The 106th Legislative Session has adjourned. The unusual timing seems appropriate somehow, with the events of the year so far. In the end, a large number of bills were passed into law. The majority of bills become effective three calendar months after the date of adjournment. Bills with the “e” clause (emergency clause) become effective at midnight on the day the Governor signs the bills. Some bills have an operative date for a specific day when the bill becomes law.

I designated LB 1014 as my priority bill in this 60-day session and it was passed into law our first week back in July. It provides that an association of employers that sponsors a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) may include self-employed individuals in their health insurance plan.  For example, a farm organization or local co-op could offer health insurance to member farmers and ranchers.  

Another bill that I advanced through the process was LB 106, which harmonizes Nebraska State Statute with federal law as it relates to the DNA Identification Act of 1994 and adds additional language to clarify that the forensic DNA laboratories must participate in the Combined DNA Index System. This simple measure will allow our state law enforcement agencies to operate more seamlessly with the federal system. 

The Legislature was able to pass the budget bills, which were signed by the Governor with no line item vetoes. We also moved LB 1107 through the process to provide a degree of property tax relief, business incentives and the UNMC project. This was not a perfect bill by any means. I anticipate we will need to revisit some of the provisions in the next session and adjust as we go along and learn more about the effects of the virus on our state economy. However, I do feel it was important to make progress towards property tax relief and to assist property tax owners as much as possible.

In the next few months, I will work with the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on LR 367, which I introduced. This resolution will review services of county governments which are required by statute, along with the fees or fines, also in statute, which counties collect for those services. I believe a review of these set amounts is necessary and appropriate in our current circumstances.

The South By-Pass project, which is a major initiative in District 30, continues to be mainly on schedule for completion in three years. As you have no doubt witnessed first hand, the scope and extent of the project is huge. You can sign up for direct updates on the Nebraska Department of Transportation website: https://dot.nebraska.gov/lincoln-south-beltway/. Drone footage updates can also be viewed on Youtube, here is a link to the July video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjUIAV1EBo.

 As we re-enter the “interim” period between legislative sessions, my office will continue to be open and accessible by phone or email. Our present location on the 11th floor during construction at the Capital, does not allow for in person visits without an appointment. If you need an appointment, simply contact my office. 

We will be back in session in January of 2021, barring any need for a special session. The Nebraska constitution requires that the Legislature convene annually on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January. Sessions in odd-numbered years last 90 days, whereas sessions in even-numbered years are 60 days. Adjournment dates vary based on how the Speaker schedules the 90- or 60-day session. Or as we have learned this year, on how a pandemic changes the legislative calendar. I look forward to hearing from you about your areas of concerns and ideas for legislation. Contact me at any time at mdorn@leg.ne.gov, 402-471-2620.