Transportation omnibus measure passed
An infrastructure development investment program will provide state loans for city and county transportation projects under a measure passed by lawmakers April 10.
Under LB1126, sponsored by Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, the State Highway Commission will administer the new revolving loan program with assistance from the state Department of Transportation.
The program may provide loans or other financial assistance to political subdivisions and certain other entities to construct, improve or enhance roads, bridges and other eligible transportation infrastructure.
Among other changes, the bill also:
• authorizes a public-private partnership delivery method for transportation projects deemed appropriate at the discretion of the department director;
• allows political subdivisions to enter into public-private partnership contracts and receive unsolicited proposals under the Political Subdivisions Construction Alternatives Act;
• requires the department to include procedures for receiving and evaluating unsolicited proposals in currently required guidelines for entering into certain alternative contracting methods; and
• increases maximum fees for certain permits for oversized or overweight vehicles and creates a superload vehicle category with associated maximum permit fees.
Additionally, LB1126 includes provisions of three other measures heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee this session.
The amended provisions of LB1073, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Carolyn Bosn, require commercial motor vehicle driver training to include at least 30 minutes of human trafficking training beginning in 2027.
The measure requires the state attorney general to prescribe the curriculum and training materials and to review and update them at least once every three years.
The provisions of LB1107, introduced by Sen. Glen Meyer of Pender, update the Rural Road Improvement District Act. The measure requires county resolutions on proposed road improvement projects to state whether the improvements will be a general cost to the county or paid for by levying special assessments.
Among other changes, the measure also extends the maximum term of county road improvement bonds from 10 to 20 years.
The amended provisions of LB1180, sponsored by Bennington Sen. Wendy DeBoer, modify the licensure process for carriers seeking to provide intrastate Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation services.
As amended on select file, LB1126 also includes provisions of LB576, introduced last session by Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams.
Wireless carriers are required to collect a surcharge from postpaid wireless customers to fund the state’s 911 service system. Previously, the surcharge was capped at 70 cents per month, except in a county containing a metropolitan class city, where a 50-cent limit applied. Omaha is the state’s only metropolitan class city.
Dorn’s measure eliminates the 50-cent cap.
The state Public Service Commission holds an annual hearing to determine the amount of revenue needed to fund the 911 system and then sets the surcharge accordingly. LB1126 requires the commission to maximize operational support for the state’s public safety answering points when making that determination.
LB1126 passed on a vote of 42-7.
