Starting with a covid-19 update, vaccines are available to all Nebraskans 12 and older either through their county health department, participating pharmacies including the Wal-Mart in Crete, and Public Health Solutions in Fillmore, Jefferson, Saline, and Thayer counties. The Pfizer vaccination is also available to children 12 years old and older. The vaccination rate in Nebraska is levelling off but we have not yet reached herd immunity. I encourage everyone to get a vaccine so we can get back to normal. 

Moving to the Legislature, last week we heard debate on many revenue bills including Senator Friesen’s LB454, which would have created a School Property Tax Stabilization Program which would have directed state aid to rural school districts who use property taxes to fund the majority needs. The state aid would have equaled 50% of the difference of the property taxes paid over 70% of formula needs. The bill also would have reduced the assessed value of agricultural land for purposes of funding schools over a four-year period from 75% of actual value to 55% of actual value. I’m very disappointed that the bill failed to advance but I will continue to work with my colleagues to direct more state aid to school districts who are overly reliant on property taxes.

On a related note, I voted for Senator DeBoer’s LB132 which advanced to the second round and will create the School Financing Review Commission, amended to only include Senators on the Commission. The commission will conduct an in-depth review of the financing of public schools, including methods to offer alternatives to heavy reliance on property taxes and provide equitable education opportunities across the state. In a surprising turn of events, an amendment from Sen. Wayne to sunset the school aid formula TEEOSA received over twenty votes so I expect we’ll see that provision again in some form in the future.

As for property tax relief, in the proposed biennial budget, the Property Tax Credit Fund will go up by $63 million (from $275 to $300-313 million) over the next two years, which is the second largest increase in the budget. That is split up to $25 million in fiscal year 21-22 and $38 million in FY22-23. The second fund known as the Property Tax Incentive Act starts from a fixed amount of $125 million and will go up to almost $314 million the next two fiscal years, meaning your refundable state income tax credit should be two and a half times bigger next year. And the Homestead exemption will have a 3% increase each of the next two years which works out to an extra $3.2 million in FY21-22 and $5.3 million in FY22-23. In addition to all of this, when gambling starts in Nebraska, you can expect at least another 2-3% property tax relief.

Two of my bills – LB306 and LB396 – advanced to Final Reading (the third round) this week. LB 306 – The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – is my personal priority bill. LB 396, which would create a statewide farm to school program, was designated a Speaker Priority bill by Speaker Hilgers, who announced yesterday that the Legislative Session will adjourn sine die on Thursday May 27th.