Bills Advanced from Committee
 Counties would be given the option of continuing or terminating contracts signed by the state before the assessment function was transferred back to those nine counties.  Although LB55 would apply to all contracts, it was especially intended to address lengthy contracts for assessment software. The Revenue Committee sent the bill to the floor on Tuesday. The committee also advanced bills to revise the tax sales process (LB341) and create a municipal land bank in Douglas and Sarpy counties (LB97).  LB97 has been selected a a priority bill by Senator Heath Mello and LB341 has been selected as a Revenue Committee priority bill.

Counties could enter into larger bridge construction and road improvement projects without competitive bidding under LB623. As introduced, the bill would increase dollar amounts for such projects from $60,000 to $150,000.  Counties would need to solicit bids for materials in excess of $20,000, rather than the existing rate of $10,000.  The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee sent the bill to the floor with an amendment that would adjust the rate for bidding projects to $100,000.

The Natural Resources Committee advanced LB477, which would extend the sunset on the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force from 2013 to 2015. Two representatives nominated by the Nebraska Weed Control Association serve on the task force, as well as other environmental and governmental interests.  The task force helps prioritize vegetation management in river basins. 

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee advanced and prioritized LB271, a bill that would change the time frame for in-person early voting in response to a Help America Vote Act complaint that certain accessible ballots were not available timely due to programming delays. The committee killed LB525, which took a different approach to the timing problem. LB349, which would change procedures for write-in and nonpartisan campaigns for President and Vice President, was also advanced.