The Legislature finished up a second week of debate in this uncommon session, and now has two recess days built into the calendar. This is done to provide the five days needed for bills to be approved or vetoed by the Governor, giving the Legislature a chance to consider any overrides that might come up. It has also given us a break and some time to think through the major issues we discussed the past week.

LB 814 was one of those bills up for debate, which would prohibit dismemberment abortions. I am a co-sponsor of this bill. It was advanced to Select File, and will have further discussion on the floor before taking another vote to move it to Final Reading. 

Of course, the other major bill brought forward was LB 1107.  This legislation encompasses property tax relief, business incentives and funding for a project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  Here are the basics of the bill as it stands right now:  

• $125 million in property tax relief for 2020 as income tax credit based on school property taxes paid.
• Another $250 million in the next five years towards property tax relief, resulting in a total of $375 million into a new property tax credit fund.
• The $275 million in the current property tax credit fund will remain there as its own base.
• There is a provision to grow the relief fund as valuations rise.
• The Imagine Act for business incentives, which has caps of $25 million for the first two years, then $100 million for two years, $150 million in the fifth year, and then capped at 3% of budget.
• The Act sunsets in ten years.
• The Governor cannot override these caps.
• The project at UNMC would receive $300 million, but that will not start until $375 million is put into the property tax credit fund first.
• The state will not start funding the UNMC project before 2024 and would not start funding until there is a private match of $300 million and federal funds of $1 billion are appropriated.

This is obviously a complicated issue with the bill itself spanning nearly 150 pages. I am studying the details and working with fellow senators to make sure we have covered as many bases as possible. I do want to point out that if we discover any adjustments that need to be made in the coming months, we will be back in session in January and can take up those points at that time rather than waiting another year. That is one benefit of finishing the session in August.

Please contact me at any time with your questions and concerns, and check my legislative webpage and social media for updates.  You can also find information on all bills, the legislative calendar and contact information at www.nebraskalegislature.gov.  402-471-2620  mdorn@leg.ne.gov