Nebraska Senators Break for Long Weekend

Full-day Floor Debate on Legislation Starts April 2

State Director Bob Hallstrom reports from Lincoln on the small-business agenda for the legislative week ending March 28

The Legislature adjourned Thursday for a long, four–day weekend. Having completed the committee hearing process, lawmakers will commence full-day floor debate on legislation when they reconvene next Tuesday.

Workers Compensation Injury Reports

The Business and Labor Committee conducted a public hearing on Legislative Bill 19 on Monday, March 25, 2019. Introduced by Sen. Tom Briese (Albion), LB 19 would require that workers’ compensation first reports of injury to be withheld from the public with certain designated exceptions.

The bill is designed to curb the avalanche of solicitations, which injured employees receive from attorneys once the “report of first injury” is filed with the Workers’ Compensation Court. While LB 19 would limit a disclosure of first reports of injury to the general public, it does provide exceptions for the Workers’ Compensation Court to release the reports

to employees mentioned in the report
or the employee’s attorney
to the employer that is a party to the report or its attorney or authorized agent
or in connection with a state or federal investigation or examination
or for use by the state or federal government to compile statistical information.

In addition to NFIB, supporting the bill were the Nebraskans for Workers’ Compensation Equity and Fairness, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, the Nebraska Restaurant Association and the Nebraska Retail Federation.

Opponents of the measure included the AFL-CIO, the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, and a member of individual practicing attorneys.

The Business and Labor Committee has taken no action on the bill.

Small Business Day at the Capitol

NFIB/Nebraska will co-sponsor a Small Business Day at the Capitol on April 17, 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. Gov. Pete 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 here for the latest information and to register.