NFIB/Nebraska State Director Bob Hallstrom files his final report of the 2015-2016 session of the Legislature
The Legislature adjourned sine die on Wednesday, having concluded all of its work for the 2016 legislative session. On the final day of the session, lawmakers overrode Gov. Pete Ricketts’ veto of Legislative Bill 947, clearing a pathway for young immigrants to acquire professional and commercial licenses to work in Nebraska.
The Legislature completed the session having passed 216 individual bills, with another 66 measures adopted by way of amendment to those measures. Among the major accomplishments of the session were additional property tax relief for agricultural land owners (Legislative Bill 958) and the establishment of a Transportation Infrastructure Bank to provide more funding to accelerate completion of Nebraska’s expressways and for local roads and bridge repairs (Legislative Bill 960).
While filibusters (24 in total) were more prevalent than in prior years, the Legislature was still able to pass 76 of the 107 bills that were designated as priorities, with only four priority bills that were advanced from committee not having received consideration on the floor of the Legislature.
Interim Study Resolutions
NFIB will keep busy over the interim between legislative sessions by monitoring and participating in various interim study resolutions relating to issues such as taxation, healthcare, and workplace regulations.
NFIB-Member Involvement Made a Difference
Many thanks to NFIB members who continue to participate in the legislative process. Your calls and letters in response to an Action Alert contributed to the generation of support for Direct Primary Care Agreements legislation (Legislative Bill 817) and truly made a difference in the outcome on this measure.
Previous Reports
Session Ending on Property, Privacy, Transportation—April 15 Report From the Capitol
Property Tax Relief in Home Stretch—April 8 Report From the Capitol
Workplace Privacy Act Made a Priority Bill—April 1 Report From the Capitol
Property Tax Relief Passes Key Committee, 7-0—March 25 Report From the Capitol
Bill Creating Transportation Infrastructure Bank Advances—March 18 Report From the Capitol
Family Leave, Workers’ Compensation Bills Killed—March 11 Report From the Capitol
Senators Get to Play With More Money—March 4 Report From the Capitol
UI Taxes Drop; Wage-Disclosure Bill Made a Priority—February 26 Report From the Capitol
NFIB Testifies on Inheritance Tax—February 19 Report From the Capitol
Small-Business Owners to Meet in Capitol, Tomorrow–February 18 News Release
Legislative Session Approaching Mid-point—February 12 Report From the Capitol
NFIB Members Speak Out Against Leave Act—February 5 Report From the Capitol
NFIB Will Oppose Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill—January 29 Report From the Capitol
Deadline for Bill Introduction Passes—January 22 Report From the Capitol
A Flurry of Bill Introductions Falls on Capitol—January 15 Report From the Capitol
Comment on Today’s State-of-the-State Address–January 14 News Release
Legislature Returns to Business—January 8 Report From the Capitol
(Tile photo: Speaker Galen Hadley, courtesy of the Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)
