Bill introduction concluded last Wednesday, Jan. 22, with a total of 715 bills introduced. A new rule implemented this session limited senators to just 20 bills each. Committee hearings began on Jan. 21 and will continue through March 28; on Wednesday, floor debate began on bills that have been placed on general file.
One bill that aligns with rural interests is Legislative Bill (LB) 375, introduced by Sen. Teresa Ibach. LB 375 would create a grant program to help small grocers in rural communities address their long-term business sustainability. Under this program, grants could be used to help grocers apply for federal funding support, transition to a community-supported business model, purchase new technology equipment, or pilot a wholesale buying cooperative to improve purchasing power. The Agriculture Committee has scheduled a hearing for LB 375 on Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m., and the Center will advocate for this priority legislation.
All bills introduced in the Nebraska Legislature receive a hearing before one of 14 standing committees. Public input for bill hearings are an important part of the lawmaking process. If you have any questions, would like to share the rural issues important to you, or want to learn more about how you can participate in the legislative process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or 402.687.2100 ext. 1032.
Below are the bills we are monitoring this session. We will add additional bills in the coming weeks as priority issues continue to emerge.
Economic Development
LB 81 (Hardin) – Monitor: During the 2024 special legislative session, senators passed a bill that alterated how and when 2023 property tax credits are applied, resulting in the majority of Nebraska property owners missing out on dollars they otherwise would have had refunded. This bill is a clean-up measure for the affected property owners, but it will have to move through the legislative process very swiftly to be effective.
LB 151 (Cavanaugh, J.) – Support: Creates the First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account to allow tax-deductible contributions to be made into savings accounts up to $4,000 for married couples who file taxes jointly,or $2,000 for other individuals opening a new account. Referred to the Revenue Committee.
LB 254 (Hallstrom) – Support: Appropriates funds for the Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF). Quality, affordable housing is in short supply throughout rural Nebraska. The RWHF is a grant program administered by the Department of Economic Development to construct or rehabilitate housing to retain and attract residents in Nebraska’s rural communities. Referred to the Appropriations Committee.
Community Well-being
LB 71 (DeBoer) – Support: The Step Up to Quality Care program provides support and resources for child care providers to make measurable quality improvements to their businesses. The “step up” between levels 2 and 3 of the program requires significant investments from providers. This bill would support program participants and incentivize higher quality care for children in our state. A hearing was held Jan. 23 before the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 192 (Quick) – Support: Maintains current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) income eligibility, which otherwise will decrease from 165% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 130% of the FPL on October 1. The cost of groceries has only continued to rise, and food insecurity in Nebraska is higher than the national average. SNAP provides critical support for feeding Nebraskans and contributes to local economies where program dollars are spent. If the bill does not pass this session, an estimated 10,000 Nebraskans will lose access to SNAP benefits later this year. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6 before the Health and Human Services Committee.
LB 375 (Ibach) – Support: This Center for Rural Affairs priority legislation would create a grant program to invest in the long-term sustainability of independently owned grocery stores. Many small stores struggle to remain open, but they are a crucial part of food access in rural communities. Local grocery stores provide a social hub, job opportunities, and a vital main street business. Passing this bill means supporting rural communities by investing in their future. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 before the Agriculture Committee.
LB 95 (Fredrickson) – Support: Creates a three-year pilot program to allow child care workers whose income is 85% or below the state median income and who are employed at least 20 hours per week in the child care industry to participate in the federal child care subsidy program. This pilot program follows up on last year’s LB 856, also introduced by Sen. Fredrickson in response to the child care workforce shortage in Nebraska. Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Education
Agriculture and Conservation
LB 145 (Ibach) – Support: Requires the Department of Agriculture to administer a grant program to mitigate invasive weeds growing in waterways and increases funding from $3 million to $6 million. Controlling the spread of invasive wetland plants benefits the health of waterways both in state and downstream. A hearing was held on Jan. 28 before the Agriculture Committee. The Center submitted a comment of support.
Energy
LB 20 (Cavanaugh, J.) – Support: This bill allows agricultural producers to use small renewable energy systems, like wind and solar, up to 100 kW in size. These systems cannot send electricity back to the grid, meaning they are not eligible for net metering benefits. However, utilities are required to provide service to these systems while recovering any related costs. By supporting on-site renewable energy use, this legislation helps farmers lower energy expenses and increase sustainability without requiring integration into the broader grid system. A hearing was held on Jan. 22 before the Natural Resources Committee. The Center submitted a comment of support.
LB 349 (Prokop) – Support: LB349 ensures energy storage projects are included in Nebraska’s electricity regulations by requiring approval from the Nebraska Power Review Board before construction or acquisition. Since private developers can already build and own renewable energy facilities, this bill provides a clear process for adding storage, which helps improve the reliability and efficiency of clean energy. These updates create a more consistent framework for integrating energy storage with Nebraska’s growing renewable energy sector. Referred to the Natural Resources Committee.
LB 503 (Bosn) – Support: This bill establishes “American energy friendly counties,” allowing counties to apply for the designation and voluntarily adopt zoning standards for renewable energy projects. Participating counties would benefit from increased nameplate capacity tax revenue from renewable energy facilities, creating additional local funding and promoting clean energy growth. Referred to the Revenue Committee.