County population threshold bill advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval Feb. 16 to a bill that would clarify references to certain county population thresholds in Nebraska.

Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford, sponsor of LB74, said laws passed several years ago created different annexation and development review procedures for municipalities of different sizes located within a county with a population between 100,000 and 200,000.

“LB74 would align the county population threshold for annexation, review of proposed subdivision plats and the approval of planned unit developments at a range between 100,000 and 250,000,” she said.

Currently, Sarpy County is the only Nebraska county that falls within the population range covered by the bill.

Crawford said the bill also would clarify that the population thresholds would be determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

LB74 advanced to select file on a 33-0 vote.