|
| |
Find NACO
on Facebook |
|
|
 Governor Presents Tax Proposal |
Today Governor Heineman offered details about two options he is proposing to overhaul the state's tax system. One proposal calls for the elimination of $2.4 billion in sales tax exemptions and the resulting elimination of corporate and individual income taxes. The other proposal would eliminate approximately $395 million in sales tax exemptions and the corporate income tax, as well as exempting a portion of retirement income from taxation. Senators Brad Ashford and Beau McCoy will introduce the bills on Tuesday. Specifics of the plans are available here.
Return to top |
County Manager Constitutional Amendment Hearing on January 23 |
The Legislature could provide statutory authority for counties to enact a county manager form of government pursuant to a proposed constitutional amendment. LR12CA wil be the subject of a public hearing by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on January 23 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 1507 of the State Capitol. Upon the passage of LR12CA, the Legislature could provide for a governmental system under which county officials are appointed. The form would be optional for each county and subject to a majority vote of the people. The details of that process would be determined by the Legislature in enacting legislation. If LR12CA is approved by the Legislature, it will appear on the November 2014 ballot.
The committee will also take testimony on three election bills. LB41 would allow voters to be placed on a list to receive an automatic application for an early voting ballot. The ballots could be returned to polling places, as well as the clerk or election commissioner's office. LB56 would provide for automatic nomination in the primary election when no more than two candidates' names appear on the ballot. This process is already used in the election of directors of natural resources districts, public power districts, some cities, and other offices. LB144 would allow candidates who are defeated in the primary election as the result of the determination of a tie vote to be eligible as a write-in candidate in the general election.
Return to top
|
NACO Legislative Committee Meeting Set for January 25 |
NACO's Legislative Committee will meet on Jan. 25 to review and take positions on 2013 legislation. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) Building (605 S. 14th Street) in Lincoln. The NSEA Building is located directly north of the NACO office. After brief introductory remarks, affiliate groups will meet for discussion of bills pertinent to their membership. After the groups have met, the NACO Legislative Committee will reconvene as a whole to review and take positions on the entire list of bills. All county officials are encouraged to attend or discuss areas of concern with their NACO Board representative prior to the meeting.
Because lunch will be provided, please notify the NACO office at (402)434-5660 or leslie@nacone.org if you plan to attend. Because the Legislature is in session, parking around the Capitol may be limited. Public parking is not permitted behind the NSEA Building and parking behind the NACO office is very limited. A parking garage is available at The Cornhusker, A Marriott Hotel at 12th and L Streets.
Return to top
|
Snapshots of County Issues |
A number of the bills introduced this week have an impact on counties. Some of these include:
- LB160 (Schumacher) Provide for electronic signatures on recall, initiative, and referendum petitions
- LB169 (Gloor) Change provisions relating to jury commissioners
- LB206 (Schumacher) Require secret-ballot envelopes for mailed ballots
- LB207 (McCoy) Change motor vehicle registration process
- LB215 (Schilz) Change provisions relating to use of the County Visitors Promotion Fund
- LB241 (Sullivan) Authorize voters to change election of county officers from partisan to nonpartisan
- LB246 (Larson) Provide for a health care copayment for jail and prison inmates
- LB257 (McCoy) Change provisions relating to the creation of municipal counties
- LB284 (Conrad) Change provisions of the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act relating to limitations on actions and amounts recoverable
- LB292 (Karpisek) Change population restrictions for conducting elections by mail
- LB294 (Seiler) Change provisions relating to use of public resources by public officials and public employees
-
LB299 (Seiler) Change political subdivision election provisions -
LB311 (Scheer) Change filing requirements for official bonds and oaths -
LB317 (Price) Change a duty of county assessors relating to real property valuation -
LB333 (Schumacher) Change the sales and use tax collection fees -
LB335 (Christensen) Authorize possesison of fireamrs as prescribed -
LB341 (Wightman) Change tax sale procedures -
LB342 (Coash) Change right to counsel provisions under the Nebraska Juvenile Code -
LB345 (Wightman) Change transfer on death deed requirements and filings -
LB360 (Karpisek) Change court fees, sheriff's fees, identification inspection fees, and handgun certificate fees -
LB363 (Avery) Change provisions relating to access to public records -
LB370 (Lathrop) Create the County Property Tax Assistance Program and the Municipal Property Tax Assistance Program -
LB381 (Janssen) Require photographic identification to vote -
LB386 (Christensen) Require notice of road maintenance by counties as prescribed -
LB387 (Christensen) Elininate provisions relating to constructing drainage facilities and taking other control measures on public roads
Return to top |
Selected Committee Hearing Schedule | |
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.
Tuesday, January 22
Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee
Room 1507 1:30 p.m.
- LB155 (Gloor) Change provisions relating to deposits of public funds in excess of insured or guaranteed amounts
Transportation and Telecommunications Committee
Room 1114 1:30 p.m.
- LB30 (Hadley) Change distribution of motor vehicle certificate of title fees
- LB31 (Hadley) Change provisions relating to parking permits for temporarily handicapped or disabled persons
Urban Affairs Committee
Room 1510 1:30 p.m.
- LB48 (Ashford) Change provisions relating to housing agencies
- LB49 (Ashford) Change provisions relating to housing agencies
Wednesday, January 23
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Room 1507 1:30 p.m.
- LB41 (Cook) Provide for permanent early voting request list and return of early voting ballots to polling places
- LB56 (Larson) Provide for automatic nomination of certain county officers
- LB144 (Brasch) Provide for write-in candidacy by defeated candidate
- LR12CA (Harms) Constitutional amendment to authorize a county manager form of county government
Health and Human Services Committee
Room 1510 1:30 p.m.
- LB7 (Krist) Change and eliminate provisions relating to signatures and seals under the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act
- LB13 (Krist) Require radon resistant construction and radon mitigation statements for residential construction and create a building codes task force
- LB139 (Krist) Change vital statistics information relating to annulment and dissolution of marriage
Judiciary Committee
Room 1113 1:30 p.m.
- LB128 (Coash) Create the offense of disarming a peace officer
- LB99 (Mello) Change provisions relating to racial profiling information reviews
Thursday, January 24
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Room 1507 1:30 p.m.
- LB78 (Avery) Eliminate a task force, an authority, a board, committees, a commission, and a council
Judiciary Committee
Room 1113 1:30 p.m.
- LB3 (Krist) Change filing provisions relating to nonconsensual liens
- LB51 (Ashford) Change provisions relating to publication of court opinions
Friday, January 25
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Room 1507 1:30 p.m.
- LB140 (Krist) Change provisions of the Airport Zoning Act
- LB40 (Harms) Update references to Government Auditing Standards
- LB137 (Avery) Establish state fleet card programs
Judiciary Committee
Room 1113 1:30 p.m.
- LB123 (Lautenbaugh) Change distribution of indigent defense fees
Revenue Committee
Room 1524 1:30 p.m.
- LB28 (Hadley) Change a late filing penalty relating to personal property tax
- LB29 (Hadley) Provide a duty for county treasurers relating to recording tax assessments and collections
- LB36 (Wightman) Change an exemption to the documentary stamp tax
Monday, January 28
Transportation and Telecommunications Committee
Room 1114 1:30 p.m.
- LB207 (McCoy) Change motor vehicle registration provisions
- LB249 (Dubas) Change motor vehicle provisions relating to farm vehicles and drivers transporting agricultural commodities or farm supplies
- LB250 (Dubas) Change motor vehicle provisions relating to issuance of trip permits
-
Return to top |
|
|
|
|
