Statehood Day was March 1st, Happy 156th Nebraska! We all look forward to another great year for our great state.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board convenes four times per year and had their most recent meeting last Friday. The panel did not change their state revenue estimates from the previous projections last October. Some tax receipts have shown a little bit of a decline but all in all, are still very strong. Our legislative fiscal office helps supply information to the forecasting board, and their data did show some evidence for lowering estimates a little bit. The forecasting board will meet again in April, just prior to the 70th day of the legislative session, which is the day we must present the Appropriations Committee budget to the floor. As a committee, we will use their forecast to confirm our numbers in the budget for this fiscal year.

We do have a very robust rainy day fund right now; with no spending it would stand at $2.3 billion at the end of June. But to put this in perspective, four years ago, that number was just $300 million. Obviously, there has been tremendous growth in state revenue in recent years. But as I visit with senators on the floor, there is concern for the long term viability of the fund; and long term fiscal responsibility of its use. I am hearing more senators express the desire to maintain a strong rainy day fund, while meeting our state obligations and funding a few new projects. So that is all part of the discussion as we create a budget in the Appropriations Committee.

Last year we passed my bill, the Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program, to enhance broadband connectivity for technical soil and water equipment for farmers and ranchers. It was included in a large bill from the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. At that time, we expected funding to come from BEAD (Broadband Equity Access Deployment) federal dollars. As the new law was implemented by the Public Service Commission, it was determined that the fund could only be used for the broadband portion of the program and not technical equipment. So this year I introduced LB 361, heard in committee this week, to add $1 million each year from general funds to expedite the technology portion of the program, and $1 million for broadband expansion, which can be reimbursed to the state through BEAD funding. The PSC did vote unanimously to support this bill, and we had excellent testimony from area farmers..

Also heard in committee, LB 563 would appropriate $250,000 for the next two fiscal years, to the Nebraska State Historical Society to contract with programs that provide education and technical expertise related to downtown or mainstreet revitalization, business growth, and historic preservation. The Main Street Nebraska Network program is one of those, with participating communities in Beatrice, Cortland, Falls City, Fremont, Grand Island, Grant, Hastings, Lexington, Minden, Neligh, North Platte, Papillion, Schuyler, Tekamah, Wayne, Weeping Water and York at this time.

I introduced LB 563 to expand on the success experienced in District 30. Testimony on the bill was given by Michael Sothan of Main Street Beatrice. He did a great job explaining how Beatrice utilizes this program, demonstrated by a net gain of 30 new businesses in the past decade. In fact, Beatrice has one of the most successful Main Street programs in the state.

Other bills of interest to the district were heard by committees this week. LB 703 would create a Nebraska expressway program comparable to the one used to complete the South Beltway. Right now, east of Columbus, only part of a two lane to four lane expansion has been completed. A couple of those lanes end in a cornfield, and they would really like to get that finished. I am okay with this bill. We learned in the South Beltway project that costs are increasing at rates of 10-12% every year. If we wait 20 years the cost could double or triple. Expanding and improving the state highway system is vital to agriculture, manufacturing and transportation. There are several areas across Nebraska with similar needs, and now with the South Beltway done, the next logical discussion is tackling the East Beltway project.

A bill to impose a tax on e-cigarettes and vaping devices was proposed in LB 584. Other than sales tax, we don’t have a tax on vaping products. Studies have shown that as you increase tax, usage goes down. I am very much in favor of that. In addition, our fiscal office estimates $1.3 to 1.5 million in tax revenue would come into the state from this tax.

Students have told me how e-cigarette usage has grown exponentially in the high schools, and I appreciate that students were concerned and would come to the Capital to visit with me about that. In another instance, I was working late in my office one evening during the previous session and a person on the Capitol cleaning crew explained a lot about e-cigarettes and vaping to me. We need to be mindful of how and why this increase is happening, what that means for future use of cigarettes and other products, and how this will affect overall health in coming years.

In floor debate, only a couple of bills have been discussed in depth. LB 77 would allow persons 21 and older to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Right now the law requires a $100 fee for a permit, and several hours of training. LB 77 would eliminate the permit, fee and training. Any one who wants to purchase a gun in Nebraska has to have a background check and I want to emphasize that LB 77 would not take away that requirement. An amendment to the bill has made it slightly more palatable to some law enforcement; and another amendment does increase criminal penalties. We have had good debate on the aspects of the bill itself, which I feel has been worthwhile. There were enough votes to end the filibuster, and LB 77 advanced to the second round of debate on a vote of 34 to 11.

As always, I encourage you to contact me with your comments, opinions and suggestions. My phone number is 402-471-2620. My email address is mdorn@leg.ne.gov. Thank you.