Budget package approved

Lawmakers gave final approval May 14 to nine bills comprising the state’s $8.6 billion budget package. The state budget is structured on a two-year basis, with the budget enacted during legislative sessions held in odd-numbered years.

Included in the budget package were:
LB656, which provides for deficit appropriations, passed 49-0;
LB657, which appropriates funds for state government expenses, passed 49-0;
LB658, which provides funds for the salaries of Nebraska state senators, passed 49-0;
LB659, which provides salaries for state constitutional officers, passed 48-1;
LB660, which funds capital construction and property acquisition, passed 48-0;
LB661, which makes various cash fund transfers, passed 40-9;
LB662, which provides transfers from the cash reserve, passed 42-7;
LB663, which provides salaries for judges, passed 47-2; and
LB554, which provides for payment of claims against the state, passed 49-0.

The governor has five calendar days, excluding Sunday, to sign, veto in total or line-item veto appropriations within the budget bills.

If budget bills are returned to the Legislature with line-item vetoes, the Appropriations Committee must report on the fiscal impact of the vetoes within one day and may offer a motion to override any or all of them. Thirty votes are required to override a veto.