The legislature adjourned last Thursday for a much needed four-day weekend but not before taking up some high-profile issues. While doing so, senators continued to express their distrust and frustration with each other on and off the microphone.
Last week saw the legislature debating and advancing legislation regarding abortion, parole eligibility, tax increment financing among several other issues. They debated, but didn’t advance, a proposal to decouple Nebraska’s state income tax from federal tax law. The week also saw them pass over 20 bills on Final Reading and send them to the governor for his signature.
There are three days left in this very unusual 60 day session. Senators continued to file seldom used motions. Since bills must lay over one day on Final Reading, Tuesday was effectively the last day a bill can be advanced to Final, lay over Wednesday and be considered on the 60th day - Thursday. There were no insurance-related bills considered this week.
Besides IIAN's own interim study resolution, LR 430, a number of others of potential interest are listed below. With a shortened interim before January, it is unlikely most will actually get a public hearing, but we will be ready regardless.
LR358 Hansen, M.
Business and Labor Interim study to review the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act
LR369 Urban Affairs Committee
Urban Affairs Interim study to review the occupational regulations for fire alarm inspectors
LR396 Friesen
Transportation and TelecommunicationsInterim study to examine whether Nebraska should enact peerto-peer vehicle sharing program legislation
LR419 Hansen, M.
Judiciary Interim study to examine the various age requirements in the Nebraska statutes related
to minors and the age of majority
LR424 Vargas
Health and Human Services Interim study to conduct a comprehensive review of maternal and child
mortality
LR430 Williams
Banking, Commerce and Insurance Interim study to examine issues related to property and casualty
insurance
Pleas