The Legislative Committees have completed the public hearings for the bills introduced this session, and beginning February 27, the Legislature will begin full day debate of bills that have been advanced.

After debate, the Legislature has advanced LB209, introduced by Senator Abbie Cornett of Bellevue. LB209 will allow a delay of a city sales tax refund pursuant to the Nebraska Advantage Act or the Employment and Investment Growth Act and will allow for deduction in equal monthly installments over a period of one year if the refunds exceed 25% or the city’s sales and use tax receipts from the previous year. LB209 is an important bill, which provides cities with planning tools to deal with large tax refunds under our economic development laws. For example, the city of Wakefield has recently had to issue a large tax refund, and if LB209 was in place, this could be paid in monthly installments beginning at a later time to help Wakefield and other cities like it adequately budget for the city’s needs. I strongly support this legislation.

The Legislature also advanced LB830, introduced by Senator Galen Hadley of Kearney, which provides a sales and use tax exemption for biochips, which are used for genotyping, analysis of gene expression, and protein profiling in plants, livestock, pets, and research organisms. Biochips are often considered an agricultural input and are very useful tools in identifying plant and animal diseases. This tax exemption will promote development of this business in Nebraska, align Nebraska with other states in how this type of business is taxed, and be beneficial to agriculture.

Another bill that was extensively debated was LR358CA, introduced by Senator Tom Carlson of Holdredge. If passed by the Legislature, LR358CA would place a question on the upcoming November ballot for voters to decide if Nebraska’s term limit law should be changed. LR358CA amends Article III, section 12, of the Nebraska Constitution, pertaining to term limits for members of our state Unicameral. The amendment would allow members to serve three consecutive four-year terms instead of two consecutive four-year terms. Because it is a proposed constitutional change, voters would make the ultimate determination on the adoption of this provision.

If you have any questions regarding legislation or any other issue, please contact my office at (402) 471-2801 or tlarson@leg.ne.gov.

Best Wishes,

Senator Tyson Larson

The Legislature is at the halfway point for this session, and this past week, priority bills were chosen by the senators and the standing committees. Speaker Flood will also soon be determining the twenty five speaker priority bills for this session. Debate by the Legislature will likely only address prioritized legislation from this point forward. I prioritized LB806, which was introduced by Senator Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha. LB806 will allow Nebraska licensed horse racing premises the ability to install and operate Instant Racing Terminals for wagering on historic horse races. LB806 benefits the horse racing industry in Nebraska, which is a very important industry for agriculture and rural areas. Promoting the horse racing industry provides for more jobs and revenue throughout the state. I strongly support this bill and look forward to debate by the full Legislature. For a full listing of the bills that have been chosen as senator or committee priorities, please visit the Legislature’s website: http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/session/priority.php.

LB686, introduced by Senator Ken Schilz of Ogallala, was debated and advanced. As amended, LB686 allows persons with a doctorate degree with an emphasis in reproductive physiology from an accredited college or university and can show proof of valid professional liability insurance to perform embryos transfers on bovine animals. Allowing additional persons with appropriate training will encourage bovine embryo transfers to be more available to our beef producers in the state, and I support passage of this bill.

If you have any questions regarding legislation or any other issue, please contact my office at (402) 471-2801 or tlarson@leg.ne.gov.

Best Wishes,

Senator Tyson Larson

The Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on LB857, a bill I introduced to ensure more accountability for Nebraska Environmental Trust grant funds that are used for purchases of real estate. LB857 works to address concerns about revolving grant funds where groups are able to sell real property they purchased with grant funds and reinvest in additional property with the revenue generated by the sale. In addition, LB857 would address Environmental Trust grants being used for purchases of real estate where the land is subsequently sold or donated to the federal government for management. I have been diligently working with the members of the Natural Resources Committee and groups who have previously applied for Environmental Trust grants to properly address these concerns, and I am confident that an agreement can be reached that does so.

The Transportation Committee held a public hearing on LB1095, a bill I introduced to offer Beef State license plates as a specialty plate available to all Nebraskans. These license plates would show our appreciation for agriculture and the beef industry, and like many of you, I look forward to having a Beef State license plate on my vehicle.

The Legislature debated and advanced several bills this week. LB1118, introduced by Senator Abbie Cornett of Bellevue, provides tax incentives under the Nebraska Advantage Act for large data center projects, which will encourage business growth in Nebraska. LR40CA, introduced by Senator Pete Pirsch of Omaha, was also advanced. LR40CA would propose a constitutional amendment to protect the right to hunt and fish in Nebraska, subject to personal property rights as well as wildlife conservation and management that preserve the right to hunt and fish. In light of increasing attacks on sportsmen by various animal rights groups, this amendment would protect traditional recreation activities that are so important to our state’s heritage.

If you have any questions regarding legislation or any other issue, please contact my office at (402) 471-2801 or tlarson@leg.ne.gov.

Best Wishes,

Senator Tyson Larson

The Judiciary Committee advanced a bill I introduced, LB721, to general file. LB721 expands the definition of police animal to include police dogs and horses owned by cities, counties, and villages. I look forward to debate on this bill before the full Legislature and passage of this legislation.

The public hearing for LB915, a bill I introduced to change the animal abuse reporting statutes and create a new criminal offense of obtaining employment at an animal facility with the intent to disrupt the normal operations of that business, was held in the Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, January 31.  While some concerns were raised about the language in the bill, I am working with members of the committee to address the concerns and move this legislation forward because of the importance of stopping certain practices employed by animal activist groups.

The Legislature debated and advanced LB391, introduced by Senator Ken Schilz of Ogallala, which increases awareness of invasive species in Nebraska with the creation of the Nebraska Invasive Species Council. The Council would develop an integrated management plan for the state, facilitate governmental coordination for prevention and management, and provide public outreach. This Council will help local governments in their efforts to stem the infestation of these species and I support this legislation.

LB946, introduced by Senator Greg Adams of York, was advanced through both rounds of debate to final readings. LB946 adopts the Community College Aid Act, which changes the formula for state aid to community colleges beginning in Fiscal Year 2013-2014. The initial allocation of state aid will be appropriated along the current guidelines. However, allocations beyond that, up to $500,000, would be allocated to the Nebraska Community College Student Performance and Occupational Education Grant Fund where a committee would determine the appropriate allocations. Any remaining allocations would be then distributed based upon the total number of community college areas, the number of students, and the number of reimbursable educational units offered at the community colleges. This bill authorizes continued support for our state’s community colleges and will better allocate funds according to need.

If you have any questions regarding legislation introduced or any other issue, please contact my office at (402) 471-2801 or tlarson@leg.ne.gov.

Best Wishes,

Senator Tyson Larson