The Legislature has completed just over one-third of the 2024 legislative session, as lawmakers adjourned on Friday. The initial filibuster of the year on a bill (LB 31) requiring train crews of at least two individuals was winding down as we went to press.

The package of bills constituting the Governor’s 40% property tax relief proposal encountered rough sledding throughout the week as multiple opponents submitted online comments and lined up to testify on Tuesday against a bill that would provide for approximately 250 million in transfers from State Agency Cash Funds to the General Fund (LB 1413).

Political subdivisions railed against a proposal on Thursday that would have revised property tax levy limits (LB 1141) and school districts were out in force to oppose a bill to eliminate the ability of school districts to override levy limits with a 70% vote (LB 1318).

Representatives of the business community also voiced their objections to a series of bills heard on Thursday that would have repealed existing sales tax exemptions or impose new taxes on items such as soda and candy, advertising, accounting, and legal services, and repair and replacement parts for agricultural machinery and equipment.