Election law omnibus approved

Lawmakers gave final approval April 10 to an omnibus election bill.

LB1075, sponsored by Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, is the annual elections cleanup bill, which makes a number of changes to laws relating to election provisions requested by the Nebraska secretary of state.

Among other provisions, the bill sets the cost of a recount at $100 per precinct voting in the contest, authorizes village clerks to prepare claims and issue warrants and prohibits petition circulation within 25 feet of a secure ballot drop box.

The measure includes provisions of five additional election bills considered by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee:
• LB884, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Andersen, which requires delivery of midday ballots directly to a centralized location, prohibiting any other stops, and changes rules regarding observation by poll watchers;
• LB927, sponsored by Andersen, which prohibits the direct or indirect involvement of foreign nationals in funding and organizing ballot question committees in Nebraska;
• LB969, introduced by Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, which creates a database of county and municipal financial information within the state Department of Administrative Services;
• LB1002, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, which increases filing, application and noncompliance fees under the Political Accountability and Disclosure Act; and
• LB1074, introduced by Sanders, which revises unclaimed property statutes to clarify timelines, provide a tolling period in certain cases and create the Unclaimed Property Liquidation Proceeds Trust Fund.

LB1075 passed on a 49-0 vote and takes effect immediately.