The 107th Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die on April 20 after 60 days in session.

Due to term limits, 11 senators are leaving the Legislature and an additional two decided not to seek reelection. The term limit senators include Henderson Sen. Curt Friesen, Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen, Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann, Venango Sen. Dan Hughes, Seward Sen. Mark Koltermann. Creighton Sen. Tim Gragert and Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop chose not to run for reelection.

During the session, legislation to provide Nebraskans with a record $3.4 billion in tax relief by 2027 passed. Other legislation related to lobbying and campaign finance that would have prohibited a school board of an education service unit from authorizing a lobbyist to act on its behalf without a current contract for lobbing services was introduced but not passed.

Lobbying reporting dates are not affected by adjournment. The 2023 session is scheduled to convene January 4.

The 2021 session of the 107th Nebraska Legislature has adjourned sine die June 10.

Gov. Pete Ricketts addressed lawmakers, who overrode three of his vetoes.

Ricketts praised senators for approving nearly $1.7 billion in property tax relief over the next two years.

The governor said the legislature’s quick and decisive action also empowered state agencies to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Legislature is scheduled to convene in early fall for a special legislative session to complete the 2021 redistricting process.

The 2022 legislature is scheduled to convene January 5.

The 107^th legislative session of the Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die May 27, earlier than anticipated.

During the session, lawmakers passed the state’s two-year budget and approved significant tax reform.

The Legislature is scheduled to convene in early fall for a special legislative session to complete the 2021 redistricting process.

The May sine die adjournment triggers a statement of activity report due July 11, which is 45 days after adjournment sine die of the legislative session.

The Legislature is scheduled to convene in its 2022 session on January 5.

Lawmakers reconvened at the Capitol July 20 to complete the second session of the 106th Nebraska Legislature.

Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk suspended the session in March due to public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senators returned to a changed physical environment. Changes included limitations on staff access to the legislative chamber and plexiglass barriers between members. Additionally, there was no public access to the balconies.

Among the major proposals remaining on the agenda are a property tax measure, a new business tax incentive program and passage of the state budget.

The 2020 session is scheduled to adjourn on August 13.

The revised session dates affect lobbyist reporting. Special monthly reports must be filed by lobbyists and principals if they receive or spend more than $5,000 for lobbying during any calendar month in which the Legislature is in session.

Special monthly reports are due within 15 days after the end of such calendar month.

Additionally, the lobbyist statement of activity report will be due 45 days after adjournment sine die of the session on September 27.

The Nebraska Legislature temporarily reconvened on Monday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m.

Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer announced March 20 that senators will meet to authorize emergency funding addressing needs arising from the spread of COVID-19.

The emergency session is scheduled to last three legislative days.

There is no set date for when the 2020 legislative session will officially resume.

This does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die April 18.

Lawmakers took no action on Legislative Bill 1099 to adopt the Legislative Ethics Act after Sen. Bill Kintner’s resignation last session for retweeting offensive comments and using a state-issued computer to engage in cybersex.

The bill would have created an ethics board to receive and investigate complaints against any member or employee of the Legislature.

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die today, May 23, 2017. Much of the session consisted of battles over the state budget and a plan to cut taxes.

Gov. Pete Ricketts’ plan to cut income and property tax stalled in the legislature, but he plans to continue garnering support in hopes of passing a package next year.

The session was also marred by the resignation of Sen. Bill Kintner after retweeting offensive comments and using a state-issued computer to engage in cybersex.

Lobbying

Nebraska: “Money Spent on Lobbying Nebraska Legislature Hit Record $15.6 Million in 2015” by Joe Duggan (Omaha World-Herald) for Kearney Hub

Texas: “Texas Ethics Commission Tightens Rules on Trips Paid by Lobbyists” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman

Campaign Finance

“The Price of Public Money” by Marilyn Thompson for The Atlantic

California: “In California, Varied Election Filing Practices Reveal a System Struggling to Catch Up” by Kaitlyn Landgraf and Ana Santos for Los Angeles Times

Minnesota: “DFL Rep. Joe Atkins, GOP Rep. Joe Hoppe Hit for Campaign Violations” by Rachel Stassen-Berger and David Montgomery for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Oregon: “Another Strikeout for Limiting Big Money in Oregon Politics” by Taylor Anderson for Bend Bulletin

Ethics

Alabama: “Former Ethics Director Says He Advised Hubbard of Law” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Arizona: “Judge Tosses Last Bid to Get Arizona Regulator Stump’s Texts” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Florida: “Prison Inspectors Detail Alleged Interference in Their Investigations” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

New York: “De Blasio Doled Out City Appointments from Shady Spreadsheet of Big Campaign Donors” by Jennifer Fermino and Greg Smith for New York Daily News

Elections

“I Can Watch It on TV’: Excuses for Republicans skipping a Donald Trump” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times

“Can Donald Trump Win? These Battleground Regions Will Decide” by Jonathan Martin, Alexander Burns, Trip Gabriel, and Fernanda Santos for New York Times