Senator Brasch Introduces LB 351

Despite weather conditions which led me to sadly leave home early and return to Lincoln on Saturday afternoon, we began business as usual on Monday. I arrived early to prepare for the big day of introducing LB 351 to the Education Committee. As mentioned last week, LB 351 increases income tax directed to local school districts from the current 2% to 20%. This helps schools receive important sources of local revenue and provides equitable distribution of the tax burden for education financing. During the hearing, questions were raised by three senators representing Lincoln and Omaha districts. These senators were concerned LB 351 would reduce funding urban schools and result in a mere tax shift. In response, I explained LB 351 returns more local dollars to schools and not less, especially to schools not receiving equalization aid from the state. Currently, property taxes are the main source of local revenues for our schools and, especially in our rural communities, the property tax is a disproportionate and burdensome mechanism for funding education. LB 351 is the sister bill of LB 350 which reduces agricultural and horticultural land valuations from 75% to 65%. LB 350 will have a public hearing on February 19.

Other bills I introduced have public hearings soon. LB 590 expands the authority of cities, villages, and counties to expand the use golf carts within their local jurisdiction and will be heard on February 10. LB 568 addresses a potential federal non-compliance issue regarding the administrative license revocation procedures of commercial driver’s license operators who have been arrested for driving while intoxicated and will be heard on February 17. LB 571 provides authority to the Tourism Commission to establish and promote tourism signage and will be heard on February 26. LB 340 would establish a definition for ‘conspicuous signage’ in regards to a person, entity, or employer in control of property prohibiting a concealed carry handgun permitholder from carrying in or on the place or premises and will be heard on March 20. One other bill, LB 569, is yet to receive a hearing date. Please know that you are invited to testify on bills of interest to help the Legislature in determining what is good for the State.

Finally, a special thank you to all those who visited our office this week. I met with Tom Black on behalf of retired teachers of the Nebraska State Education Association, members of the AFL/CIO, as well as members of the Burt County Extension’s Leading Locally Program, and James Moseman and his parents. We are proud of James as he received his district’s Voice of Democracy award.

Please contact me, my administrative aide, Katie Wattermann, or my legislative aide, Tom Venzor, with questions or thoughts at (402)471-2728 or by e-mail at lbrasch@leg.ne.gov. If you would like to follow the Legislature online visit http://www.netnebraska.org/basic-page/television/live-demand-state-government or watch live broadcasting on NET2.

Keeping the Good Life Growing in Nebraska,

Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16

Senator Lydia Brasch