नेब्रास्का एक सदनात्मक अद्यावधिक—अगस्ट १८, २०२०

LB 1107 (Scheer) Neutral →  Adopt the ImagiNE Nebraska Act, provide for property tax relief, adopt the Nebraska Transformational Projects Act, and other provisions.

In the final days of the session, a compromise was adopted to move forward with three major issues: a major tax incentive, property tax relief, and large University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) project.

The previous proposal, LB 1106, failed to gain enough votes to pass prompting a different approach to resolving the issue. The major tax incentive, the ImagiNE Nebraska Act, remained mostly intact. This is an updated version of the previous tax incentive, the Nebraska Advantage. The cost of the incentive is capped at $25 million for the first two years and increases to 3 percent of state tax receipts from years six out. It is mostly focused on attracting and growing large businesses within the state by providing tax credits for various investments.

For property tax relief, the bill will maintain $275 million a year in the property tax credit program, and designate a portion of any increased revenues from gambling. It will also create a refundable income tax credit for property taxpayers funded at $125 million in 2020 and increasing to $375 million over four years. After that point, growth in the credit will change with valuation growth. While certainly property tax relief, it does not change the larger structure of how schools and local governments are funded.

Finally, it will provide $300 million in funding for UNMC NExT, a $2.6 billion Department of Defense initiated project, should it be approved. A new medical center and federal hazard response facility would be created. The state will pay $50 million per year over six years starting in 2025.

Passed on final reading with emergency clause 41-4-4. Signed by the governor on Aug. 17.

We applaud legislators for striking this compromise. The bill is filled with both positives and negatives from a rural perspective. The property tax relief is helpful, but still inadequate. The new business incentive package will spur economic growth in rural communities, but does little for microentrepreneurs. Time will tell whether the safeguards legislators included to protect current state budget expenditures will be effective. 

एलबी 879 (Geist) विरोध गर्नुहोस् → नेब्रास्का एडभान्टेज माइक्रोइन्टरप्राइज ट्याक्स क्रेडिट ऐनको लागि कोष खारेज गर्ने र आवेदनहरूको समाप्ति मिति परिवर्तन गर्ने।

LB 879 ले नेब्रास्का एडभान्टेज माइक्रोइन्टरप्राइज ट्याक्स क्रेडिटको प्रारम्भिक सूर्यास्त ल्याउनेछ र आर्थिक विकास विभाग अन्तर्गत लगभग $2 मिलियन कोषलाई व्यापार नवप्रवर्तन ऐनमा पुनर्निर्देशित गर्नेछ। २००५ मा स्थापित माइक्रोइन्टरप्राइज ट्याक्स क्रेडिटले पाँच वा कम कर्मचारीहरू भएका व्यवसायहरूलाई उनीहरूको व्यवसायमा तोकिएको लगानीको आधारमा $10,000 सम्मको २० प्रतिशत फिर्तायोग्य आयकर क्रेडिट प्रदान गर्दछ। यो कर क्रेडिट ग्रामीण र साना व्यवसाय मालिकहरूका लागि एक महत्वपूर्ण सम्पत्ति भएको छ जो ठूला कर क्रेडिट कार्यक्रमहरूको लागि योग्य छैनन्।

Indefinitely postponed.

While we lead the effort to defeat LB 879 in 2020, we anticipate a similar bill will be introduced in 2021. It is important for small entrepreneurs across the state to remain engaged and make sure their senators know the important role micro businesses play in our rural communities.

लिंकन जर्नल स्टारमा प्रकाशित हाम्रो लेख हेर्नुहोस्।

एलबी 996 (ब्रान्ड्ट) समर्थन → ब्रोडब्यान्ड डेटा सुधार कार्यक्रम सिर्जना गर्नुहोस्।

सेन्टरले सिनेटर ब्रान्ड्टको कार्यालयसँगको साझेदारीमा तयार पारेको यो कानूनले ब्रोडब्यान्ड डेटा सुधार कार्यक्रम सिर्जना गर्नेछ। यो विधेयक पारित भएमा संघीय सञ्चार आयोगले तोकेका डेटा प्रमाणीकरण आवश्यकताहरूको पालना गरेर राज्यले संघीय ब्रोडब्यान्ड अनुदान कार्यक्रमहरूमा पूर्ण पहुँच गर्न सक्षम छ भनी सुनिश्चित गर्न मद्दत गर्नेछ। नेब्रास्काको ब्रोडब्यान्ड नक्सालाई राम्रोसँग पूरा गर्न क्राउडसोर्सिङ डेटाको लागि कुनै संघीय दिशानिर्देशहरू स्थापित गरिएन भने, सार्वजनिक सेवा आयोगले क्राउडसोर्सिङ कार्यक्रम सिर्जना गर्नेछ, कार्यक्रमलाई प्रवर्द्धन गर्नेछ र संघीय ब्रोडब्यान्ड डेटामा भएका अशुद्धताहरूमा प्रतिक्रियाको लागि अनुमति दिनेछ। ब्रोडब्यान्ड नक्सा डेटामा अशुद्धता र सेवा पहुँचको अभावको बारेमा केन्द्रका घटकहरूले चिन्ता व्यक्त गरेको परिणामस्वरूप यो कानून ल्याइएको हो।

Signed by the governor on July 27. 

This bill opens the door for a greater share of federal funds directed at financing broadband expansion in rural and unserved areas of our state. In today’s world, having access to the internet has become just as important as other utilities citizens have come to rely on, such as electricity, water, and sewer. From Omaha to Scottsbluff, Superior to Valentine, and all areas in between, broadband service is critical to business, farms and ranches, the education of young people, and health care services. We appreciate Sen. Brandt’s diligence in working with the Center to get this important piece of legislation passed.

ग्रामीण मामिला कानून केन्द्र

ओमाहा वर्ल्ड-हेराल्डमा प्रकाशित हाम्रो लेख हेर्नुहोस्।
ओमाहा वर्ल्ड-हेराल्ड सम्पादकीय: भाइरस आपतकालले ग्रामीण ब्रॉडब्यान्डमा ध्यान केन्द्रित गर्नुपर्ने आवश्यकता देखाउँछ

एलबी 992 (फ्रिजेन) समर्थन → Adopt the Broadband Internet Service Infrastructure Act and provide for certain broadband and internet-related services.

This bill seeks to implement elements of the Rural Broadband Task Force report released in late 2019. This would be achieved by allowing broadband providers to utilize electric utility easements in order to expand infrastructure. The bill would also create the position of a state broadband coordinator to encourage county-based solutions to broadband development and explore the creation of cooperatives in underserved areas of the state. Finally, the bill would establish a separate fund in order to support the construction of fiber optic networks for public libraries across the state.

Passed 47-0-2 on final reading Aug. 11. Signed by the governor on Aug. 15. 

This is a significant step for rural broadband. By implementing several recommendations made by the Rural Broadband Task Force, lawmakers are showing a greater understanding of this issue. Legislative Resolution 438 requires continued monitoring of Task Force proceedings, may provide opportunity for legislation in 2021.

एलबी 28 (कोल्टरम्यान) समर्थन → प्रतिकूल कब्जाबाट गुमेको सम्पत्तिमा भुक्तानी गरिएको सम्पत्ति कर र विशेष मूल्याङ्कनको लागि क्षतिपूर्ति अधिकृत गर्नुहोस्।

Nebraska’s doctrine of adverse possession, which can result in landowners losing all or part of their land, has not been updated since 1869. The bill would make needed changes to this principle, allowing the court to award damages to a landowner who in good faith pays all of their property taxes when doing so is the fair and equitable outcome. Amendment (AM) 2281 alters the implementation date from 2020 to 2021. The impetus for this legislation came from Center supporters.

Indefinitely postponed.

Bad actors often take advantage of adverse possession to harm landowners who are acting in good faith. This past session, the judiciary committee voted LB 28 out of committee, but without a priority designation, it was not debated on the floor. We encourage Sen. Kolterman and others to monitor this issue going forward.

ग्रामीण मामिला कानून केन्द्र

स्रोतहरू: परिवर्तनको लागि प्रतिकूल: प्रतिकूल कब्जामा आधुनिक दृष्टिकोण

एलबी 255 (म्याककोलिस्टर) समर्थन → पूरक पोषण सहायता कार्यक्रम (SNAP) सँग सम्बन्धित प्रावधानहरू परिवर्तन गर्नुहोस्।

LB २५५ ले संघीय गरिबी स्तरको हालको १३० प्रतिशतबाट कुल आय सीमालाई संघीय गरिबी स्तरको १४० प्रतिशतमा बढाएर SNAP क्लिफ प्रभावलाई कम गर्नेछ। खुद आय आवश्यकताहरू कायम राख्दै, यो कानूनले परिवारहरूलाई वृद्धिशील आय वृद्धिसँगै SNAP योग्यता कायम राख्न अनुमति दिनेछ।

Indefinitely postponed.

This is one of several bills dealing with food access challenges during the 2020 session. We know the hardships created by COVID-19 have led to even greater food insecurity in our rural communities. We will work with key partners in 2021 to address this issue.

एलबी 1116 (मोरफेल्ड) समर्थन → नयाँ विद्यालय निर्माण र पानी पहुँच ऐन अपनाउने।

The school buildings where Nebraska students spend much of their day can help shape habits and curb our state’s levels of obesity by increasing access to and the consumption of water by students. Right now, schools are asked to follow two conflicting requirements when planning for new school construction. LB 1116 sets one standard. The bill ensures at least one drinking fountain will be installed on each floor of a new school building, a practice widely accepted among Nebraska schools. The bill only applies to new school construction. Moreover, the act will require water fountains to be regularly cleaned and maintained, in order to dispense clean drinking water. These small actions will help form the lifelong behaviors that will make for a healthier Nebraska.

Indefinitely postponed.

Despite receiving broad-based support, this bill did not advance out of committee. However, on July 28, Sen. Walz introduced LR 436 to continue this important discussion. LR 436 provides for an Interim study to determine whether elementary and secondary students in Nebraska have adequate access to clean drinking water throughout the school day. The Center will work with key stakeholders as we continue to address this important issue and look for a path forward in 2021.

ग्रामीण मामिला कानून केन्द्र

बिलले थप विद्यालय पानीका फोहराहरू थप्न खोज्छ