Lawmakers one fourth of the way through session

We are a quarter of the way through the 104th Legislature First Session. We have 23 bills on General File (1st round of debate), 28 on Select File (2nd round of debate) and 9 are on Final Reading (3rd round of debate). So we are starting to make some good progress. I'm happy to announce that last week my bill LB 269 was heard on General File and it advanced on a 36-0 vote.

On Friday we heard LB 107, it would eliminate integrated practice agreements and provide for transition-to-practice agreements for nurse practitioners. The agreement would provide that the nurse practitioner and the supervising provider practice collaboratively within the framework of their respective scopes of practice. This is the same bill that was passed last year by the Nebraska Legislature on a 43-0 vote. It was vetoed by the Governor and the Legislature had already adjourned for the year, therefore they could not override the veto. I voted in favor of this bill because I feel that nurse practitioners are important to addressing primary care and mental health shortage in rural and urban areas.

The Executive Board met on February 6th to hear testimony on LR 32, LR 33 & LR 34.

LR 32 -- Provide the Executive Board to appoint a special committee to be known as the Developmental Disabilities Special Investigative Committee of the Legislature.

LR 33 -- Provide the Executive Board appoint a special committee to be known as the ACCESSNebraska Special Investigative Committee of the Legislature.

LR 34-- Provide the Executive Board reappoint the Department of Correctional Services Special Investigative Committee of the Legislature.

These committees are made up of members of the Legislature, all three of these are committees that were previously created. The continuance of the committees is to study and keep oversight of areas of concern.

One of the bills that I am concerned about is LB 205. It is a bill by Senator Schilz, it defines a meteorological evaluation tower (MET) and requires towers at a height of at least fifty feet but no more than two hundred feet to be marked as provided in the bill. Although I understand the safety reasons behind this bill, I am concerned about the RTK towers that are already erected in rural Nebraska. This bill would require a large number of these structures to be painted. I am working with the introducer of the bill, along with others, to see if we can find a compromise.

I look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns that you might have. My email address is dhughes@leg.ne.gov and my phone number is (402) 471-2805. You can read more about the bills at www.nebraska.gov you can also watch live streaming video.