Natural gas infrastructure, building codes, utility district elections and economic development were among the urban affairs issues taken up by lawmakers this session.<\/p>\n
Senators passed a bill that allows jurisdictional utilities to construct and authorize natural gas pipeline facilities.<\/p>\n
Under LB1115, introduced by Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood, a jurisdictional utility may implement a plan to construct rural natural gas infrastructure. Prior to constructing a natural gas facility, the jurisdictional utility will be required to consider factors such as the environmental impact on the area and the project\u2019s economic feasibility.<\/p>\n
A jurisdictional utility will be required to file proposed rural infrastructure surcharge tariffs with the Public Service Commission (PSC) consistent with the proposed rate increases negotiated in an agreement with a community prior to undertaking rural infrastructure development.<\/p>\n
A rural infrastructure surcharge tariff or gas supply adjustment tariff will become effective immediately upon filing of all required items with the PSC, including a copy of the agreement with the community and a map of the underserved area.<\/p>\n
LB1115 passed on a 49-0 vote.<\/p>\n
Production film companies are included in the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act (LOMED) under a bill passed this session.<\/p>\n
LOMED authorizes incorporated cities and villages to appropriate local sales and property tax dollars \u2013 if approved by local voters \u2013 for economic development purposes.<\/p>\n
Under LB863, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash, LOMED will include the production of films, commercials and television programs as businesses that qualify for the program.<\/p>\n
Film companies will be required to acknowledge cities where a production was created as well as the state of Nebraska in a production\u2019s credits, unless prohibited by local, state or federal law or regulation. Film companies will be required to provide notice of such projects to the Nebraska Film Office.<\/p>\n
The bill passed 44-0 vote.<\/p>\n
LB42, introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley, adds references to the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code into current building statutes.<\/p>\n
Cities and villages are granted the authority to adopt a plumbing code containing rules and regulations. In the absence of a city or village code, the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code will apply. If a city code is similar to the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code, the city ordinance will take precedence.<\/p>\n
Senators passed the bill on a 46-0 vote.<\/p>\n
A bill requiring that metropolitan utilities district (MUD) board members be chosen by district elections stalled on select file.<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Brenda Council said she introduced LB190 in the hope of making MUD board membership more reflective of the citizens it serves. Currently, members are elected at large.<\/p>\n
LB190 failed to advance from select file on a 23-15 vote. Twenty-five votes were needed for advancement.<\/p>\n
Three measures concerning tax increment financing (TIF) regulation in Nebraska were considered by the Urban Affairs Committee but not advanced to general file.<\/p>\n
LR376CA, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, would have placed a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2012 general election ballot to make the following changes to TIF regulations:
\n\u2022 extend the maximum length of TIF bonds from 15 to 20 years;
\n\u2022 allow the Legislature to extend the maximum length of TIF bonds from 20 years to 30 years if more than half of the property was previously state-owned; and
\n\u2022 replace the requirement that property be designated “substandard and blighted” with language stating that property be “in need of rehabilitation or redevelopment.”<\/p>\n
Under LB1132, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, a city would have been allowed to develop land within a 3-mile radius of the city for a TIF project that is essential to redevelopment of a substandard or blighted area without acquiring or annexing the land if a county board approves the project.<\/p>\n
LB918, sponsored by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, would have capped at 7 percent the total actual value of real and personal property of any political subdivision that a city or village could designate as blighted.<\/p>\n
In addition, the bill would have limited the combination of current and proposed redevelopment projects’ excess value to 7 percent of the total actual value of real and personal property of any political subdivision in which the proposed redevelopment project would be located, including the authorizing political subdivision.<\/p>\n
Finally, the bill would have removed a current requirement that cities conduct a cost-benefit analysis of proposed TIF projects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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