Session Review 2020 – Unicameral Update

Agriculture Session Review 2020

Agriculture

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Dan Hughes, LB803 LB1152 LB594

Proposals to create a new checkoff program and update the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act were among those considered by the Agriculture Committee this session.

Appropriations Session Review 2020

Appropriations

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. John Stinner, LB1198 LB1008 LB773 LB827 LB1018 LB1079 LB1097 LB1009 LB927 LB910 LB780 LB943

Following the temporary suspension of the legislative session March 16, senators met briefly to provide emergency funding to combat the coronavirus pandemic in Nebraska.

Banking Commerce and Insurance Session Review 2020

Banking, Commerce and Insurance

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Adam Morfeld, LB997 LB760 LB949 LB804 LB909 LB852 LB853 LB854 LB908 LB939 LB808 LB775 LB782 LB767 LB902 LB929 LB1123

Emergency medical billing and updates to a variety of banking laws were among the issues considered by the Legislature this session.

Business and Labor Session Review 2020

Business and Labor

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Matt Hansen, LB1016 LB1060 LB667 LB962 LB963 LB305 LB1160 LB813

Members of the Business and Labor Committee considered several measures this session to provide increased worker protections, expand wage and benefit options and collect workforce development data.

Education Session Review 2020

Education

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Tony Vargas, LB515 LB147 LB998 LB965 LB1080 LB1131 LB640 LB950 LB1076 LB1001 LB534 LB1186 LB1089 LB920

The Education Committee advanced bills this session that require schools to provide injury leave to employees and create a policy that prohibits sexual contact between a teacher and a student.

Executive Board Session Review 2020

Executive Board

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Sara Howard, LB1144 LR298 LR279CA LB283

Legislative oversight, extreme weather planning and a potential change in the number of state senators were some of the proposals considered by the Executive Board this session.

General Affairs Session Review 2020

General Affairs

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Tom Briese, LB1064 LB734 LB1056 LR295CA LB971

Senators raised the state’s smoking age and changed the regulation of party busses and special designated licenses this session.

Government Military and Veterans Affairs Session Review 2020

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Justin Wayne, LB918 LB848 LB1055 LB820 LB1086 LB1136 LB1119 LB1120 LR286CA LR292CA LB911 LB850 LB790 LB267

Senators created a statewide commission, added to an established state holiday and took up several election proposals this session.

Health and Human Services Session Review 2020

Health and Human Services

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Sara Howard, LB1188 LB1140 LB755 LB37 LB772 LB811 LB825 LB834 LB312 LB1185 LB607 LB347 LB205 LB1052 LB956 LB1053 LB323 LB840 LB1061 LB1124 LB1002 LB1183 LB518 LB745

Lawmakers addressed a crisis at the state’s youth rehabilitation and treatment centers, made several changes to licensure requirements for health care professionals and revised laws governing public benefits.

Judiciary Session Review 2020

Judiciary

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Matt Hansen, LB881 LB213 LB282 LB776 LB777 LB945 LB1007 LB1041 LB1180 LB1181 LB766 LB991 LB1048 LB1210 LB924 LB43 LB832 LB1148 LB458 LB906 LB969 LB975 LB231 LB230 LB1004 LB1036 LB238 LB814 LB247 LB751 LB582 LB844

Lawmakers considered a number of proposals this session seeking to improve the accountability, transparency and efficiency of Nebraska’s law enforcement agencies, courts and correctional system.

Natural Resources Session Review 2020

Natural Resources

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Dan Hughes, LB632 LB769 LB861 LB933 LB1201 LB126 LB770 LB858 LB367 LB855 LB856 LB899 LR288

The Natural Resources Committee this session considered measures to create a statewide flood mitigation plan, prohibit cities from banning single-use plastics and allow certain landowners to apply for a permit to hunt deer before the regular firearm deer hunting season.

Retirement Systems Session Review 2020

Retirement Systems

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Mark Kolterman, LB1054

A bill that brings Nebraska’s state-administered retirement plans into compliance with recent federal changes passed this year.

Revenue Session Review 2020

Revenue

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Jim Scheer, LB1107 LB720 LB1084 LB974 LB1106 LB242 LB1033 LB153 LB266 LB1042 LB1074 LB865 LB805

The Revenue Committee this session advanced a major proposal that includes a new tax credit based on the amount of property taxes paid to a taxpayer’s school district, a new business tax incentive program and a requirement to provide matching funds for a potential project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Session Review 2020 Transportation and Telecommunications

Transportation and Telecommunications

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Curt Friesen, LB992 LB996 LB944 LB843 LB903 LB921 LB942 LB1139 LB768 LB785 LB831 LB976 LB983 LB1067 LB961 LB761 LB931

Measures expanding broadband access, easing motor vehicle restrictions and addressing emerging technologies were considered by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee this session.

Session Review 2020 Urban Affairs

Urban Affairs

September 4, 2020October 14, 2020 admin Sen. Justin Wayne, LB866 LB1155 LB424 LB1021 LB1003 LB795 LB799 LB801 LB821 LB885 LB957 LB984 LB993 LB870 LB1222

Proposals to address blighted property, affordable housing needs and municipal law were among the topics taken up by the Legislature this session.