107TH LEGISLATURE, 1ST SESSION – DAY 78

This has been a big week in the Legislature. Several significant bills have been debated on the Floor, including tax exemptions, branding, bitcoin and medical marijuana. I am happy about the result of some, and disappointed in others, but I so appreciate those of you who have taken the time to contact me in the process. It is such a privilege to represent District 17, and I will continue to work hard to stand strong for Nebraska’s families. Two of my bills were advanced this week as part of Revenue Committee Priority Bills. 

ETHANOL TAX EXEMPTION

My bill, LB595, was the lead bill containing several other sales and use tax exemption bills. Adopted 31-0, it would exempt from state sales and use taxes all catalysts, chemicals and materials used in the process of manufacturing ethanol and the production of coproducts such as distillers grains. As amended on General File, LB595 also would exempt from state sales and use taxes the gross income received from the lease or use of towers or other structures primarily used in conjunction with the furnishing of internet access service.

Also included in LB595 was Senator Murman’s LB672, which creates a new definition for agricultural machinery and equipment to clarify the sales tax exemption on such equipment. Agricultural machinery and equipment means tangible personal property that is used directly in: Cultivating or harvesting a crop; Raising or caring for animal life;  Protecting the health and welfare of animal life, including fans, curtains, and climate control equipment within livestock buildings; Collecting or processing an agricultural product on a farm or ranch, regardless of the degree of attachment to any real property.

Agricultural machinery and equipment will include, but is not limited to, header trailers, head haulers, header transports, and seed tender trailers. It excludes any current tractor model not permitted for sale in Nebraska.

STILLBIRTH TAX CREDIT

LB597, also part of a Revenue Priority Bill, advanced to Final Reading this week. It would create a $2,000 refundable state income tax credit for the parent of a stillborn child if a death certificate is filed for the child, the child had advanced to at least the 20th week of gestation and would have been a dependent of the individual claiming the credit.

FROM THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN

LR 107 was written by Senator Mike Groene and has been co-signed by at least 30 other Senators in the Nebraska State Legislature, including myself. Still in Executive Committee, the LR expresses the intent of this legislature as a body to reaffirm our solemn oath of office, expressing a firm resolution to maintaining and defending the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Nebraska against every act of aggression whether foreign or domestic, including every act of unconstitutional abuse of power arising from the State or Federal Government. LR 107 confronts the Biden Administration about the following concerns:

• Their expressed intention to restrict our Second Amendment right to keep and to bear arms in unconstitutional ways.
• their actions which seek to punish traditional religious beliefs about the sanctity of life and sexuality.
• It expresses distress over proposed federal legislation which is designed to usurp the process of conducting elections, which the U.S. Constitution explicitly left to the discretion of the individual state legislatures in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Proposed legislation in Washington, D.C. seeks to eviscerate protections such as voter identification, periodic updating of voter files, and restrictions against ballot harvesting.
• It protests the goal of the executive branch of the federal government to restrict the private use of at least 30 percent of America’s lands and waterways by 2030.
• it objects to the notion of vaccine passports being imposed on all American citizens.

GUN LAW BRINGS CLARITY

LB236, introduced by Senator Brewer, was advanced to Select File this week. The original version of the bill would have allowed counties to authorize law-abiding Nebraskans to carry a concealed weapon without a state-issued permit. The Attorney General expressed concerns about the constitutionality of this proposal. In response to those concerns, Senator Brewer introduced an amendment to instead incorporate bills introduced by Senators Ben Hansen, Bruce Bostelman, and Robert Clements. 

These provisions would clarify that cased, unloaded firearms are not concealed weapons. This would protect people in a vehicle for lawful purposes and carrying a concealed weapon directly to or from a vehicle if the firearm is unloaded, stored in a case or original factory packaging and kept separate from ammunition. The change would protect an individual who transports a new firearm upon purchase or who travels to the required training to obtain a concealed carry permit. The amendment to LB 236 would also require the Nebraska State Patrol to notify the holder of a concealed carry permit four months prior to the permit’s expiration and to allow a 30-day grace period to renew a concealed carry permit after expiration. This will prevent permit holders from being forced to spend extra time and money on repeating the required permit training.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL FAILS

LB474, introduced by Senator Wishart, would create a framework for legalizing medical cannabis use in Nebraska. To qualify for a medical cannabis registration card under the bill, a person must receive written certification that medical cannabis would improve their condition from a health care practitioner with whom they have an established, bonafide relationship. Registered medical cannabis users could purchase cannabis through regulated in-state dispensaries or home delivery from out-of-state suppliers. Patients would be limited to no more than two and one-half ounces of cannabis — or a greater amount approved by a medical necessity waiver — or cannabis infused products with no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC, from each dispensary. I am very concerned that the amount of cannabis purchased would  not be tracked or followed up on by a doctor. A person could “loop” dispensaries by stopping at each one and purchasing the allowable amount at each stop. Until medical cannabis is regulated on a Federal level, I am not in support of legalizing it in Nebraska.

NEBRASKA  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HEALTH STANDARDS

Recently the Nebraska Department of Education released a draft of the Nebraska Health Education Standards. I strongly encourage you to read the standards and inform yourself about new content that is being considered. 

Take some time to review the entire document for yourself and let the State Department of Education know what you think. 

A draft Health Education Standards are available for review at:

https://www.education.ne.gov/healthed/health-education-standards-development/

You can contribute your feedback at:

https://nde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8dI1y2pRSfXlG8R

Or members of the public can submit a formal comment by emailing nde.standardsinput@nebraska.gov. 

DISTRICT 17 COVID-19 

The number of positive tests reported for the periods April 30, 2021 to May 7, 2021 in District 17 are as follow: 

Dakota County +18 (4117)

Thurston County: +3 (1176)

Wayne County: +3(1160)

As always, it is of great importance that I hear from my constituents to effectively do my job as your voice in the Legislature. I encourage you to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me at 402-471-2716 or jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.