District 47 update

Members of the Legislature continue to work through major policy debates and budget discussions in an effort to maximize the twenty remaining working days of the legislative session.

At this stage, the legislative body has transitioned to full-day floor deliberations to allow additional time for consideration of the remaining legislation before us. A consequential measure discussed this week includes LB 1124, a bill introduced by Senator Sorrentino to increase the cigarette tax and amend provisions related to the distribution of cigarette tax proceeds. As introduced, the bill would have raised Nebraska’s cigarette tax from 64 cents to $1.64 per pack and increased taxes on vaping products. After 8 hours of debate that concluded on Wednesday, a motion to invoke cloture was filed by the introducer, and LB 1124 fell two votes short of the 33 required for cloture to be successful.

When a cloture vote fails, debate on the bill ends for the day. The remainder of the week rendered significant progress with the advancement of several speaker, senator, and committee priority measures. Provided the large number of legislative bills and the narrowing window of time to consider them, Speaker Arch plays an important role in setting the daily agenda to move legislation forward efficiently. Throughout the duration of the week, members of the Nebraska Legislature advanced a total of 40 measures to their next stage of debate in the legislative process. Budget deliberations will become the priority moving into next week with Legislative Day 40 upon us.

While much of our time is spent on the legislative floor, meeting with constituents and organizations visiting the Capitol remains an important part of the work. On Wednesday, March 4, I met with Jason Petik, Chief Executive Officer of Sidney Regional Medical Center. I also had the privilege of attending a dinner that evening hosted by the Nebraska Petroleum Producers Association (NPPA), which provided a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders and discuss issues impacting energy production and the local economy.

On Friday morning, the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations held a breakfast for their NABHO Lobby Day at the Capitol. I had the opportunity to meet with Kristen Rose, a representative of Sidney Regional Medical Center Behavioral Health and board member of the Nebraska Counseling Association. These conversations are always valuable as we continue working to address behavioral health needs and strengthen access to care for Nebraskans across our state.

As always, I appreciate your continued engagement on these important topics. If you have any feedback or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our district and state. You can contact my office at (402) 471-2616 or by email at [email protected]