We are currently over a fourth of the way through the 108th Legislature, First Session. This week we started two weeks of all day hearings. This means that we check in for the day and then we head to our committee hearings.

I co-signed LB709 introduced by Senator Wishart and it was heard in the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee this week. This is an important bill for the City of Lincoln. It would provide up to $60 million towards a new convention center, up to $7 million towards the Lancaster County events center and up to $4 million for the Branched Oak Observatory by Branched Oak Lake. This is a one-time request for funds and these funds will help with improvements and to assist with the building of a new convention center. A new convention center and improving the Events Center and the Observatory will help draw more visitors to Lincoln. When we have more tourism in Lincoln, that also helps bring in more funds for our city and state.

My bill, LB50, had a hearing in the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. It has bi-partisan support. My bill is focused on creating a few pilot programs to provide programming, the ability for virtual behavioral health services and incentives for individuals involved in corrections, probation and parole. It also prioritizes payments for restitution and creates a pilot program to establish a technical parole violation residential housing program. This bill includes many items that the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Working group agreed on in 2021. I believe that these items will provide tools to start making changes to our current system and giving additional community support to those transitioning out of incarceration.

As always, feel free to contact my office. My office phone number is 402-471-2731 and my email is sgeist@leg.ne.gov.