Bill would consolidate economic development reports

Senators gave first-round approval April 26 to a bill that would consolidate the state’s economic development reporting process.

LB404, introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, would authorize the state Department of Economic Development to include in its annual report the status of all programs the department administers that require reports to the Legislature.

The bill would consolidate individual reports from the following programs into one annual report:

• Rural Development Commission statutes;
• Civic, Cultural and Convention Center Financing Act;
• Nebraska Affordable Housing Act;
• Business Development Partnership Act;
• Microenterprise Development Act;
• Nebraska Operational Assistance Act;
• Agricultural Opportunities and Value-Added Partnerships Act; and
• various job-training grant statutes.

The bill also would require that the annual status report be submitted on the first working day of July rather than the first working day of October.

Pirsch said the bill likely would save in printing costs and allow DED employees time to work on other projects.

LB404 advanced to select file on a 29-0 vote.