All bills introduced by the Legislature are assigned to a committee for a public hearing. Bills advanced to the floor for debate by the full body of the Legislature go through three levels of debate:  General File, Select File, and Final Reading.

 

Bills Heard by Committees

 

A proposal that would reduce inheritance taxes by increasing exemptions and adjusting rates was heard by the Revenue Committee on Wednesday. LB 1102 was introduced as an alternative to LB 970, Governor Heineman's proposal to outright eliminate inheritance taxes. An amendment to LB 1102 was offered at the hearing to tweak the proposed adjustments. Both bills remain in committee and no action is expected until after the Forecasting Board meets later this month to revise state revenue projections.

 

The Revenue Committee also heard LB 1061, a bill to reduce the agland valuations used by schools, in an effort to reduce property taxes and increase state aid to schools. As introduced, the bill would require significant changes to recordkeeping procedures for county assessors and two tax statements showing the different values.

 

Two bills addressing roads and rights-of-way were heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Monday. LB 1040 would set out requirements for the Department of Roads for snow removal and allow for limited encroachments on state rights-of-way located with cities or villages. LB 1052 would require county boards to provide written notice to landowners 30 days prior to removing encroachments in the county right-of-way for drainage projects.  

 

Bills Advanced to General File

 

County clerks and election commissioners would be able to use ledgers or computer printouts as permanent election records under a committee amendment to LB 1035. The concept was originally introduced at NACO's request as LB 966 and revised for inclusion in the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee amendment to LB 1035. LB 1035 provides for automatic advancement of candidates for airport authority elections with less than two candidates for each opening in the primary election. The committee amendment also includes language from LB 757 that addresses the placement of partisan candidates in primary elections.

 

The Revenue Committee advanced LB 818, which would provide exemptions to documentary stamp taxes for certain transfers of property between ex spouses. A committee amendment expands the original bill to include property acquired or held during the marriage.

 

Bills Advanced to Select File

 

A transfer on death deed would be created as an estate planning tool by LB 536. Amendments adopted on General File would clarify and expand the bill to require a Form 521 to be attached to the death certificate when property ownership changes through a transfer on death deed. The bill advanced to Select File after debate on estate planning mechanisms.

 

Collateral pledged by banks to cover excess county deposits could be held in the office of the county treasurer, rather than the county clerk, under LB 879. The bill was introduced at NACO's request to finalize a process that was enacted last year. The bill was placed on Select File on Monday.
 

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Following is a list of some of the bills with county impact that have been scheduled for public hearing in the coming weeks. Please check the Legislature's website for a full listing.

 

Monday, February 13

Health and Human Services Committee

Room 1510 9:30 a.m.

* LB995 (Heidemann) Change provisions relating to county medical facilities and public hospitals

 

General Affairs Committee

Room 1510 1:30 p.m.

* LB829 (Louden) Create alcohol impact zones

　

Tuesday, February 14

Urban Affairs Committee

Room 1510 1:30 p.m.

* LB1126 (Christensen) Provide and change extraterritorial jurisdiction of a village

* LB1132 (McGill) Change the Community Development Law

* LB1001 (McGill) Create the Building Code Advisory Committee and change and eliminate state agency building code compliance requirements

* LR376CA (Mello) Constitutional amendment to change provisions relating to redevelopment projects

 

Transportation and Telecommunications Committee

Room 1113  1:30 p.m.

* LB1067  (Lautenbaugh)  Requie certain provisions in highway and bridge construction and maintenance contracts

　

Wednesday, February 15

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

Room 1507 1:30 p.m.

* LB819 (Price) Provide for the treatment of military medals as unclaimed property

*LB999 (Price) Authorize the display of an honor and remember flag at public buildings

* LB795 (Avery) Change provisions relating to applying for membership in veterans homes

 

Revenue Committee

Room 1525 1:30 p.m.

* LB897 (Pahls) Change provisions relating to the completion of tax lists

* LB967 (Schumacher) Change an interest rate relating to delinquent taxes and special assessments

* LB1069 (Wightman) Change provisions relating to tax sales to collect delinquent property taxes

* LB1093 (Hadley) Change provisions relating to foreclosure proceedings for delinquent real estate taxes

* LB1109 (Brasch) Provide for classification of flooded agricultural land as inundated land

　

Thursday, February 16

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

Room 1507 1:30 p.m.

* LB813 (Karpisek) Prohibit counties, cities, and villages from imposing credentialing requirements

* LB880 (Pahls) Provide duties relating to reducing costs and adopting modern methods of state and local records management

 

Revenue Committee

Room 1525 1:30 p.m.

* LB855 (Fulton) Change sales and use tax collection fees

* LB1098 (Council) Repeal the Build Nebraska Act and change distribution of sales and use tax revenue

　

Friday, February 17 and Monday, February 20 - Legislature is in Recess

 

 Wednesday, February 22

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

Room 1507 1:30 p.m.

* LB975 (Smith) Adopt the Fair Bidding Act

* LB1076 (Karpisek) Change requirements for copies of public records and speaking at public meetings

　　

Thursday, February 23

Health and Human Services Committee

Room 1510 1:30 p.m.

* LB1110 (Brasch) Provide for assistance for temporary and permanent housing after a natural disaster

　 

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The children and stepchildren of Nebraska's county officials and employees are eligible for scholarships provided by the Nebraska Association of County Officials. Click here for details.