CIVIC NEBRASKA HOSTS AI AND DEMOCRACY SUMMIT AT UNL AHEAD OF LEGISLATIVE HEARING

LINCOLN- Just days before lawmakers consider the possible impacts of artificial intelligence on Nebraska's upcoming elections, Sen. Tom Brewer joined Civic Nebraska on Saturday to discuss AI and democracy, saying that "AI is scary." Heidi Uhing, director of public policy for Civic Nebraska, pointed to several January robocalls that used Pres. Joe Biden's voice to trick voters ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

"That was sort of the first shot over the bow when it comes to artificial intelligence used in our elections," said Uhing. Sen. Brewer suggested at the event that the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs and Judiciary Committees come together to investigate the use of AI in elections, and possibly provide momentum to propel 2025 legislation "up the food chain."

Brewer said there's a chance, but a "remote" one, that AI-related legislation could become law in 2024, since none of the bills related to this topic have been prioritized. Gina Ligon, director of the University of Nebraska at Omaha's National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center, said Saturday that Nebraska's current election laws don't adequately address the potential threat of AI.

For the full article click HERE

MALCOLM X MUSEUM TO RISE IN NORTH OMAHA WITH BOOST FROM $20 MILLION STATE GRANT

OMAHA- A nearly 18-acre site in North Omaha, now mostly land, gardens, and a small former church, is poised for a multi-million dollar makeover featuring a museum honoring the legacy of Omaha-born Malcolm X. A $20 million state grant was announced this month, and will go to the owners of the land, the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation.

The funding will be utilized by the Foundation to build a cultural education center and museum dedicated to the slain human rights leader. The funds follow legislation approved last year to build the tourism hub in honor of Malcolm X, the first African American inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

"This Hall of Fame induction and future development plans are an opportunity for people from all walks of life to learn and connect with Malcolm X," said JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Foundation. Over time, LeFlore-Ejike said her team hopes to establish a multi-building memorial campus, similar to the one that honors Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS FACE ANOTHER LAWSUIT OVER SLAYING OF INMATE IN A DOUBLE-BUNKED CELL

LINCOLN- Earlier this month, the estate of deceased Nebraska inmate Kevin Carter filed an updated federal lawsuit alleging that then-State Corrections Director Scott Frakes and 10 other prison officials were negligent and reckless in their housing of Carter, who was placed in the same cell with a reportedly paranoid and delusional convicted murderer.

On November 6th, 2020, a week after Carter was housed in a cell with Nebraska State Penitentiary inmate Angelo Bol, Carter was found unresponsive under a bed sheet and later pronounced dead. The lawsuit, amended earlier this month, claims that prison medical officials were "aware of the dangers posed by Bol, especially when he was unmedicated."

Bol, the lawsuit alleges, told prison officials that he didn't want to be housed in the same cell as Carter because he believed he was "connected to a Sudanese tribe that had hired Carter to kill him." Prison officials, the lawsuit claims, were "indifferent" to the risks posed by Bol. Nebraska's prison overcrowding issue, which includes the State Penitentiary that held an average of 205 inmates per day above its design capacity last year, was cited as a problem in the Carter lawsuit.

For the full article click HERE

ADVOCATES FOR THE 'UNSHELTERED HOMELESS' PAN NEBRASKA BILL TO DESIGNATE AREAS FOR ENCAMPMENTS

LINCOLN- A two-pronged approach to address homeless encampments in Nebraska cities was panned this week as a way to “criminalize” people who have no other shelter. Legislative Bill 1357, a proposal from State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, aims to address the growing number of “unsheltered homeless” — people who opt to live in streetside tents instead of homeless shelters.

McDonnell said homeless encampments — like one that sprang up recently near Holy Family Catholic Church just north of downtown Omaha — are unsanitary, unsafe and damaging to nearby businesses. Under LB1357, signs would be posted where camping along streets is prohibited, and designated campsites would be created that have facilities and outreach personnel for substance abuse and mental health issues.

If people didn’t move, McDonnell’s bill would allow them to be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. The Judiciary Committee took no action on the bill after the public hearing. The bill doesn’t have a priority designation, making it uncertain if it would be debated even if it was advanced by the committee.

For more on this article click HERE

BALLOT MEASURE ON TAX BREAK FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS SURVIVES CHALLENGE

LINCOLN- Voters might have a say this fall, after all, on the future of Nebraska’s first major school choice law in years. Secretary of State Bob Evnen, with legal advice from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, decided the measure will stay on the ballot. Evnen declined to boot the measure in response to a complaint letter from Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who authored the Opportunity Scholarship Act.

Linehan argued that the ballot measure to repeal Legislative Bill 753 overstepped by targeting a tax credit for donors funding scholarships for needy students at private K-12 schools. Evnen, in his response letter to Linehan, wrote that case law and previous attorney generals’ opinions leave him little room to reject the referendum. The opinions he cited were issued in 1969 and 1996.

Primarily, he argues that the state constitution reserves a wide berth for the people to repeal acts of the Legislature as long as they don’t tread too far toward eliminating sources of revenue. Karen Kilgarin of Support Our Schools Nebraska said her group was pleased with Evnen’s decision. She said she hopes the Legislature will respect the will of the voters and not try to circumvent a vote before it happens.

For the full article click HERE

STATE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER A NO-SHOW AT NEBRASKA GENDER CARE BRIEFING

LINCOLN- The state’s chief medical officer, through his agency’s legal counsel, declined to attend a legislative briefing as requested by the Health and Human Services Committee. The HHS Committee requested last week that Dr. Timothy Tesmer give an in-person update on the ongoing rules and regulations process regarding gender care for minors. Those provisions became law Oct. 1 through LB574.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who led opposition to LB 574, said Tesmer’s absence was disappointing, particularly when he committed to keep the committee informed. “He has not kept that commitment,” said Cavanaugh. Sen. Ben Hansen read a letter sent just before the briefing from Bo Botelho, chief legal officer for the Nebraska DHHS. Hanse wrote the amendment to LB 574.

Botelho’s letter told the committee that because the final regulations are currently under review by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, and will soon go to the Governor’s Office for final say, DHHS “must respectfully decline” to participate in the briefing. The current set of temporary gender care regulations expire in one month, the future of gender care regulations hinging upon the current drafts in the Attorney General’s Office.

For the full article click HERE

ECONOMIC FORECASTING BOARD RAISES SHORT-TERM REVENUE PROJECTIONS

LINCOLN- In its final meeting before legislative debate begins on proposed adjustments to the state budget, the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board voted Feb. 29 to raise revenue projections for the current fiscal year. The board provides an advisory forecast of general fund receipts used by the Legislature to craft the state’s budget.

Revenue projections for the current fiscal year were raised primarily based on an anticipated increase of $750 million in corporate income tax receipts, offset by a projected decrease of $200 million in individual income tax receipts. Total projected revenue receipts for FY2023-24 were set at $7.02 billion, an overall increase of $575 million.

The board also set the forecast for projected total revenue receipts for FY2024-25 at $5.84 billion, a decrease of $525 million. That change was based mainly on a projected $715 million decrease in individual income tax receipts, partially offset by a projected $160 million increase in corporate income tax receipts. The next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 31.

For the full article click HERE

JIM PILLEN, GRETNA DEVELOPER WANTED NEBRASKA IN 'CONVERSATION' FOR NHL TEAM, DESPITE LONG ODDS

LINCOLN- While Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates traveled to New York in February with Gov. Jim Pillen to make a pitch for a Nebraska team, Yates has acknowledged that the league isn’t actively pursuing expansion. League Commissioner Gary Bettman, in recent public interviews, has tamped down speculation that the league is looking at new sites.

But Yates said he wanted to get Nebraska in the conversation if the league’s position changes. Yates has talked of his desire to build a dual-use arena for hockey and volleyball as a major anchor in the Good Life District he is developing on 2,000 acres near Gretna. The state has approved his plan for a sports and entertainment complex under a new law that created such districts.

Yates said Pillen emphasized that Nebraska’s “brand” is its fan base. Husker fans follow their teams all over the country, Yates said, and the state has proved it can fill a stadium with 93,000 fans. Yates said situating an arena along Interstate 80 near Gretna would allow it to draw from both the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas, which have a combined population approaching 1.4 million.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS FILIBUSTER BILL THAT WOULD ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR DRUG DEALERS IN OVERDOSE CASES

LINCOLN- A small group of Nebraska lawmakers launched a filibuster on Wednesday against a bill that would enhance the penalties that alleged drug dealers could face for providing substances linked to overdoses. LB137, a bill sponsored by Sen. Carolyn Bosn, would increase prison sentences for dealers who distribute a drug that kills or seriously injures a drug user.

The Legislature's Judiciary Committee advanced the bill on a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, but faced opposition from Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh, Justin Wayne, Terrell McKinney, and George Dungan during a floor debate on Wednesday. "I don't think that it's going to deter crime," said Cavanaugh, whose comments were echoed by Dungan, a former public defender, "And if we really want to deter crime we need to get to the root causes of crime..."

McKinney and Wayne repeatedly cautioned that Bosn's bill would bring unintended consequences and further strain Nebraska's prison system, which is already plagued by overcrowding. "It's easy to get behind what we could deem tough-on-crime bills," said Wayne, "It's easy to say that there is a drug problem and we have to be harder on drug dealers. I don't disagree with those statements. The problem is this bill is too broad."

For the full article click HERE

NORTHEAST NEBRASKA COUNTY DELIVERS BLOW TO PLANS FOR CARBON PIPELINE

LINCOLN- A rural Nebraska county delivered a blow on Tuesday to plans by an Iowa corporation to build a pipeline carrying carbon dioxide across the state. On a 3-0 vote, the Stanton County Board denied a conditional use permit for Summit Carbon Solutions, which is seeking to build the carbon pipeline to connect to more than 50 ethanol plants across the midwest.

Stanton County Clerk Wanda Heermann said commissioners believed they needed more information about potential health risks and possible foreign ownership of the company before they considered approving the permit. Summit Carbon Solutions, said Heermann, would have to reapply for a conditional use permit if it wants to try again to cross the northeast Nebraska community.

A spokeswoman for Summit said the company "respects the decision of the Stanton County Commissioners and will address their feedback. More than 90% of the landowners in Stanton County have signed voluntary easement agreements, demonstrating broad understanding and support of the project."

For the full article click HERE

PROPOSAL ADVANCES TO EXPAND NEBRASKA'S CHILD CARE WORKFORCE AND CUT COSTS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Sen. Fredrickson's LB856, which would make all child care workers eligible for their own child care aid, regardless of income, advanced in the Nebraska Legislature. To qualify, a worker would need to work at least 20 hours per week in direct child care at a licensed center or Early Head Start Program or as a licensed, self-employed child care provider.

If passed, the program would start three months after the Legislature adjourns this year and end in October of 2026. Fredrickson described the bill as "simple and measurable," and argued that the proposal would tackle both workforce and child care needs. The bill is based on a similar piece of Legislation that brought in more child care workers in Kentucky.

Two amendments adopted alongside the bill on Wednesday would cap LB856 at $10 million annually, which Fredrickson said would be a "fiscally responsible" but "prudent investment." Sen. Mike Jacobson said during debate that this bill could be the first to addressing the broader labor shortage in Nebraska, which plagues many industries besides child care.

For the full article click HERE

BILL WOULD REQUIRE NEBRASKANS TO VERIFY THEIR AGE TO PERUSE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, the Legislature's Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Sen. Dave Murman's LB1092, which would require pornographic websites to digitally verify the age of its users. Murman said his goal in introducing the bill is to protect "our most vulnerable women and children."

"We're not trying to do something new here," he told the committee, "We're trying to do what's been done in other states...and what's been successful in other states." Sen. Carol Blood questioned the wisdom of considering a bill that could put Nebraskan's personal identifying information online, including that of those under 18 years of age.

"If we're going to violate people's civil liberties, and it's about safety, why are we legitimizing a surveillance regime?" asked Blood. Privacy advocates, including Jane Seu of the ACLU of Nebraska, described the proposal as an unconstitutionally broad burden on all internet users that would force people to "share identifying information to access content online," risking embarrassment. 

For the full article click HERE

ACTORS, PRODUCERS AND SCREENWRITERS TESTIFY FOR BILL TO LURE MOVIE/TV PRODUCTIONS TO NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Travis Beck, a film location scout who grew up in Lincoln, told the Nebraska Legislature's Revenue Committee that $70 million was recently spent in Montana to film a season of the television show Yellowstone. However, Beck said, "We could have filmed that here" if Nebraska had provided financial help for film crews.

Under Sen. Rita Sanders' LB1022, the Cast and Crew Nebraska Act, Nebraska could do just that. Sanders, testifying before the committee, said that Nebraska is currently at the bottom of states that provide film incentives, and that such incentives help keep young people from leaving the state to pursue careers in the film industry.

A crew of actors, producers and writers who grew up in Nebraska also attended the hearing, testifying in favor of the proposal. Even Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hansen testified in support of the bill, saying the film industry provides many jobs for skilled trades, like electricians and carpenters, which can help lift people out of poverty.

For the full article click HERE

STATE LAWMAKERS ADVANCE DETASSELING BILL TO PROTECT NEBRASKA YOUTH WORKERS

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, lawmakers advanced Sen. Steve Erdman's LB844, a bill to clarify that seed corn producers in Nebraska should hire local youths for detasseling before using temporary, nonimmigrant workers. More specifically, the bill requires that these producers solicit bids from contractors who seasonally employ largely young workers who are recruited locally before utilizing H-2A workers.

"This is an opportunity for us to protect the local workforce," said Erdman during debate over the proposal. Erdman said his bill was "very simple, straightforward," and argued that it would align Nebraska more adequately with federal law while also expanding workforce development.

Under the bill, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture would be required to post a director listing the information of detasseling and roguing contractors. A list of such contractors would also be distributed to seed corn producers each year, beginning in 2026. "I think it's an opportunity for the young people in Nebraska to understand that we've taken their concerns to heart and we'll make it available to them to work hard," said Sen. Steve Halloran of Erdman's proposal.

For the full article click HERE

MORE WORK AHEAD FOR BILL THAT WOULD PHASE OUT NEBRASKA'S INHERITANCE TAX

LINCOLN- State lawmakers adjourned floor debate on Tuesday without voting on a bill that would phase out Nebraska's inheritance tax, suggesting that more work must be done on the proposal. Sen. Rob Clements, who has made eliminating the "death tax" a top priority during his legislative career, acknowledged that changes may be necessary if his LB1067 is to pass.

One cosponsor of the bill, Sen. Mike Jacobson, said during debate that he couldn't support the measure as written because it didn't include ways to replace the funding lost by Nebraska counties from the repeal of the tax. Jacobson, as well as the Nebraska Association of County Officials, argued that repealing the tax would result in a widespread property tax increase.

"There's one thing I hate more than inheritance tax," said Jacobson, "and that's property tax." Clements said he has been seeking avenues to replace lost revenue for the counties, but also has faith that county commissioners can make the needed adjustments during the proposed five-year phase-out of the inheritance tax.

For the full article click HERE

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS BILL TO BOOST NEBRASKA'S 911 SYSTEM, ADD TRANSPARENCY

LINCOLN- This year, Sens. Wendy DeBoer and John Fredrickson are looking to create additional redundancy in the state's 911 system to thwart future outages. "We're talking about 911," said Fredrickson, "We're not talking about streaming, Hulu or Netflix, we're talking about life-saving emergency services."

The Nebraska Public Service Commission, which handles 911 oversight, testified in support of Sens. DeBoer and Fredrickson's LB1256 and LB1255, which would require a public hearing after a 911 outage and set a timeline for the transition to next-gen 911, respectively. Sheriff Neil Miller of Buffalo County, testifying on behalf of the Nebraska Association of Sheriffs, said any delays in the implementation of next-gen 911 must be avoided.

"Continuing to rely on outdated technology only increases the chances of an outage," said Miller. However, Brian Thompson, who serves on the state's advisory committee related to the next-gen 911 transition, said the change will come at a cost. He estimated that the cost of a company working outside Nebraska's border could require an annual price stage of $15,000 per company, should the transition be made.

For the full article click HERE

FLOOD, BOSTAR WORK WITH NEBRASKA LAW ENFORCEMENT TO LURE OUT-OF-STATE OFFICERS

LINCOLN- U.S. Rep. Mike Flood and State Sen. Eliot Bostar hope to lure out-of-state law enforcement officers to Nebraska by promoting a new state education benefit aimed at their kids. On Tuesday, Flood, surrounded by local police chiefs, sheriffs, and the colonel of the Nebraska State Patrol, touted Bostar's LB727, which expanded a tuition waiver for law enforcement officers to include paid firefighters and dependents.

"Our message today, while very important today in Nebraska, is really a message to the rest of America," said Flood, "Nebraska embraces and supports our law enforcement community." Last fall, 80 students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 31 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 5 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and six at the University of Nebraska Medical Center collected the benefit.

State and local law enforcement leaders said the new benefit has made it easier to retain experienced officers, deputies, and troopers. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said his staffing is down about 10%. "We have about 15 people in our new class, which will help," he said, "But we could always use more."

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA AUDITOR SAYS STATE AGENCY WAS SEEKING TO REPLACE HIM AND HIRE A 'HAND-PICKED' CPA FIRM

LINCOLN- In what was described as an "extraordinarily bold move," the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services attempted to bypass the scrutiny of the Nebraska State Auditor by hiring its own "hand-picked" private accounting firm last year. State Auditor Mike Foley revealed the move during a public hearing on Tuesday concerning a bill seeking to clarify that the auditor is the "exclusive authority" in reviewing state spending.

DHHS and Foley have clashed in the past over the Auditor's often blunt and sometimes critical audits of the agency. Foley, testifying before the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, called last year's effort to replace his office's services "a direct assault upon the inherent constitutional authority" of his office.

A spokesman for the Department said the agency sought a Request for Information a year ago from private firms as part of its "due diligence to determine if other options may save taxpayer resources." Jeff Powell, the spokesman, said is costs the agency $830,000 each time the State Auditor conducts a federally required "Statewide Single Audit," which reviews the spending of federal dollars by state departments.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA'S UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COULD BE SLASHED BY 10 WEEKS IF PRIORITY BILL PASSES

LINCOLN- Nebraskans who get laid off from work could have a tougher time if state lawmakers pass a bill that has been flying under the radar so far. LB1170 would cut the length of time people could get unemployment benefits by nearly 40%, slashing the maximum from 26 weeks down to 16 weeks. State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston introduced the bill.

It has now advanced from the Business and Labor Committee, which he chairs, and has been named a committee priority, which increases the chances it will be debated by the full Legislature. Riepe called the measure a “motivation bill” that could encourage workers to take jobs more quickly, while saving money for the state’s unemployment trust fund.

“I’m not trying to be brutal on this thing,” he said. “There’s plenty of job opportunities in the marketplace.” But opponents said the measure would shrink an important safety net. They said it would force more workers to take jobs that are not a good match for their skills and experience, or it would leave them and their families without needed benefits.

For the full article click HERE

SPARKS FLY AT OMAHA MEETING ABOUT $90M AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK AND EMINENT DOMAIN QUESTIONS

OMAHA- Outbursts of frustration and anger punctuated a community meeting aimed at clarifying parts of a proposed airport area business park funded by $90 million in state funds. At the end of the two-hour meeting, however, key questions from the 75 or so people there remained anything but clear. That is: Will eminent domain be in play?

“I can’t answer that,” said Michael Maroney, executive director of the Omaha Economic Development Corp., which is leading a coalition that has been awarded the state contract to create a shovel-ready site for the business park. Omaha-based Burlington Capital and the Greater Omaha Chamber are partners in the project, and each had a representative at the meeting.

Monday’s meeting, held at the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus, was the first to include most of the major players involved in the proposed airport business park. The project, to be completed in phases, is to start on about 160 acres north of Carter Lake and west of Eppley Airfield.

For the full article click HERE