Nebraska state senators have introduced 679 bills since the Legislature convened Jan. 7 for its 101st session. Some of these proposals have met strong support, sailing through debate and nearing final passage. Others have met a swift and sudden death.
Here is an update on the successes and failures of legislation The Daily Nebraskan has covered thus far:
LB123
Sen. Russ Karpisek’s bill to make possession of Salvia Divinorum a felony, punishable by up to 50 years in prison, seems to be on the fast track to passage. The drug, a relative of sage, causes hallucinations and euphoria similar to those of LSD.
Senators have unanimously approved LB123 during both rounds of debate before the full Legislature. Karpisek, of Wilber, said he doesn’t foresee the legislation having trouble mounting enough votes for final passage, unless “something really odd” arises.
The senator said he expects the Legislature to pass the bill before the end of next week, after which its future will be left to Gov. Dave Heineman.
LB262
People rallying for another hour at the bars will have to wait until next year.
The Legislature’s General Affairs Committee recently voted 5-3 to not advance Tekamah Sen. Kent Rogert’s bill to allow liquor sales until 2 a.m.
Rogert and other supporters had said the legislation would combat “border bleeding,” when bar patrons skip to surrounding states with later closing times, and keep tax revenue within Nebraska. However, General Affairs Chairman Karpisek said committee members felt the extra hour would “promote more drunken driving.”
Measures similar to Rogert’s have been introduced more than 10 times during past legislative sessions.
LB675, LB676
Lincoln Sen. Tony Fulton’s bills promoting pre-abortion ultrasounds are awaiting dates for public hearings.
Both proposals were referred to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Jan. 23 but have yet to be debated.
Fulton heavily favors LB675, which would require doctors to present ultrasounds to women at least an hour before an abortion. His less-restrictive LB676 mandates that physicians only tell women where ultrasounds are available.
Fulton said he’s spoken with several committee members and has not received any “widespread opposition” to his legislation. If passed by the committee, the bills would meet first-round, full-Legislature debate.
LB306, LB36
Two bills addressing capital punishment await action by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.
Omaha Sen. Brenda Council’s LB306 would repeal the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without parole.
Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood’s LB36 aims to make lethal injection the state’s method of choice for fulfilling death sentences. Nebraska has not had a means to do so since last February when the State Supreme Court deemed electrocution unconstitutional.
A 4 1/2-hour public hearing on Jan. 29 drew a slew of capital punishment supporters and opponents to the Capitol, but the committee has not acted on the bills since.
Council, a Judiciary Committee member, said she couldn’t predict the fate of either measure.
LB611
The demise of LB611 didn’t come as a surprise to sponsor Karpisek, who said he never expected it to see the legislative floor.
Last week, the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee killed Karpisek’s proposal to allow cities to opt out of the statewide smoking ban.
The senator accused the ban, which takes effect in June, of “stomping all over personal property rights.” He said he wanted to rehash the opt-out option this year because it was mishandled during the last legislative session.
LB370
Disadvantaged women would have increased access to health care under Lincoln Sen. Danielle Nantkes’s LB370.
The bill would require Nebraska to apply for a federal waiver making such care more available.
A public hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee is slated for Wednesday.
Representatives for Planned Parenthood have labeled the measure as “common sense legislation,” saying it saves money and promotes public well-being. The Nebraska Catholic Conference has countered that claim, arguing it may not accomplish either and promotes abortions.
teresalostroh@dailynebraskan.com
