36 Nebraska Cattleman December 2023 Legislative Update By Laura Field NC Executive Vice President Busy Days Ahead When the Nebraska Unicameral convenes on Jan. 3, 2024, they will have just 60 days to conduct business. During the second year of the biennium, the Legislature can consider any bill or resolution not indefinitely postponed from 2023 and all new bills introduced by senators in the first 10 days of the legislative session. The pace will be fast, and there will be little time to spare as they get right down to business. Albion Sen. Tom Briese was appointed State Treasurer by Gov. Jim Pillen in September, which created a vacancy in that legislative district. Sen. Briese most recently served as the chair of the Legislature Executive Board. Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) thanks Sen. Briese for the partnership and collaboration over his seven years in the Legislature. As of press time, Gov. Pillen had not yet appointed a successor, and Nebraska Cattlemen looks forward to working with a new senator in 2024. Many political observers deemed the 2023 session as one of the most contentious in Nebraska’s history. Days of filibustering on almost every bill took place throughout the session’s 90 days. There are many carryover issues from last year, so 2024 could start in the same manner that 2023 ended. Some of the bills passed were challenged in the judicial system over the interim, and some issue groups collected signatures to put measures that did and did not pass before the voters in November 2024. Tax relief, specifically property tax relief, will continue to be a priority issue for Nebraska Cattlemen in 2024. Gov. Pillen convened a property tax valuation work group over the interim, and Nebraska Cattlemen had a seat at the table, along with other farm and business groups and a number of state senators. The group had multiple meetings to discuss topics related to overall tax relief for Nebraskans, especially reductions in property taxes. With many parts of the state seeing dramatic increases in valuations of all classes of real property, it is likely legislation will be introduced in 2024 to address these challenges. Nebraska Cattlemen has robust and broad tax policy and looks forward to engaging with senators to find solutions. Late last fall, the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Board voted to raise revenue projections for the current fiscal year. The advisory board provides a forecast of general fund receipts the Legislature uses when it crafts the state’s biennial budget. The board recommended an overall increase of about $8 million, based on increased corporate income tax receipts balanced with decreases in other categories of individual income taxes. While the Legislature adopted the 2023-2024 budget during the 2023 session, each session brings new bills requiring appropriations to be covered by various funds in the state budget. The Nebraska Ag Leaders Working Group held meetings monthly over the interim. The group consists of Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska State Dairy Association, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Pork Producers, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association and Renewable Fuels Nebraska. The group works on solutions that help keep the agriculture economy strong and growing. Some of the topics discussed this interim were streamlining the county zoning process, tax relief including current legislative and ballot options being discussed, education funding of K-12 and higher education, and water quality and quantity. The Nebraska Cattlemen Legislative Committee will convene in Lincoln on Jan. 24, 2024, to review legislation and take positions on matters that impact NC membership. Having identified a number of issues of importance, it will undoubtedly be a busy session. NC
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