Three measures that affect Southwest Nebraska

The legislature has adjourned Sine Die for the 105th Nebraska Legislature Second Session as of April 18th. This was the final year of my first term as a state senator. I enjoyed my first four years in the legislature serving the people of the 44th district. This week I would like to give an update on some of the key legislation that I carried that will directly affect you in Southwest Nebraska. I have mentioned these bills in my past articles but would like to give a final update on LB 758, LB 1008, and LR 266.

LB 758 allows the four NRDs that own the N-CORPE project in Lincoln County and the Upper Republican NRD that owns the Rock Creek project in Dundy County, to make payments in lieu of taxes. LB 758 was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Ricketts. The bill had an emergency clause attached which means it is currently law. This is an important bill for the 44th district because it ensures the local school districts and counties will continue to receive property tax dollars, even if TERC were to rule against it.

LB 1008 was a “Christmas tree bill”, which means the committee had rolled multiple bills together into one. LB 1008 contains bills to raise liquidated damages on poachers for certain game violations, raise the per diem for Oil and Gas commissioners, give the Power Review Board authority to assess a fine, extended the sunset date for the state’s scrap tire program, and also resolves a problem for public power. This bill contained three of my own bills, these are important issues that face southwestern Nebraska. The biggest of which will allow public power generators to keep their daily cost of generation information from being disclosed to their competitors.  LB 1008 was delivered to the Governor and signed into law on April 11th.

LR 266 is a resolution urging the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, as well as, Nebraska congressional delegation to work together. We need to a find a solution that allows the people occupying lots around Hugh Butler Lake, Harry Strunk Lake and Swanson Reservoir to freely transfer their permits and to leave non-permanent structures currently in place on existing lots.

Currently, the Bureau of Reclamation is mandating that trailer home owners vacate the lots at the lakes no later than April 30, 2020. This would make for a total of 232 cabins and trailers to be removed. LR 266 was adopted on April 11th, and we will be passing this information along to the Nebraska Congressional delegation.

I always enjoy hearing from the Nebraskans I represent. 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 bills and other work of the Legislature at www.nebraskalegislature.gov, and you can click on the Live Video Streaming NET logo to watch sessions, hearings, and other Capitol events.