Today in the Legislature

We began and ended with the same bill this morning and we didn't even vote on a single amendment to the bill. The bill would change the time that an individual could be held involuntarily if they were intoxicated. Sorry for the short update but that was the extent of the debate. There was a great deal said about the bill and not much action.

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One Line Descriptions of Bills

To search the list of bills introduced for any day this session, you can visit the Nebraska Legislature's website by clicking here.

You will have to scroll down to 2008 to see the one line description of bills introduced this session.

Today in the Agriculture Committee

TLB 729 (Flood) Redefine exotic animals for auctions and swap meets
LB 925 (Fischer) Change provisions relating to estrays
LB 788 (Erdman) Adopt the Anthrax Control Act
LB 790 (Erdman) Change buffer strip reimbursement provisions
LB 791 (Erdman) Provide for rules for certified seed potatoes

Today was the first day of hearings for this session. The Ag Committee heard five bills and advanced three of the bills to General File.

LB 729 would allow for an expansion of the animals that may be sold at auctions and swap meets. A couple of years ago the Legislature passed a bill that regulated swap meets and auctions of exotic animals. The committee discussed the bill but took no action on the bill.

LB 925 was introduced to add liability for goat owners that are in statute for all other livestock and holding their owners liable for the damages they may cause should they get out. It would also require the Brand Committee to handle estray goats as they would estray cattle. The bill was amended to eliminate the second portion of the bill and to clarify that goats would be treated the same as sheep, cattle, horses, and other livestock should they cause damage.

LB 788 would update the Anthrax Control Act which has not been updated for at least 50 years. The bill is an update of the previous authority the Department of Agriculture has. There was no action taken on the bill and we will be working on amendments to the bill to clarify some of the new provisions.

LB 790 would increase the maximum reimbursement for the buffer strip program from $150/acre to $250/acre. Even though the maximum now is $150 and the future maximum would be $250, the actual amount is set in rules and regulation. The bill advanced to General File as introduced.

LB 791 would authorize the Department of Agriculture to regulate seed potatoes for interstate and international exports. Nebraska is one of 16 states that are part of a federal memorandum of agreement to ensure the potatoes that are exported are held to the same standards. This bill was advanced to General File as introduced.

Members of the Agriculture Committee: