The 106th Legislature, Second Session adjourned Sine Die on August 13^th. This historic short session saw 285 bills passed by the Legislature.   There are a number of bills I want to highlight.

Property taxes were addressed by the Legislature with B1107. LB1107 a bill that will provide Nebraskans with $650 million in property tax relief, a new business incentive program, and funding for UNMC’s transformational projects act.

LB814, a bill I co-sponsored, passed on our final day of session. LB814 bans dismemberment, or “dilation and evacuation” abortion. In this method of abortion, the doctor terminates a baby by dismembering it alive, while still in the womb.

The passage of LB153, a bill I cosponsored, provides after January 1, 2022 a person may exclude fifty percent of the military retirement benefit income received to the extent included in federal adjusted gross income.   I stand committed to making Nebraska a welcoming State for veterans, military personnel and their families.

LB450 increases the percentage of state tuition assistance for members of the Nebraska National Guard from 75% to 100% for their undergraduate degrees. The bill also allows for 50% tuition assistance for guardsmen and women seeking a professional or graduate degree.

LB963 improves worker’s compensation laws for first responders, allowing them to collect worker’s compensation benefits while treating a mental illness, such as PTSD, that was received on the job.

As a member of the Rural Broadband Task Force, we worked to find ways to expand broadband to the unserved and underserved areas of the state. These recommendations resulted in LB992 which in part allows companies access to existing infrastructure in order to expand internet access. LB996 created the broadband improvement program.

LB931 allows for operation of vehicles that exceed the maximum weight and length capacities by 15% and 10%, respectively when transporting grain and other seasonally harvested products from farm storage to market. All the bills I introduced were passed. LB 1002/LB893 allows for EMS services to restock medication, used during transport of a person, at a hospital pharmacy. It also creates two new EMS classifications; Critical Care paramedic and Community Paramedicine.

LB831 allows vehicles that were manufactured prior to 1940 receive a salvage title if they were previously titled as junk. This bill will help the Nelson family from Wahoo title their vehicle which has been in their family for decades.

LB832 provides civil and criminal immunity to a person who breaks into a vehicle to rescue a child in imminent danger of heat stroke.

LB1201, which was included in LB632, creates a flood mitigation plan development group within the Department of Natural Resources. The group will be tasked with compiling a centralized list of critical infrastructure, and identifying available funding resources and cost-effective flood mitigation strategies.

As we enter the interim my office remains open and we look forward to a busy schedule working on issues that affect this District and Nebraska.  I appreciate hearing from constituents and encourage you to contact my office at 402-471-2719 or bbostelman@leg.ne.gov.