Legislators will review multiple tax policy ideas

This week, the legislature concluded bill introduction and public hearings in this special session. Generally, in a special session, few bills are introduced and public hearings are finished in a couple of days. In this special session, a total of 81 bills and 24 constitutional amendments were introduced during three days of bill introduction, the most proposed during any special session since 1937. The large number of introduced proposals required six days of public hearings. 

Speaker Arch announced that the legislature will reconvene beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7 and hold floor debate through Saturday, Aug. 10. This schedule change is intended to provide time for the Revenue Committee to review testimony heard and craft a series of one or more tax packages. Senators will then begin debate on tax and appropriations bills. The legislature will also consider the gubernatorial appointments advanced from the different committees

Although I do not serve on the Revenue Committee, I have been kept busy with my committee assignments. I currently serve on the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In the Transportation Committee, senators heard two gubernatorial appointments to the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, as well as LB29 by Senator Day, which proposes to sell the State of Nebraska’s government airplane. The committee advanced the two appointments to the floor while LB29 awaits further discussion by committee members. 

In the Judiciary Committee, the legislature heard eight bills covering topics including transferring the duties of clerks of the district court to clerk magistrates (LB46), creating a pathway for prison inmates serving life sentences to be released on parole (LB25) and legalizing recreational marijuana (LB52 and LB71). As of this writing, the committee has not met in executive session to discuss any of these eight bills or made any decisions on what will or will not be advanced to the floor for consideration.

At this time, everything remains a work in progress while the various committees complete their work and bring bills to the floor. I anticipate heavy opposition to any proposal brought to the floor, whether it be the EPIC Option (LB16, LR4CA and LR5CA); the governor’s proposal (LB1, LB2 and LB3); the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (LR7CA to LR22CA); or authorizing new sources of revenue, such as online sports wagering (LB13 and LR6CA) and delivery-sales excise taxes (LB19 and LB48). Despite these anticipated challenges, I am committed to doing what is necessary to make progress reducing property taxes in a thoughtful manner.

I would like to thank anyone from District 40 who came to Lincoln to testify at public hearings, submitted written comments on legislation or contacted me or my office during this special session. I appreciate receiving feedback and input on the various proposals. I welcome your thoughts and opinions as this special session continues. My Capitol office telephone number is 402-471-2801 while my email is [email protected]. My mailing address is: Senator Barry DeKay, District #40, P.O. Box 94604, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509.