Sine Die

The 106th Nebraska Legislature Second Session has adjourned sine die, meaning that the Legislature has adjourned until January. If you had the chance to tune in during the final 17 days of session, you may have witnessed some dysfunction first hand. There was an absurd amount of shouting and crying on the floor during debate (District 1, you’ll be happy to know that your senator did not participate in that kind of behavior). Behind the scenes of the drama, however, was a level-headed group of senators negotiating the biggest compromises of this session. Cooler heads prevailed, with the last few days featuring compromise legislation passing on each of the biggest goals of this biennium. Over the next few columns, I’ll summarize a few of the most important bills passed in 2020.

The biggest victory from this Legislature was the passage of the “Grand Bargain,” LB 1107. This package was a step in the right direction for achieving meaningful property tax relief, though structural reform in our tax code still needs to be addressed in 2021. LB 1107 more than doubles the size of the Property Tax Credit Fund, which is direct relief to property taxpayers. The state will increase that fund, which is currently $275 million, to $400 million in the first year and eventually to $650 million in state-funded property tax relief. LB 1107 also includes the new business tax incentive program funding that would begin at $25 million annually for the first two years and gradually increase to $150 million in the fifth year. The new business incentives program also includes more incentives for small businesses and better transparency measures. Finally, LB 1107 includes a commitment to provide funds for a federal project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center that could bring thousands of jobs to Nebraska.

We also updated the budget for this biennium. The budget bill includes $50 million in flood recovery funding and a transfer of $10 million in general funds to the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Fund. These are impressive wins for Southeast Nebraska and our rural communities. It also provides a $3.7 million increase in developmental disability provider rates, adds an additional $1.5 million to aid local public health departments, adds $250,000 in general funds to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime lab to support testing sexual assault kits, and also adds $458,000 over two years to the Nebraska Supreme Court to increase staffing for youth problem solving courts. The budget also requires any funds that were not allocated and unexpended from COVID-19 to be reoffered through a grant process for unmet needs. This could include rental and food assistance, small business and livestock stabilization, broadband, workforce retraining and child care. Extra funds may also be transferred to the Rainy Day Fund. The bill took effect immediately when passed with a vote of 43-3. 

District 1, these past two years have been marked by unprecedented events, including the floods of 2019 and COVID-19. Nebraska’s Legislature has risen to the occasion, leading to several accomplishments that will benefit those in Southeast Nebraska and also across the state. 

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604; telephone 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov .