On 22 Jan 2013, the Sarpy Chamber of Commerce through the  Government Affairs Committee held a Legislative Coffee at the Tara Hills Golf Course in Papillion, Nebraska.

State Senators Sue Crawford, Bill Kintner, Scott Price and Jim Smith were invited to speak.

Senator Sue Crawford spoke on “leveraging Nebraska’s resources for maximum impact” and on  certain bills being introduced in the Unicameral. These included:

1.  Tax Reform
2.  Subsidizing Wages for New Hires
3.  Transparency Bill

Senator Bill Kintner  talked regarding the following:

1. Bills to repeal the Learning Community
2. Ending all taxes for those who are retired
3. Keeping gun registration
4.  Medicaid Expansion

Senator Scott Price discussed the effects of the new dynamics in the Unicameral .

Senator Jim Smith thanked everyone for the opportunity to represent Sarpy County and stated that a “balanced and thoughtful approach” was needed to tackle the issues ahead. He then discussed some of the bills including:

1. Critical Congenital Heart Testing (LB 225)- For approximately $5-$10, it will be required that each newborn be tested for this condition to save lives and costs associated with this condition.  In the state of Nebraska, approximately 3% of newborns have the congenital heart condition.
2. Learning Community Bills
3. Keystone XL  Pipeline

Taken from the downloadable PDF via the Nebraska Legislature website (http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/calendar/hearings_range.php), here is the schedule for Wednesday hearings:

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
Room 1507 – 1:30 p.m.
LB41 Cook Provide for permanent early voting request list and return of early voting
ballots to polling places
LB56 Larson Provide for automatic nomination of certain county officers
LB144 Brasch Provide for write-in candidacy by defeated candidate
LR12CA Harms Constitutional amendment to authorize a county manager form of county government

Health and Human Services
Room 1510 – 1:30 p.m.
LB7 Change and eliminate provisions relating to signatures and seals under the
Engineers and Architects Regulation Act
LB13 Require radon resistant construction and radon mitigation statements for
residential construction and create a building codes task force
LB139 Change vital statistics information relating to annulment and dissolution of
marriage

Judiciary
Room 1113 – 1:30 p.m.
LB128 Create the offense of disarming a peace officer
LB148  Include ammunition in certain offenses involving firearms
LB50  Prohibit unreasonable placement of a firearm where a minor may unlawfully
possess it
LB142 Provide that probation records are not subject to disclosure as prescribed
LB99  Change provisions relating to racial profiling information reviews

Natural Resources
Room 1525 – 1:30 p.m.
LB102  Change requirements for certain water permit applications
LB16  Change provisions relating to title to Champion Mill State Historical Park

Revenue
Room 1524 – 1:30 p.m.
LB24 Update references to the Internal Revenue Code
LB33 Change and eliminate certain revenue laws and authorize agreements relating to tax collection
LB34 Change provisions of the Nebraska Advantage Act