Hughes’ LB 758 advances to Select File
Last week was another busy week in the legislature. The Natural Resources Committee had its first priority bill debated on the floor, LB 758.
I had another bill on General File this week as well, LB 275, and there was some debate on other issues that are important to the citizens of southwestern Nebraska.
I have been advocating for the rural communities in Nebraska this past week and will continue this effort as the session progresses.
LB 758 was heard on General File early last week, with three hours of debate. It was scheduled for further debate Tuesday.
The bill would allow natural resources districts to make in-lieu-of-tax payments to the counties where the NRDs have augmentation projects.
It is an important bill to southwest Nebraska to have this issue between the NRDs and the counties cleared up. This affects the local school districts, counties, and other property tax-funded agencies.
LB 275 is a bill that would allow private property owners to have abandoned vehicles towed from their property. A vehicle is considered abandoned after being left for seven days. On Jan. 22, we discussed this bill on the floor and it was advanced to Select File. This bill is important to owners of any private parking areas and for you on your own personal property.
Another big item of debate on the floor was Senator Chambers’ bill, LB 449 that would repeal the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Management Act.
The Management Act can be adopted by a county and allows them to remove or control the spread of the prairie dogs from one property to another.
Currently under the Management Act, if a colony spreads from a neighbor’s land onto your own, you could contact the county and have them help assist you in addressing the problem.
Only Sheridan County has made use of this law, but it is important to allow other counties to do the same. Prairie dogs are destructive to property, cause damage to crops, as well as put livestock in danger.
I opposed this bill and in the end it failed to garner enough votes to advance.
I always enjoy hearing from the Nebraskans I represent. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns that you might have.
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Teleconference
During Tuesday’s teleconference, Hughes said he anticipated Sen. Chambers would take the debate on LB 758 the full three hours before a vote could be taken to end debate.
Hughes said he has more than the 33 votes needed to end debate.
Hughes said a hearing for his bill, LB 762, is scheduled this week in the Natural Resources Committee. The bill would extend the sunset on the $1 per tire fee collected to fund the disposal of old tires.
When asked about the possibility of LB 1022 gaining any traction, Hughes said the bill will not go anywhere.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus, would put a tax on groundwater irrigation pumping. In the Upper Republican, pumping 13 inches of water would add an estimated $350 per acre of new tax.
Hughes said the change in the federal tax law will result in an estimated $220 million to the state. Nebraska bases its income tax on a percentage of adjusted gross income (AGI).
The new tax laws change how AGI is calculated, which in this case, benefits the state.
Hughes expects changes in Nebraska’s tax law to keep that $220 million in the pockets of its citizens versus expanding government spending.
Sen. Groene’s NCORPE bill
On Feb. 7, the Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Sen. Mike Groene’s bill, LB 1123, which would allow NRDs to sell off the land in augmentation projects.
Groene’s bill states NRDs “may” sell off the ground in the projects while retaining the water rights.
If passed, NRDs fear that selling off the land could jeopardize operation of the projects in the future.