Wednesday marked the last day for new bill introductions, with a total of 596 new bills and 11 new Constitutional Amendments being introduced during the 2024 legislative session. Committee hearings will commence next Monday with floor debate on carryover bills during the morning sessions and committee hearings in the afternoons.

The legislature spent most of the week debating rules changes. Among the changes to the permanent rules which will govern the legislature for the balance of the 2024 session are: a) a requirement for separate votes to be taken to suspend the rules and to pass a subsequent motion; b) clarification of the timing for which priority motions, typically utilized during filibusters may be introduced; c) a requirement for Introducer’s Statements of Intent to be posted at least three days in advance of a committee hearing; d) allowing bills on consent calendar to be removed by the filing of objections by five (was three) senators; and e) clarifying that a motion to return a bill from Final Reading to Select File for specific amendment and the amendment itself are not subject to being divided or amended.

On Thursday, a motion to replace the long-standing practice of electing leadership (Speaker and Committee Chairs) by secret ballot with an open voting process failed to garner the 30 votes required for adoption. When the Legislative Update went to press, lawmakers were debating a proposed rule to limit the number of legislative bills that could be introduced each session by an individual senator.

GOVERNOR’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

Governor Jim Pillen delivered his State of the State address on Thursday morning, calling for a lower overall tax burden and increased efforts to cut spending at both the state and local levels. Among the legislative priorities that Governor Pillen will be promoting:

• Reducing spending by .5% in the current fiscal year-this effort includes transfers from multiple state agency “cash funds” totaling over $250 million to the General Fund.
• Allocating $5 million to provide income tax credits to cover relocation expenses for workers moving to Nebraska from out-of-state to take jobs paying $70,000 or more.
• Investing $25 million in rural workforce housing and providing incentives for employers to provide childcare for employees to address the workforce shortage.

The Governor has expressed his intention to reduce the overall property tax burden by 40%, to be funded in part by fiscal restraint by both state and local governments, a 0% “hard cap” on property tax growth by local governments and a broader sales tax base.