Legislative committee bytes into broadband concerns

Governor Ricketts testified before the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee this past week, expressing his support for LB 388, the Nebraska broadband Bridge Act. The purpose of the program is to facilitate and fund the development of broadband networks in unserved and underserved areas. LB 388 contains intent language to appropriate $20 million annually to the Public Service Commission to be distributed as grants. Providers, cooperatives or political subdivisions could apply for the grants. Recipients of the grants must provide certain broadband speeds and matching funds equal to 50% of the development costs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when students attended class remotely and parents worked from home, it became readily apparent that broadband speeds were not sufficient statewide. The funding proposed in LB 388 is included in the governor’s budget recommendations and is in addition to the $29.5 million in federal CARES Act funds that the governor designated for rural broadband projects last year. Governor Ricketts estimated that this funding would help serve an additional 30,000 residents in the next two years.

Senator Ben Hansen of Blair introduced LB 644 before the Revenue Committee this past week. LB 644 proposes to adopt the Property Tax Request Act and has been referred to as a Truth in Taxation Law. The purpose of the bill is to increase transparency when political subdivisions raise their property tax levies. Whenever a governing body of a county, city, village, school district, natural resources district, educational service unit or community college intends to increase its property tax request over that of the previous year, a postcard must be mailed to all affected taxpayers, informing them of the date, time and location of the public hearing and the amount of the political subdivision’s property tax request. The public hearing must be held in the evening to better allow citizens to participate in the process.

The legislature is in the middle of the public hearing process. Due to the pandemic, senators are conducting public hearings both in the morning and the afternoon. Only a couple of mornings are scheduled for debate by the entire legislature during the next month, in an effort to avoid the situation where all senators are in the same location for an extended period of time. Because of social distancing requirements, several hearing rooms are not large enough for a committee to meet, requiring some juggling of the schedule. Due to the ongoing HVAC project, one-fourth of the capitol is under construction, further limiting available space.

Some committees are being urged to schedule bills so they can finish early, in order to make room for other committees to meet. The Judiciary Committee, which meets three days a week, will be the last committee to complete the public hearing process, having more than 150 bills referenced to them.

This is my third year serving in the legislature, representing the 40th district. I continually encourage constituents to contact me with their input on legislation or if they need assistance with governmental issues. More than 1,200 families have contacted me since I began my term, sometimes multiple family members, and some dozens of times. Your input helps me represent the district more effectively. I can be reached at [email protected]. My mailing address is District #40, P.O. Box 94604, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509 and my telephone number is 402-471-2801.