Unlicensed cars, Game and Parks move among proposals

Unlicensed cars, moving Game and Parks among proposals

Last week was the final week to introduce new legislation. A total of 684 bills were introduced. I have introduced a total of 9 bills this year. LB’s 190, 191, 215, 336, 393, 616, 617, 618, and 668. Three of those bills are what I have referred to in the past as shell bills. Those shell bills are LB’s 393, 617, and 618.

LB 616 proposes that if an abandoned vehicle, as defined in Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-1901, does not have license plates or valid in transit stickers affixed to it and its wholesale value is less than $500.00 the title shall immediately be granted to the local authority or state agency having jurisdiction thereof. Secondly, this bill would make law enforcement comply with the same 15-day notice to any lienholder appearing on the certificate of title of the vehicle and the owner of the towing vehicle, that a tower has to comply with.

LB 668 would require that the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission move their headquarters to a county with a population of ten thousand or fewer inhabitants. The new headquarters shall be located at least two hundred miles or more from any city of the metropolitan class or city of the primary class. The commission shall also consider the value of the economic development incentives provided by a qualifying city or village.

As I mentioned in a prior article, the procedures for hearings will look a little different as will the options for people to submit written comments. The legislature is constantly looking at different ways to safeguard the public and our staff but still remaining open as the people’s house and letting their voices be heard. You can find more specific information about these changes on the Nebraska Legislature’s website, www.nebraskalegislature.gov.

Last week we debated 3 of the rule changes that were advanced by the Rules Committee, they were:

1. From Senator Matt Hansen that all caucus members vote for Executive Board positions. Adopted

2. From Speaker Mike Hilgers that the introducer of motion controls the order of the roll call vote. Adopted

3. From Senator Joni Albrecht that the pledge of allegiance will be said every day after the opening prayer. Adopted

We also debated amendments to our rules.

One of the duties of the Executive Board is to place members on special committees. Special committees are established for a specific purpose that focuses on providing legislative oversight to a policy area. We also have interstate compacts meant for mutual public policy objectives.

The committee met late last week to make those assignments based on the senators that nominated themselves and the number of positions available on each committee.

A few of those higher-profile committees are Building and Maintenance, Committee on Justice Reinvestment Oversight, Education Commission of the States, Homeland Security Policy Group, Legislative Performance Audit Committee, Legislature’s Planning Committee, Rural Broadband Task Force, and State-Tribal Relations.