Transportation and telecommunications omnibus bill advanced

A bill containing technical changes requested by the state Department of Motor Vehicles advanced from general file March 4 after lawmakers amended it to include several other proposals heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee this session.

Columbus Sen. Mike Moser, sponsor of LB1200, said the bill would update state law to conform with federal regulations, ensuring Nebraska does not lose federal highway funds.

A committee amendment, adopted 41-0, added the provisions of five other bills considered by the committee this session.

The provisions of LB226, introduced by Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, would allow a contracting agency, when entering into a construction manager-general contractor contract, to combine the separate qualification and proposal steps into a single-step process if the agency determines that a single-step process is in its best interest.

The provisions of LB891, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Carolyn Bosn, would update the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Act to clarify that a manufacturer is any person who manufactures, assembles or distributes motor vehicles.

Under the amendment, a manufacturer or distributor could not own a service facility or perform warranty or nonwarranty work on its vehicles unless it manufactures or distributes electric vehicles and is not a franchisor.

The provisions of LB900, also introduced by Brandt, would increase maximum truck length from 40 to 45 feet.

The provisions of LB929, sponsored by Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, would require the state Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Nebraska Public Service Commission to ensure that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can connect callers to, and receive communications from, the 911 service system. The commission would adopt statewide standards providing for dual capability so that it would be operational by Jan. 1, 2025.

The provisions of LB966, introduced by Niobrara Sen. Barry DeKay, would govern the movement of vehicular traffic facing flashing yellow arrow and steady red arrow indications. They also would increase the precision with which the state Department of Transportation calculates the state’s fuel tax rate.

LB1200 advanced to select file on a vote of 42-0.