of the two Natural Resource Committee priority bills and one of the Speaker priority bills, LB1030.

Under LB867, introduced by Senator Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, the state Game and Parks Commission may maintain a hunting and fishing guide and outfitter database on its website and charge a registration fee to administer it. Applicants who meet the bill’s requirements will be placed in the database for three years. Six other bills were included in LB867.

• LB866, sponsored by Senator Bostelman, eliminates a requirement that at least one member of the Nebraska Power Review Board be an accountant and increases the number of consecutive terms a member may serve from two to three. The bill allows no more than one person who has been a director, officer, or employee of any electric utility or an elective state officer to serve on the board at the same time. LB866 also increases the per diem for most board members from $60 to $100 and raises the cap on total annual pay from $6,000 to $7,000.
• LB868, introduced by Senator Bostelman, extends the Petroleum Release Remedial Action Cash Fund’s sunset date from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2028. It also directs investment earnings to the fund and repeals a provision allowing transfers to the state’s General Fund.
• LB971, sponsored by Senator Loren Lippincott of Central City, requires the commission to issue upon application a free, one-day hunting permit, habitat stamp, and Nebraska migratory waterfowl stamp to any veteran who is a Nebraska resident and was discharged or separated under honorable conditions. The permit and stamps are valid only on Veterans Day in the year in which they are issued.
• LB1001, introduced by Senator Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, requires the commission to establish a migratory waterfowl hunting season for veterans and members of the armed forces during which those individuals may hunt as long as they have a valid hunting permit and all required stamps.
• LB1406, introduced by Senator Rita Sanders of Bellevue, requires the commission to offer an annual park entry permit to active-duty military members who are stationed in Nebraska. The fee is $5, regardless of residency.
• LB636, introduced by Senator Joni Albrecht of Thurston, prohibits political subdivisions from enacting any ordinance or other policy that restricts or prohibits the types or fuel sources of energy that natural gas utilities, natural gas transmission companies, and certain other entities may use or deliver to serve customers.

LB867 passed on a vote of 47-0 and took effect immediately. It was approved by Governor Pillen on April 15, 2024. (Taken from “Session Review: Natural Resources”. Unicameral Update. 13 May, 2024. https://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=36621)

The County Bridge Match Program, created by the Legislature in 2016 and administered by the state Department of Transportation, provides state funding to accelerate the repair and replacement of deficient bridges on the county road system. LB1030, introduced by Senator Bruce Bostelman, creates the County Bridge Match Working Group, which will develop criteria for program participation, as well as for county matching fund requirements. The group will score applications and award funds. The governor will appoint two of the group’s members from a list of county highway superintendents, county surveyors or county engineers submitted by a statewide association representing county officials. The department director will select three department members to serve on the group. LB1030 requires the state treasurer to make two $4 million transfers, one in 2024 and one in 2025, from the Road Operations Cash Fund to the Transportation Infrastructure Bank Fund to be used for the County Bridge Match Program. LB1030 passed on a vote of 47-0 and took effect immediately. It was approved by Governor Pillen on April 15, 2024. (Taken from “County bridge working group created”. Unicameral Update. 15 April, 2024. https://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=36477)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Governor Pillen for hosting town halls in South Sioux City and Wayne to discuss his plan to address high property taxes in Nebraska. He has been hosting town halls throughout the state for the past several weeks. He has informed us to set aside July 26th-August 15th for a special session to address the property tax issue. He is looking at broadening the base by looking at all tax exemptions, capping taxing authorities to control spending, and funding public schools. I appreciate Governor Pillen taking time to talk to the citizens of Nebraska in order to keep them informed on how he is trying to address the property tax issue.

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.