Wednesday marked the end of bill introduction in the Nebraska Legislature. Senators introduced 521 new bills during the 10-day period, and hearings will begin next week.
Among the bills introduced is Legislative Bill (LB) 1116. The Center for Rural Affairs worked with Sen. Teresa Ibach on this legislation, which would create a grant and loan program for Nebraska-owned grocery and convenience stores with limited access to fresh food, with priority given to low- to moderate-income areas.
Grocery stores are an integral part of rural communities, providing essential resources as well as economic and social benefits. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, supply chain issues, and increased online shopping have strained local grocers, especially in rural areas. LB 1116 would provide financial support and technical assistance to ensure long-term sustainability for grocery stores. A hearing is scheduled for the bill on Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. before the Agriculture Committee.
We value your input as we engage with the legislative process. If you would like to share your support, concerns, insights, or opposition by providing testimony in person, via letter, or by visiting with your senator, please do not hesitate to contact me at carliej@cfra.org or 402.687.2100 ext. 1032.
Below are the bills we are monitoring so far, including those carried over from the 2023 session. We expect to add additional bills to this list in the weeks ahead.
Economic development
LB 349 (Wayne) - Support: This carryover bill from 2023 would increase grant funds available for each of the Business Innovation Act’s five programs that accelerate business development across the state. One of these programs is the Microenterprise Assistance Program, which allows organizations, such as the Center, to provide technical assistance and loans to entrepreneurs who are unable to secure bank financing due to a lack of collateral, credit obstacles, or a local bank’s inability to fund business startups. An increase to $9 million annually, from $3 million, will give more small businesses the opportunities to grow and invest in their operations.
After being introduced in 2023, this bill remains in the Appropriations Committee for consideration.
LB 515 (Walz) - Support: This carryover legislation from 2023 would create the Rural Economic Development Initiative Act and establish a grant program to help economic development organizations expand services in rural areas. Funds would be prioritized for counties with a population less than 50,000, second-class cities (cities with a population greater than 800 but less than 5,000), and villages (communities with a population of less than 800). To qualify, an employee hired with funding from this program must be engaged in business development, housing improvement, workforce retention, and relocation assistance.
After being introduced in 2023, this bill remains in the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee for consideration.
LB 865 (Bostelman) - Support: Last year, the Legislature established the Nebraska Broadband Office via LB 683. As part of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the office is dedicated to bringing fast, reliable internet connectivity to homes and businesses throughout the state. LB 865 would seek to create accountability by requesting that internet providers submit an annual report to the Broadband Office detailing their advertised service plans and rates.
A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22 before the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.
LB 993 (Ibach) - Monitor: This legislation would create the Apprenticeship Grant Act and provide an avenue for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Next Step Program to receive training and education in skilled industries. The act would incentivize businesses that partner with registered apprenticeship programs and offer a full-time job with a livable wage to an apprentice upon program completion. Businesses can receive grants for up to 100 apprentices each year, with funds used for wages and tuition.
A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22 before the Business and Labor Committee.
Food and agriculture
LB 321 (Brandt) - Support: This carryover bill from 2023 would expand the cottage food law to permit the sale of refrigerated baked goods and other temperature-sensitive foods. Cottage food producers must register with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and complete an accredited food safety course in addition to labeling their products with ingredients and their name and address.
After being introduced in 2023, this bill remains on general file.
LB 952 (Day) - Support: This legislation would require the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to implement the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program (EBT). Modeled after the Pandemic EBT program, which ended in March 2023, the Summer EBT program would provide additional food assistance to families with children who receive free or reduced school lunches while school is not in session. Families would receive a pre-loaded card with $120 per child to help buy food throughout the summer. An estimated 150,000 children throughout the state would be eligible.
Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 1062 (Ibach) - Monitor: LB 1062 would allow for tuition loan repayment of up to $30,000 per year, for three years, for veterinary school graduates who provide at least 50% of their services to livestock in rural areas of the state. Adequate veterinary care is vital to successful livestock production, which is the top industry in Nebraska. There has been a persistent shortage of veterinarians providing rural livestock services, and LB 1062 would be one mechanism to address this need.
A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 24 before the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 1116 (Ibach) - Support: This Center for Rural Affairs priority legislation would create a grant and loan program for small Nebraska-owned grocery and convenience stores in areas where access to fresh, healthy food is limited, with priority given to low- and moderate-income communities. Funds may be used for physical improvements to stores as well as professional services to expand or improve access to perishable or nutritious food. The economic need is greatest in rural communities, where local grocers provide an essential service to residents who would otherwise be forced to travel long distances to buy food.
A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30 before the Agriculture Committee.
Read: Legislation introduced to provide financial support to small grocers
Health and safety
LB 62 (M. Cavanaugh) - Support: This carryover bill from 2023 would provide Medicaid coverage for all necessary translation and interpretation services for eligible recipients using a medical assistance program. Medicaid providers and patients in rural clinics often struggle with effective communication due to a lack of available translation services, which has consequences in a wide range of settings such as laboratory, clinic, physician, obstetric, and mental health care.
After being introduced in 2023, this bill remains in the Health and Human Services Committee for consideration.
LB 856 (Fredrickson) - Monitor: Safe, reliable child care is one of the highest priorities for families with young children, but the state is experiencing a shortage of workers. LB 856 would eliminate income limits on eligibility for the federal child care subsidy for parents who work at a licensed child care program for at least 20 hours per week.
A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26 before the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 1015 (Walz) - Monitor: This legislation provides tuition loan repayment of up to $60,000 per year to dentists who have been practicing for less than five years, provide care to Medicaid patients, and practice in rural areas with dental care shortages. There are more than 340,000 people enrolled in Medicaid in Nebraska, with only 378 dental providers throughout the state. Most of these providers are concentrated in urban areas, and rural Medicaid patients face months on a waitlist and long drives to receive dental care.
A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 24 before the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 1035 (Hughes) - Monitor: This legislation would create a program for pharmacies to donate non-expired and safe medications to be made available to patients who have difficulty affording their prescriptions. Currently, prescriptions are destroyed when excess stock is no longer needed.
Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 1087 (Jacobson) - Support: Due to inflation and low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, some rural hospitals have eliminated or reduced essential services to remain open. LB 1087 would leverage federal funds to increase reimbursement rates, which could bring an additional $950 million to the state’s hospitals. The funds would help hospitals maintain quality care and keep costs down for patients with private insurance.
Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Energy and environment
LB 399 (Brewer) - Oppose: This carryover legislation would change the approval requirements for privately developed renewable energy generation facilities. Under this proposal, the owner of the planned facility must file an application with the Nebraska Power Review Board, go through a public hearing process, and receive approval from the Board in order to construct the generation facility. The Power Review Board is an unelected body appointed by the governor. We believe siting decisions should be made at the local level by individuals accountable to local voters.
After being introduced in 2023, this bill remains in the Natural Resources Committee for consideration.
LB 956 (Bostar) - Support: This legislation would require the installation of aircraft detection lighting on wind turbines. It would lower light pollution by using light-mitigating technology to turn on only when aircraft are detected in the area.
Referred to the Natural Resources Committee.
