Sen. Williams: Bills on the Consent Calendar

Greetings District 36. The Legislature utilizes a specific procedure called the Consent Calendar to move non-controversial bills through the process quickly.

For a bill to be placed on the Consent Calendar, individual Senators must make a request to the Speaker. In order for a bill to qualify for Consent Calendar it must have been voted out of committee with no dissenting votes and have little to no fiscal impact on the budget. In addition, a request for a bill to be placed on the Consent Calendar is often backed by a need for a particular issue or problem to be addressed during the current legislative session. Debate on a consent calendar bill is limited to no more than 15 minutes. A bill can be removed from the Consent Calendar upon the objection of three Senators.

Two bills I introduced, LB65 and LB252, were considered on the Consent Calendar, and were readily advanced. LB65 resolves a discrepancy in the Accountability and Disclosure Act by clarifying that an elected official’s legal interest in a contract with their own governing board extends to the board member’s parents, spouse or child’s interest in a contract held by the board, as well.

LB252 allows prescriptions for livestock to be renewed for up to 30 days after the death of the prescribing veterinarian to allow time for a new relationship to be established with a new veterinarian.

Along with the Consent Calendar bills, the Legislature debated seven bills that would fund the state’s budget for the next biennium. LB379 appropriates funds to the State Racing Commission to start the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act. LB380 is the mainline appropriation bill for the State’s operations and aid programs. LB381 and LB382 funds the salaries of each State Senator and salaries for judges, elected Constitutional Officers, the Parole Board, and the Tax Commissioner. LB383 funds the Governor’s recommended Capital Construction projects. LB384 transfers funds from the General Fund to various Cash Funds, and LB385 transfers $50 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to the United States Space Command Headquarters Assistance Fund if the State of Nebraska is chosen as the Headquarters for U.S. Space Command.

Overall, the budget holds increased spending to under 2 percent and helps build our rainy day fund back to an acceptable level. Funding for K-12 schools is maintained as well as increasing provider rates by 2 percent. I am pleased that these bills have passed the first two rounds of debate, and I will continue to support the bills as they come up on Final Reading

As always, feel free to contact me anytime at 402-4712642 or mwilliams@leg.ne.gov. Thanks again for your continued support.