News
2010 Legislature Adjourns
Published: 4/15/2010
Wednesday, April 14, was the final day of the Legislature's 2010 session. Senators faced continued budget concerns and made additional reductions in spending, yet they were also able to approve a number of bills that will benefit Greater Omaha and all of Nebraska.
The Greater Omaha Chamber enjoyed a very successful agenda. All of the Chamber's top priority legislation gained broad support, including:
LB 918, introduced by Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, is an update to the Nebraska Advantage Act that would recognize business models that are increasingly Web-based, including those that utilize cloud computing and data centers. This was approved 49-0.
This effort started last fall as a result of a series of meetings between the Chamber's public policy and economic development divisions to discuss a legislative agenda that would foster development of emerging industries. After consulting with numerous Chamber members and site selectors regarding their experiences with the state's incentive program, we developed a legislative framework that would provide some of the most needed enhancements to our primary economic development legislation. We spent weeks defining and refining the details of the proposal that resulted in LB 918.
When Gov. Dave Heineman signed this bill earlier this week, it marked the culmination of a long and arduous process that included not only the writing and rewriting of several sections, but many conversations with senators over the last few months to make sure they had the necessary information to support the legislation.
LB 961, introduced by Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha, will provide for a more flexible job training program for residents of Omaha's high-poverty areas. Senators approved this measure 47-0.
This legislation is a result of the Chamber's public policy and workforce divisions collaborating to identify opportunities for the legislature to address some of the unique needs of people living in poverty who seek employment that puts them on a career path. Again, this effort required countless hours devoted to developing language that would allow the job training program to be administered in a fashion that would best meet the needs of businesses and prospective employees and more hours meeting with senators to explain the intent of the bill.
LB 861, was amended by Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln to include Tekamah Sen. Kent Rogert's LB 1013, which will allow cities and counties to allow establishments to serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. This was approved 40-5.
As a result of feedback received from members, including the council of the Greater Omaha Young Professionals, we took an active role in supporting and lobbying this legislation, providing the local governing body authorizes this change. This legislation has languished in the legislature for approximately 20 years. However, this year the Chamber and other interests put a new face on the issue, which helped gain broad support from the legislature.
Other bills of interest and important to Greater Omaha
LB 1020, introduced by Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, will make changes to the state's unemployment benefit program in order to allow the state to accept $43 million in federal stimulus funds for the unemployment fund, without increasing unemployment taxes. This was approved 49-0.
LB 763, introduced by Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha and prioritized by Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue, would provide for adoption of the Successor Asbestos-Related Liability Act. This would limit liability of employers who did not manufacture or sell products containing asbestos but did acquire other businesses prior to 1972 that were involved in production of such. This legislation is the result of a business coming forward and telling their story and the legislature responding. This was approved 47-1.
LB 987, introduced by Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, will provide $200,000 from the Health Care Cash Fund to provide matching funds for Omaha to apply for a federal grant for lead paint removal projects in the city. This was approved 46-0.
LB 1081, introduced by Sen. Mello, would provide for training grants for teleworkers. This was approved 48-0.
LB 1072, introduced and prioritized by Sen. Greg Adams of York, contains provisions of legislation introduced by Sen. Cornett that would address the state-aid funding formula for community colleges. This would specify funding levels for each college area, and it will sunset the current formula. A new formula will have to be developed over the next year. Senators approved this proposal 49-0.
LB 1048, introduced by the Natural Resources Committee, is intended to foster development of private wind energy projects. Such projects would export at least 90 percent of electricity generated. The projects would be exempt from personal property taxes, but would instead pay an annual tax of $3,518 per megawatt. Proceeds of the tax would be returned to local subdivisions. This was approved 48-0.
The Greater Omaha business community has much to be proud of as another legislative session has come to an end.