More Carryover Bills — With Uncertain Fate
For the past few weeks, I continued a series where I highlighted several of the priority bills and resolutions that are pending and could be scheduled early next session. This week’s newsletter will provide an overview of several carryover priority bills and resolutions whose fate, at least to me, is more uncertain going into next year.
LB13 by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh would require that Nebraska file a state plan amendment for the Child Care Subsidy program to pay providers based on a child’s enrollment or authorized hours rather than the child’s attendance. Since April 2020, Nebraska has been providing enrollmentbased reimbursement on a temporary basis through an executive order from former Governor Ricketts, but this policy is scheduled to revert back to the attendance-based reimbursement model in 2026. The passage of LB13 to make the enrollment-based reimbursement model permanent is estimated to continue to cost the state $17 million per year past 2026. During floor debate, senators expressed concerns with cost given the state’s budget. LB13 was advanced to Select File, where the bill now sits, by a 25 to 14 vote. Given ongoing concerns with the state’s budget, however, LB13 will likely have considerable hurdles to advance given its projected fiscal impact to the state in the near future.
LB468 by Senator Clements would reduce the amount of inheritance taxes Nebraska counties collect. The bill, as currently amended, would increase the exemption for children from $100,000 to $150,000 while keeping the inheritance tax rate at 1%. Extended family and non-related people would see their inheritance tax rates drop from 11% and 15% respectively to 3%. To make up for the lost revenue for counties, a number of fees and taxes collected by the counties would be increased to reflect the actual cost of providing services.
LB468 failed to advance to Final Reading by a 31 to 11 vote after senators expressed opposition to raising fees and hurting the ability of counties to set their budgets. For this bill to move forward, compromise will likely need to take place between the bill’s introducer and the opponents of the bill.
LB322 would add licensed pharmacists and employees of hospitals or health clinics to the list of emergency responders, law enforcement officers, and other healthcare employees that are protected from assault when they are engaged in official duties. An assault on one of these individuals would result in enhanced criminal penalties. This bill is intended to address the growing incidence of workplace violence against healthcare workers statewide. LB322 was advanced to Select File, where the bill now sits, by a 37 to 8 vote following a filibuster. Unless several senators have changed their minds, LB322 likely will continue to have the votes necessary to pass. However, several opponents to the bill who led the filibuster do not believe adding new sets of felonies will create safety but will instead send more people to prison. LB322 could move forward if opponents agree to not filibuster the bill. Otherwise, it is likely that more pressing legislation will be scheduled instead making it more
difficult for this measure to move forward.
I invite you to let me know your thoughts or concerns. My Capitol office telephone number is (402) 471-2801 while my email is [email protected]. My mailing address is: Senator Barry DeKay, District #40, P.O. Box 94604, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509.
