Page that contains information about legislative bills of interest.

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:12:56 GMT

If legislation is important to you, it is important to us.

Dacia Kruse, director of public policy and state issues, (402) 978-7938, is a registered lobbyist for the Chamber. Tim Stuart is the manager of transportation development and policy research, (402) 474-4960. They work in partnership with the business community, the Legislature and other government entities to help secure pro-business legislation that ensures the continued growth of Nebraska in general, and the Greater Omaha area in particular.

Legislature Reconvenes

The Legislature reconvened on Jan. 6, and introduction of new legislation is well underway with 281 bills and eight constitutional amendments filed in the first seven days. New bills will be introduced through Jan. 21. In the meantime, floor debate is continues on carryover proposals from 2009.

Asbestos Liability Hearing

Thursday, Jan. 28, at 1:30 p.m. the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on LB 763. Introduced by Sen. Mello, the Successor Asbestos-Related Liability Act would limit the liability of a business that acquired or merged with a business that had been involved with asbestos products but did not itself continue to engage in any activities involving asbestos.

Nebraska Advantage Act Hearing

Friday, January 29, at 1:30 p.m., the Revenue Committee will hold a hearing on LB 918, legislation introduced by Sen. Galen Hadley to amend the Nebraska Advantage Act. This would update the program by clarifying that "cloud computing" is an eligible activity, defining a data center project, providing that sale of software and computer services can be delivered over the internet or other electronic means, and defining employee compensation for Tier 6 projects to include all regular compensation (e.g. wages, heath benefits, and retirement plan contributions).

Unemployment Tax Hearing

Monday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m., the Business and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on LB 1086. This would amend the Employment Security Law to provide for an annual hearing for employers to can communicate to the Commissioner at the Department of Labor the impact of proposed unemployment tax rates on their ability to do business in Nebraska, including the effects on employees and on the state's economy. The Commissioner would then have some discretion in adjusting or phasing in the rate depending on the economic conditions.

New Legislation Highlights

LB 709 (Sen. White) would establish the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act. It would require departments to review the economic impact of regulations on small businesses and look to alternatives, and the creation of a new regulatory review board, which would include five owners of small businesses. A small business is defined as one that is independently owned and operated and has fewer than 500 employees or gross annual sales less than $6 million.

LB 763 (Sen. Mello) would limit the liabilities of companies that acquired or merged with a company that had been involved with asbestos products as long as that company did not then continue to offer such products.

LB 775 (Sen. Stuthman) would allow for the establishment of local transportation districts and a dedicated sales tax to fund road projects.

LB 779 (Sen. Lathrop/Sen. Ashford) would expand the convention center/arena turnback financing law to include stadiums and amusement parks. In addition, turnback revenues would come from nearby retail sales.

LB 780 (Sen. Lathrop) would expand workers compensation coverage to mental injuries.

LB 781 (Lathrop) would amend the law approved last year that allows cities to establish high growth areas in recently annexed areas and issue road bonds backed. This would make any area of the city eligible to be deemed such a district, thus expanding the revenue base for bonding.

LB 793 (Dubas) prohibit raiding cash funds without specific authorization.

LB 796, (Sen. Stuthman) would increase the state fuel tax by five cents to complete the expressway system.

LB 821 (Fischer) would set the first priority of the Department of Roads as maintenance of the existing highway system.

LB 838 (Lautenbaugh) would require road construction contracts to have incentives for early completion, disincentives for late completion, restrictions on lane closures and fines for "improper" lane closures, and would require that contractors place signs in construction zones with the general manager's phone number.

LR 271CA (Nelson) would send a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would allow the increased value of home renovations to be tax exempt for up to six years.

LR 286 CA (Sen. Fischer) is a proposed amendment to the state constitution to dedicate transportation-related revenues to the Highway Trust Fund.

LB 879 (Sen. Cornett) includes a provision for posting the names of any person or business that is delinquent in tax payments (including unemployment taxes) of more than $20,000.

LB 884 (Sen. McGill) would require employers to provide a detailed written account of wage withholding upon an employee's request.

LB 851 (Sen. Avery) would allow all cities except for Omaha to receive funding from both the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act (which is used for the Qwest Center), and the Local Civic, Cultural, and Convention Center Financing Act (which so far is funded with revenues from the Qwest Center).

LB 917 (Sen. Rogert) would exempt all municipally supplied water from sales taxes.

LB 918 (Sen. Hadley) would update the Nebraska Advantage Act, including provisions for data centers and software.

LB 952 (Sen. White) would exempt from sales taxes service charges attributable to updates to water, sewer, and gas systems.

LB 954 (Sen. Geise) would limit sales tax refunds to Nebraska Advantage Act businesses.

LB 958 (Sen. Geise) would phase in income tax exemptions of retirement payments of up to $20,000 by 2013.

LB 961 (Sen. Council) would update the job training program for small businesses and employees living in high poverty areas.

LB 967 (Sen. Schilz) would provide for limitations sales tax refunds for Nebraska Advantage projects.

LB 982 (Sen. Campbell/Sen. Gay) would establish the Build Nebraska Act. This would provide a state highway bonding program and financing partnerships with cities and counties.

LB 1013 (Sen. Rogert) would allow Omaha establishments serving alcohol to remain open until 2:00 a.m. on weekends.

LB 1018 (Sen. Cornett) would establish the Nebraska Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act. This would allow for using local sales tax revenues to develop historical and cultural facilities related retail and recreational facilities.

LB 1040, 1041, and 1042, (Sen. Fulton) would amend statutes governing decisions by the Commission on Industrial Relations, which resolves public labor contract disputes.

LB 1053 (Sen. Pahls) would exempt from sales taxes prepared meals, computer software, furniture, and electronics.

LB 1066 (Sen. Dierks) would impose sales taxes on many services.

LB 1073 (Sen. Mello) would make film productions eligible for state job training grants.

LB 1074 (Sen. Mello) would provide for income tax credits for film and TV productions.

LB 1080 (Sen. Cornett) would create a Nebraska Advantage Act Tier 7 for wind power electric production and provide for personal property tax exemptions.

LB 1081 (Sen. Cornett) would create a refundable tax credit under the Rural Nebraska Advantage Act for creation of teleworker jobs, and make the jobs eligible for state job training grants.

LB 1086 (Sen. McCoy) would LB 1086 would provide for an annual hearing for employers to communicate to the Commissioner at the Department of Labor the impact of proposed unemployment tax rates, and allow the Commissioner some discretion in adjusting or phasing in the rates.

LB 1099 (Sen. Mello) would allow the City of Omaha to offer residents for-fee recycling services.

Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update

Page that contains information about legislative bills of interest.