Senators gave first-round approval to LB977, a bill that would exempt implements of husbandry, specifically including manure spreaders, from weight limits on roads. A committee amendment was adopted to prohibit overweight implements of husbandry from crossing any bridge or culvert if the vehicle axle, axle groupings, or gross weight exceeds posted weight limits. It also includes concepts from six other bills heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.

 

NACO and county officials opposed the manure spreader exemption in LB977 at the committee hearing and through individual contact with senators. During debate, several senators said that they had heard from their county officials that overweight manure spreaders have already caused damage to county roads and the problem would be worsened under the bill. They discussed the balance between ag equipment that sometimes exceeds weight limits before it is loaded and road repairs that costs taxpayers, including the ag producers, property tax dollars.

 

Senator Jim Smith had filed an amendment, AM2478, that would strike the exemption for manure spreaders and self-propelled equipment designed and used to carry animal manure. He withdrew the amendment and refiled it on Select File due to the commitment of NACO and ag groups to continue to work on language that protects county infrastructure but gives flexibility to livestock operators.

 

The other bills incorporated into LB977 through the committee amendment include LB799 that would allow public transit grant funds to be used for capital acquisitions, such as the purchase of new shuttle vans. The bill was recommended by the Aging Nebraska Task Force. LB989 would make technical changes recommended by the Department of Motor Vehicles, including reducing the number of prepaid applications needed for specialty organizational license plates. LB918 would shift one percent of motor vehicle tax proceeds to the Vehicle Title and Registration Replacement and Maintenance Cash Fund. The funds would be used to help replace the aging vehicle titling and registration system. LB946 would change requirements for the Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board. LB996 would clean up antitrust provisions under the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Act. LB844 would provide for Breast Cancer Awareness license plates. LB872 would allow, but not require, the Department of Roads and road maintenance vehicles operated by political subdivisions to use blue and amber rotating or flashing lights for road work.

 

Debate is expected to begin on Tuesday on LB960, the Transportation Innovation Act. An Appropriations Committee amendment would create three new programs funded by a $50 million transfer from the state's cash reserves and more than $400 million of additional revenue generated from last year's gas tax increase. The funds would be placed in an infrastructure bank. The bill originally called for up to $150 million each from the gas tax and cash reserves.

 

Up to $40 million would be made available through the County Bridge Match Program to promote innovative solutions and provide additional funding to accelerate the repair and replacement of deficient bridges in the county road system. The Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) would develop the program, including participation criteria and matching fund requirements, in conjunction with a statewide association representing county officials. Participation by counties would be voluntary. The program would terminate on June 20, 2023.

 

The Accelerated State Highway Capital Improvement Program would provide funding for construction of the expressway system and federally designated high priority corridors and needs-driven capacity improvements across the state.

 

The third piece of the Act is the Economic Opportunity Program within the Department of Economic Development. Up to $20 million would be used to finance transportation improvements to attract and support new business and business expansions by connecting them to the transportation network, increasing jobs, and revitalizing rural areas. NDOR would develop the plan in conjunction with statewide associations representing municipal and county officials, economic developers, and the Department of Economic Development. The program, as well as the expressway funding, would terminate on June 30, 2033.

 

The committee amendment would also give NDOR authority for alternative methods of contracting for public projects, such as design-build or construction manager-general contractor contracts.

 

 

 

 

Governor Pete Ricketts this week signed numerous bills with an impact on counties.

 

LB729 amends the Real Property Appraiser Act to allow county assessors to retain the services of unlicensed persons to assist in appraisal. Because many counties cannot afford to have a certified Nebraska appraiser on staff, various contractual arrangements have been made for those services. The bill provides that all of the work performed by such individuals will be under the oversight of the county assessor. The bill also repeals last year's moratorium on enforcement actions against mass appraisers by the Real Property Appraisal Board. Senator Jerry Johnson introduced LB729 on behalf of counties.

 

LB1035 updates terminology related to the central filing system and master lien list maintained by the Secretary of State.

 

LB864 allows cities of the first or second class and villages to request additional extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction (ETJ) from the county. Currently, if the territory requested is within one-half mile of another city's or village's ETJ, the county cannot approve a request for the additional ETJ. The bill permits the transfer if the other city or village adopts a resolution in support of the request.

 

License plates on farm trucks and trailers in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties will become alphanumeric under LB811. When legislation was adopted in 1999 to change these three counties from the county number system to an alphanumeric system, farm trucks and trailers were not included and remained on the county number system. The change in LB811 will allow these counties to share plates, thereby reducing waste and eliminating confusion among other numbered plate types.

 

LB929 incorporates federal regulations into Nebraska's motor vehicle laws.

 

LB807 allows county attorneys in counties of all sizes to waive quarterly reports to the county board of the criminal cases pending, appealed, and disposed of during the last quarter. Under existing law, only counties under 200,000 can waive the report.

 

LB776 is a technical bill from the Department of Revenue. Among other things it eliminates annual medical recertification for homestead exemption applicants who are certified as totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

LB753 adds re-employment protections for persons who are employed in Nebraska but are members of the National Guard in another state and are called to duty by that state.

 

LB734 allows non-resident members of the Nebraska National Guard to receive in-state tuition rates at state postsecondary institutions.

 

LB718 clarifies that applications for waivers of college tuition and fees by dependents of veterans do not have to be filed with the state by a county veterans service officer or recognized veterans' organization. Instead, the forms will be submitted directly to the Director of Veterans Affairs. Local officials can assist in the process but will not be required to do so.