Weekly District 30 Update – 3/28/25

State Senator Myron Dorn

The end of March also brings the end of public hearings on bills introduced this session. Starting the week of March 31st, we will begin full-day debate in the Chamber on senators’ priority bills. There have been a few extended debates already.

One such debate is on LB 415 that seeks to make small changes to the passed initiative for paid sick leave. The debate is centered on the committee amendment which incorporated much of LB 698 offered by Senator Paul Strommen. LB 698 would exempt seasonal workers, workers under 16 years of age, and employers who have 10 or fewer employees. Senators who support the committee amendment see this as protecting the smaller employer where the financial impact of providing 5 days of paid sick leave could be crippling. I am concerned about a small business who may not be able to absorb this mandate for paid sick leave. I understand many of the comments that the voter spoke on this. The limited language allowed in ballot measures, and the single subject clause precludes extensive language possibilities. The limitations proposed in the committee amendment to LB 415, I believe are reasonable and appropriate. If this passes, a small business can still opt to provide this coverage if they have fewer than 10 employees. I support the amendment and the bill.

A bill by Senator Jana Hughes of Seward, LB 9 would broaden a measure regarding alternative nicotine products to include nicotine analogues, or synthetic products that mimic the effects of nicotine. The industry creates new products faster than legislation can adapt, but we are attempting to add these products into existing statutes. The General Affairs Committee that heard the bill, offered an amendment which was adopted 39-0 on General File. The amendment would levy a 20% wholesale tax on alternative nicotine products beginning on January 1, or 2026. Right now, these products are taxes at the state rate of 5.5% and any local sales tax. The Department of Revenue estimates this tax would increase revenue by $927,000 in 2026, $2.4 million in 2027, and $2.7 million in 2028. If this tax helps deter buyers from using these addictive products, that is a good thing. The bill advanced to the second round of debate, Select File, with a vote 41-0.

Senator Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, introduced LB 237 to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. Currently counties with populations of less than 10,000 residents, can conduct all-mail elections. Her bill would remove that threshold and permit counties of any size to conduct mail-in ballots for elections. 67 of Nebraska’s 93 counties are eligible to have all-mail elections, with 11 counties implementing them in full. These counties have seen cost savings, higher voter participation, and improved accessibility for the elderly and those with transportation issues. A representative of the Nebraska County Officials Association supported the bill and stated LB 237 provides counties the flexibility to adopt the system if that best serves their residents. She also mentioned that larger counties probably wouldn’t use this option unless under specific circumstances. All requirements for conducting elections still apply, photo ID or other approved identification methods. The Election Commissioners and County Clerks do an outstanding job of running our elections and I know they would do a great job if this bill became law. I support this idea. I know I have faced challenges with getting to the precinct to cast my vote. The committee has not taken any action on this bill to date.

A bill heard by the Judiciary Committee was LB 73. Senator Barry DeKay offered LB 73 to reduce the number of annual training hours from 32 hours to 20 hours for law enforcement with counties that have less than 40,000 people. Small law enforcement agencies have fewer officers to fill in for the officer at training. The hours were increased to 32 back in 2021 as a result of some civil unrest in the summer of 2020. Small towns are already struggling to keep their law enforcement fully staffed. Two law enforcement officers from small communities testified in support of the bill. No one was in opposition. The bill is still in committee.

Now that senators, committee and the Speaker have designated their priority issues for this session, debate will begin to focus on those issues. Many of those issues tended to be the bigger or more controversial bills. I expect there will be a number of filibusters in the remaining 47 or so days left this session.

For more information on the Nebraska Legislature, the link is: nebraskalegislature.gov   

Here you can find all the information on bills, hearing schedules, information on senators, legislative divisions, and legislative reports etc.

My contact information is mdorn@leg.ne.gov and 402-471-2620. As always, I appreciate hearing from you.