
The state Capitol building in Lincoln is sure to be buzzing over the next few months. With a longer 90-day session of the state unicameral Legislature set this year, day one of the 109th legislative session began Jan. 8 and will run tentatively through June 9.
When Gov. Jim Pillen introduced his overview of legislative priorities for this upcoming session, the initiative that got some media attention was proposed legislation aimed at banning the sale of lab-grown meat in the state. This comes after Pillen signed an executive order prohibiting the state from purchasing products defined as lab-grown meat and prohibiting other parties that might also procure lab-grown meat from contracting with the state.
Nebraska Farm Bureau members voted at their 107th state convention in December in support of the state’s livestock industry to make sure lab-produced protein products were labeled clearly and accurately, and that consumers could choose what they are feeding themselves and their families.
Property tax relief
The initiative that likely will be most compelling to farmers in the next session is the continuing quest for meaningful property tax reform. Pillen cited $185 million in new tax relief and caps on local tax collection passed during the special session last summer. When he issued the 2024 School Property Tax Collection Report, Pillen promoted the idea of reforming the Tax Equity and Equalization Opportunities Support Act, offering what Pillen characterized as more stability for school districts in their budgeting.
Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue addressed the need for property tax reform in his president’s column for December/January released on Dec. 20, reminding farm bureau members that the property tax burden on our state’s residents is “one of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s long-standing priorities.”
He noted the farm bureau’s success in derailing proposed legislation last year that would have taxed ag inputs, but he acknowledged that the organization continues to advocate for meaningful tax relief. It also encourages fixing the anomaly in current legislation.
“As most Nebraskans are preparing to file their 2023 taxes next spring, they expect to claim property tax relief for the school taxes they paid,” McHargue noted in his column. “However, unless we fix the issue of the missing year for the refundable income tax credit, this relief won’t happen.”
McHargue acknowledged the Legislature’s goal of making the tax credit as automatic as possible, but he wrote that modifications made during special session last summer could lead to a property tax increase unless this anomaly is addressed.
No shortage of ideas
Longtime Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen also is interested in the quest for property tax relief for the state’s farmers and ranchers. With 17 new state senators this session — two who had been appointed and one nonincumbent returning after previously serving in the Legislature — Hansen has spent time trying to build relationships with senators to get to know the folks he isn’t as familiar with, talking with them about important ag issues.
“We still need to find a more fair and balanced way to fund K-12 public education,” Hansen says. “We need a mix of additional income and sales tax from a broadened tax base.” But since Hansen has been involved in state policy development and advocating for family farmers over the past 35 years, he notes that there is no shortage of ideas on how to fix the problem, and it will continue to be a challenging issue to tackle.
Important leadership
According to Unicameral Update, one of the biggest tasks for the longer 90-day session is for legislators to develop and pass a two-year state budget while facing a revenue shortfall in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
As the unicameral convened, John Arch of LaVista, Neb., was reelected as speaker of the Legislature, while Niobrara Sen. Barry DeKay was elected unopposed as chair of the Agriculture Committee.
Other committee chairs of importance to agriculture include Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil as chair of the Education Committee, Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood to chair the Appropriations Committee and Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus as chair of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.
Bills are allowed to be introduced through the first 10 legislative days of this session, through Jan. 22.
You can follow along with the Nebraska Legislature and stay engaged with ag policy development by visiting nebraskalegislature.gov.
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