This session, senators have introduced many bills to better serve our veterans. They range from cutting red tape to obtain teaching certificates for military spouses to ensuring proper markers on the graves of National Guard members. This week, the Legislature passed three veteran-friendly bills that address specific issues that veterans are facing in our state. 

LB 4, introduced by Senator Briese, would raise the tuition assistance for undergraduate education under the Reserve Tuition Credit from 50% to 75%. It also would remove a provision in statute preventing anyone with more than 10 years of military service from using the tuition credit. LB 4 is an important bill because it provides incentive to study in Nebraska while serving in the reserves. Twenty states provide free college tuition for veterans, including our neighboring states of Wyoming and South Dakota. This bill is a step in the right direction for providing those who serve our country with affordable, quality education. LB 4 passed the final round of debate on March 11 and was signed into law.

Senator Gragert’s bill, LB 77, will prohibit insurance companies from adding a surcharge or increasing premiums for members of the armed forces for discontinuing their motor vehicle insurance coverage while deployed abroad. Generally speaking, military members do not need to keep insurance on their vehicles while they are abroad, since they are not being used. Some insurance companies penalize military members for discontinuing their service while being deployed. This leads to our active-duty military members and veterans paying disproportionately high premiums. LB 77 will protect our deployed service members from paying a high insurance premium simply for being deployed. LB 77 passed the final round of debate on March 11 and was signed into law.

Finally, LB 387 passed the first round of debate on March 10. This bill was introduced by Senator Brewer and would exempt 100% of military retired pay from Nebraska’s income taxes. The purpose of this bill is to attract retiring military veterans eligible for a military pension to settle in Nebraska after they are discharged from the service. Nebraska is losing the opportunity to have these heroes as citizens since they are moving to states that have a friendlier tax policy. By exempting this military retirement pay from paying Nebraska’s income tax, we are actively inviting veterans to be a part of our communities. Before 2020, Nebraska was the only state in the country that fully taxed both military retirement pay and Social Security income, driving retirees from our state. LB 387 eliminates the tax on military retirement pay, and I support the legislation introduced this year to also eliminate the tax on Social Security income.

Supporting our military and veterans will always be one of my highest priorities. Our nation’s heroes should be treated with honor and respect, both in practice and in policy. I am excited to work with my colleagues to make Nebraska the most veteran-friendly state, and these three bills are a fantastic start.

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.