Legislature winds down for the year

Another week of bills and amendments has come and gone as the Legislature begins to wind down for the year. There are only 13 more legislative days left this year and everyone is scrambling to get their bills across the finish line.

I will have two bills up Monday on what the Legislature calls the Consent Calendar. This is a list of non-controversial bills put on the agenda by the Speaker that get only 15 minutes of debate to either advance or fail. My two bills are LB687, which changes the procedures for background checks on applicants for a real estate license, and LB798 that allows certain power districts to use a fiscal year instead of a calendar year; this will help a district in our area.

Water issues are still being looked at in the Natural Resources Committee. LB1098, which would expand the number of members on the Natural Resources commission that will be disbursing the increased funding for water projects throughout the state, was voted on and advanced out of Committee, but wasn't reported to the floor by the writing of this letter.

LB1074 had another hearing on a proposed amendment to put a 30 year time frame to create basin-wide plans and reach a water balance in each basin making them sustainable into the future. Many showed up for the two hour hearing giving the committee their position on the amendment. I testified in the neutral position, because either way, I believe someone in our district loses. The committee seems to be undecided on what to do with LB1074. At this point, it seems as if this bill may not make it out of committee. If that is the case, then, most likely, amendments will be waiting for LB1098 on General File.

I believe there is a potential that amendments may be filed to put in statute criteria that limits who may receive money from the fund. They could require Natural Resources Districts to be part of a basin wide plan for sustainability, could require that ground water and surface water interests agree on projects within the basin, and others. It seems to me that Sen. Lathrop is not giving up on his issue and will most likely seek to make amendments to LB1098.

Moving to another issue, Sen. Chambers' mountain lion bill, LB671, to repeal the hunting season just implemented two years ago, was held up on Final Reading by several senators forcing it to be skipped on the agenda and postponed until Monday March 24. I support leaving this in the hands of the Game and Parks Commission to decide whether to have a mountain lion season or not. This bill should not advance.

If you have any questions or comments, contact my office. Mark R. Christensen, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, 402-471-2805 or mchristensen@leg.ne.gov.