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| Sen. Tom Carlson |
This is the 34th day of the 60 day, short session. Standing committee hearings will be completed this week. Monday is a recess day, meaning the legislature is not in session to allow time for senators to return to their home districts. All day debate begins on Tuesday, March 4th.
As various news outlets have reported, the big issues to be solved will be on the agenda. This is not unusual as it takes time for bills to go through the hearing process and then often rewritten to reflect the needs of our citizens. My water resources bills stand right up there with those big issues, as well as medicaid expansion, tax reform, school funding, and prison reform.
The Natural Resources Committee, which I chair, heard one of my water bills, LB 1098, yesterday. That bill would change membership and powers and duties of the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. It is very important to help us reach water sustainability in the state.
The Revenue Committee has begun to advance bills to address Nebraska tax reform possibilities. One of those bills, LB 987, would adjust individual income tax brackets for inflation and exempt Social Security payments up to a certain amount. These are issues that have frequently come to my attention and that I feel could aid in economic development and keep more retirees in our state. But we must remember that all bills are usually amended before they are passed.
I introduced LB 960, before the Revenue Committee on February 20th. My bill would adjust down inheritance tax rates for lineal descendants from 13% to 7% and in the case of all others, from 18% to 9%. I will be surprised if any bill concerning county inheritance tax advances out of committee. However, I still believe the top brackets are too high and should be lowered.
The budget is always a major bill in any session. The main budget for the two year cycle passes during the long, 90 day, session. It is amended during the short session. The Appropriations Committee must advance their final budget to the floor by March 10, which is Day 40. It must be passed and presented to the Governor by the 50th legislative day.
The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board will meet tomorrow. This board was created in 1984 to advise the governor and the legislature for state general fund revenue projections. Consisting of nine members, the board develops a consensus projection of the state’s economic activity as it relates to the general fund revenue derived for existing state tax rates. Members must demonstrate expertise in tax policy, economics, or economic forecasting. They meet three times a year in odd-numbered years and twice in even-numbered year.
We have debated LB 1016 for two days. Introduced by Senator Krist of Omaha, the bill would authorize the purchase of a new state aircraft, to be used only for state business. A new Beechcraft King Air would cost $3.6 million. Senator Krist’s research shows that 37 states operate this particular aircraft. The bill also calls for the state to sell an older plane that is now used. The bill advanced to the second round of debate.
As various news outlets have reported, the big issues to be solved will be on the agenda. This is not unusual as it takes time for bills to go through the hearing process and then often rewritten to reflect the needs of our citizens. My water resources bills stand right up there with those big issues, as well as medicaid expansion, tax reform, school funding, and prison reform.
The Natural Resources Committee, which I chair, heard one of my water bills, LB 1098, yesterday. That bill would change membership and powers and duties of the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. It is very important to help us reach water sustainability in the state.
The Revenue Committee has begun to advance bills to address Nebraska tax reform possibilities. One of those bills, LB 987, would adjust individual income tax brackets for inflation and exempt Social Security payments up to a certain amount. These are issues that have frequently come to my attention and that I feel could aid in economic development and keep more retirees in our state. But we must remember that all bills are usually amended before they are passed.
I introduced LB 960, before the Revenue Committee on February 20th. My bill would adjust down inheritance tax rates for lineal descendants from 13% to 7% and in the case of all others, from 18% to 9%. I will be surprised if any bill concerning county inheritance tax advances out of committee. However, I still believe the top brackets are too high and should be lowered.
The budget is always a major bill in any session. The main budget for the two year cycle passes during the long, 90 day, session. It is amended during the short session. The Appropriations Committee must advance their final budget to the floor by March 10, which is Day 40. It must be passed and presented to the Governor by the 50th legislative day.
The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board will meet tomorrow. This board was created in 1984 to advise the governor and the legislature for state general fund revenue projections. Consisting of nine members, the board develops a consensus projection of the state’s economic activity as it relates to the general fund revenue derived for existing state tax rates. Members must demonstrate expertise in tax policy, economics, or economic forecasting. They meet three times a year in odd-numbered years and twice in even-numbered year.
We have debated LB 1016 for two days. Introduced by Senator Krist of Omaha, the bill would authorize the purchase of a new state aircraft, to be used only for state business. A new Beechcraft King Air would cost $3.6 million. Senator Krist’s research shows that 37 states operate this particular aircraft. The bill also calls for the state to sell an older plane that is now used. The bill advanced to the second round of debate.
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