Consolidation of economic development reports approved

Senators gave final approval May 10 to a bill that consolidates the state’s economic development reporting process.

LB404, introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, authorizes 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 consolidates 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 requires that the annual status report be submitted on the first working day of July rather than the first working day of October.

LB404 passed on a 44-0 vote.