Day nine bill introduction

Senators reconvened Jan. 17 to introduce new bills.

Among the 64 bills introduced were:

LB438, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Sara Howard, which would increase cigarette and tobacco taxes as prescribed and provide for the distribution of funds;

LB443, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, which would adopt the Student Loan Repayment Tax Credit Act;

LB444, sponsored by Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz, which would prohibit cities and counties from cancelling health insurance coverage for injured law enforcement officers;

LB446, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, which would eliminate the death penalty and change and eliminate provisions relating to sentencing;

LB456, sponsored by Albion Sen. Tom Briese, which would provide for supportive services for disabled parents in family and dependency matters;

LB466, sponsored by Bancroft Sen. Lydia Brasch, which would change credentialing and regulation of nurse-midwives;

LB468, sponsored by O’Neill Sen. Tyson Larson, which would adopt the Fantasy Contests Act and provide a gambling exception for conducting or participating in fantasy contests;

LB472, sponsored by Brainard Sen. Bruce Bostelman, which would change provisions relating to signs and advertising on highways;

LB482, sponsored by Papillion Sen. Jim Smith, which would adopt the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act; and

LB491, sponsored by Omaha Sen. John McCollister, which would create the offense of fraudulent misrepresentation of a service animal and provide penalties.

New bills may be introduced until Jan. 18.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican will give the State of the Judiciary address in the legislative chamber Jan. 19 at 10 a.m.

Committee hearings begin this afternoon. Schedules can be found at NebraskaLegislature.gov.