Today in the Legislature

This morning we debated LB 743 which would have created a commission to do what Lincoln should be doing now. The bill failed to advance to select file by 5 votes.

We then debated LB 722 which would change the taxation of snuff or smokeless tobacco to be the same regardless of the wholesale price to a price by content similar to the way we tax cigarettes. Currently the tax is different based on the price of the item.

The smoking ban bill is up tomorrow if you want to tune it to the debate.

Today in the Agriculture Committee

LB 1174 (Dierks) Provide corporate farming restrictions
LB 1113 (Erdman) Create the Family Farm Policy Advisory Council

I will expound on the bills at a later date, but we had a very good hearing on both bills. The support for LB 1174 was generally from those who supported I-300 in the past and those who opposed it were those who think that I-300 was too restrictive. Unfortunately there was little middle ground offered as to what may get some opponents on board, but the two ideas I have is to allow for unrelated Nebraska farmers and ranchers to have the same options as out of state family farms (to form an LLC, etc.) and to allow for a cooperative exemption. I think both must be considered. To position Nebraska agriculture for the future we must understand where we are coming from but enable farmers to have the tools they need to be successful.

LB 1113 would take a lot of the work the committee did outside of the discussion on I-300 over the interim and put folks together to figure out how to get them done. We have had study after study to determine what needs to be done and the intent of LB 1113 is to determine how to do those things to position Nebraska agriculture for the future. I also think that we must address the ag workforce for our state and ensure that in addition to bringing people back to farm or ranch we need to be recruiting and encouraging individuals to be involved in agriculture for employment whether it is agribusiness and marketing or other services that our farmers and ranchers need to be successful. There was no opposition to this bill.

No action was taken on either bill or any bill being held by the Ag Committee today.

Members of the Agriculture Committee: