Adjusting to a new schedule, procedures

We have had 2 five-day weeks of all-day hearings. There have been some hiccups in the new schedule and also with the new testimony submission options. The days are busy for senators and staff alike. However, for the most part, it is going pretty smoothly. Some committees have a bigger load than others, and therefore their days are packed and make for long days.

During our all-day committee hearings we do not only hear bills, but we also meet with potential gubernatorial appointments to different commissions and boards. Since I sit on the Natural Resources Committee and also the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee we hear from a number of different people up for appointment.

A few bills were heard last week in their respective committees that might be of interest to my constituency in District 44. One of those bills was heard in the Natural Resources Committee on February 3rd.

It would prohibit the use of treated seed corn in the production of agricultural ethyl alcohol if its use results in the generation of a byproduct that is deemed unsafe for livestock consumption or land application.

LB 507 was introduced by Senator Bruce Bostelman of Brainard who said an ethanol plant near Mead has been using treated seed corn as a fuel stock and is storing the byproduct on-site. The byproduct contains unsafe levels of insecticide, leading to concerns about groundwater contamination and other environmental problems.

This bill had no opposition testimony at the hearing.

On February 1st the Transportation and Telecommunication Committee heard a bill introduced by Senator Steve Erdman of Bayard, LB 164. Currently, only cities with at least 40,000 residents can lower the speed limits on highways within their corporate limits if they feel a hazardous condition exists. This bill would allow cities as small as 500 or more residents to lower the speed limit without having the Department of Transportation approve it first.

LB 41, introduced by Senator Myron Dorn of Adams was heard in the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee last week. The same bill was introduced last year, but because of the pandemic, it did not get debated on the floor. He reintroduced it this year, as LB 41. This bill would allow county treasurers to distribute tax revenue to townships by automatic deposit. This is already done for counties, cities, schools, fire districts, etc. There are twenty-two counties in Nebraska that have townships and currently, they have to come into the courthouse and present a paper warrant in person. This would eliminate that need.

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. My office is room 2108 at the Capitol if you are in the Lincoln area.

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 the session, hearings, and other Capitol events.