Session One-Third Complete
The Legislature adjourned February 20, having completed one-third of the 2015 legislative session. Over the next five weeks, senators will conduct floor debate in the mornings, with the afternoons dedicated to committee hearings on introduced legislation. Full-day debate will commence on March 23.
On February 23, Speaker Galen Hadley (Kearney) will begin accepting priority bill designations from individual senators and committees, along with requests for Speaker Priority bills. The Appropriations Committee will begin public hearings on February 23 to review state agency budget requests.
Committee Hearing Action
During the past week, testimony was presented on behalf of NFIB on each of the following bills:
Legislative Bill 280–Local Income Tax Surtax–Property Tax Relief: Sen. Al Davis (Hyannis) has sponsored legislation that would authorize a school-funding surtax (19 percent to 29 percent of state income tax liability) and reduce the levy authority of school districts and learning communities. (NFIB Position–Oppose)
Legislative Bill 357–Income Taxation: Sen. Jim Smith (Papillion) has introduced legislation that would phase in reduced income tax rates from 2016 through 2024 and reduce corporate income tax rates from 2016 through 2023. The bill would also transfer $40 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund for 2015 and 2016. (NFIB Position–Support)
Upcoming Hearings
February 23 – Business and Labor Committee
Legislative Bill 133–Workers Compensation–Interest Rate on Awards: Introduced by Sen. Laura Ebke (Crete), LB 133 would base the interest rate applicable to awards of WC benefits on appeal (14 percent) upon the same standard applicable to other money judgments. (NFIB Position–Support)
Legislative Bill 134–Workers Compensation–Confidentiality of First Injury Reports: Sen. Jerry Johnson (Wahoo), is the sponsor of LB 134, which would make first-injury reports relating to workplace injuries confidential, unless the employee waives confidentiality to allow the report to be made available for public inspection. (NFIB Position–Support)
Legislative Bill 566–Workers’ Compensation–Exclusive Remedy: LB 556, introduced by Sen. Rick Kolowski (Omaha), would waive workers’ compensation as the exclusive remedy if an employer is guilty of willful negligence. The measure would also deem a finding by the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court that an employee has been injured by reason of the willful negligence of the employer to be determinative and binding on the parties in any subsequent action for damages at law. (NFIB Position–Oppose)
February 26 – Revenue Committee
Legislative Bill 523–Income Taxation: Introduced by Sen. Kate Sullivan (Cedar Rapids), LB 523 would increase income tax rates to facilitate increase state support for public education, shifting some of the tax burden for education from property taxes to income taxes. Beginning January 1, 2016, the bill would:
- increase the lowest individual income tax bracket from 2.46 percent to 2.56 percent
- the second-lowest income tax bracket from 3.51 percent to 3.65 percent
- the third-lowest income tax bracket from 5.01 percent to 5.21 percent
- the highest individual income tax bracket from 6.84 percent to 7/11 percent.
The measure would also, beginning January 1, 2016, increase the corporate income tax rate from 5.58 percent to 5.80 percent on the first $100,000 of taxable income and from 7.81 percent to 8.12 percent on all taxable income in excess of $100,000. (NFIB Position–Oppose)
February 27 – Appropriations Committee
Legislative Bill 309–Property Tax Credit Cash Fund: Senator Davis introduced LB 309 which would appropriate $25 million from the General Fund to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund for fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17. (NFIB Position–Support)
Legislative Bill 364–Property Tax Credit Cash Fund: Introduced by Sen. Dan Watermeier (Syracuse), LB 364 would transfer $60 million from the General Fund to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund in fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17. (NFIB Position–Support)
Legislative Bill 387–Property Tax Credit Cash Fund: Sen. David Schnoor (Scribner) has introduced legislation (LB 387) that would transfer $60 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund on or before December 15, 2015. (NFIB Position–Support)
Small Business Day at the Capitol
NFIB/Nebraska will co-sponsor Small Business Day at the Capitol March 31 in Lincoln.
NFIB’s co-sponsors are the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Independent Business Association and Nebraskans For Workers’ Compensation Equity and Fairness.
Small Business Day gives NFIB members an opportunity to network with other small business owners. Governor Ricketts is expected to speak, and there will be a legislative briefing by state senators.
Details on the time and location of Small Business Day at the Capitol will be released soon. Check www.NFIB.com/NE for the latest information.
Past Reports
