Permitless Concealed Carry bill signed into law
By Becky Uehling
Grant Tribune-Sentinel
Despite being somewhat stressful at the legislature last week, a lot of good things happened, according to District 44 Senator Teresa Ibach during her call-in time with constituents on Tuesday morning.
“There were some big bills that passed,” she said.
One of these was Sen. Tom Brewer’s bill, LB 77, that will allow Nebraskans 21 and older to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill was passed by state lawmakers in a 33-14 vote and signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen Tuesday. It will take effect later this year.
“Tom (Brewer) worked for seven years to get this bill through,” Ibach said. “It was still met with some concerns by urban law enforcement departments, but it was still an exciting time.”
Ethanol Bill
Another big bill for Nebraska, LB 562 which would increase the use of ethanol in the state, heard debate last week and will continue this week, she said.
The bill is the priority bill of Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, and would require gas stations to offer E-15 gasoline at half of their pumps within five years and offers grants to filling stations to upgrade their pumps to accommodate E-15 gasoline.
Ibach said the Federal government is pushing more ethanol blends, and Nebraska is the biggest producer of ethanol.
“This bill would give an economic boost to our state in not just ethanol, but also its by products such as distillers grain. This would be a win for ag and ethanol if we can get it through,” she said.
Budget to bed Introduced
Along with several bills continuing to be debated, the Appropriations Committee will introduce the state’s proposed budget on Thursday, with senators being able to look at it over the weekend, she said.
Heartbeat Bill
Although passed out of first round debates, the Heartbeat Bill, LB 626, which deals with abortion in the state, will come back to the floor this week for its second round. Ibach said although the bill was able to make it through the first round, she cautioned listeners that the second round may not end up the same.
“It will have to get 33 votes again to pass to the next phase,” she said, “and I have heard a lot of discussion that it may be on the fence.”
Upcoming Tours
Ibach will be in District 44 later this week to tour potential sites where the Perkins County Canal may be built.
“I haven’t seen the site yet, so it will be beneficial for me,” she said.
Ibach will question the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and NRD representatives as to why existing infrastructure can’t be used for the canal.
“It will be nice for me to be able to connect some dots,” she said.
Ibach also commented that she hopes to get down to Dundy County and tour the location where Black Shirt Feeders has proposed to put in 150,000 head feedlot.