District 47 Legislative Update

(By Paul Strommen, District 47)

This week the Legislature made steady momentum with multiple committees hearing

important proposals, the budget process moving forward, and priority legislation

advancing to final reading. On Monday, February 2, the Executive Board heard

testimony on a measure that would prohibit individuals from entering the Nebraska

State Capitol with weapons or other banned substances. The bill would require the

Nebraska State Patrol to implement screening procedures by Jan. 1, 2027. Opponents

of the measure outnumbered its supporters during testimony, and the Committee took

no immediate action on the bill.

The Appropriations Committee began public hearings this week and is set to hear

testimony on 12 legislative bills and from 24 state agencies before the week concludes.

Citizens, advocacy groups, local governments, and service providers are invited to

testify on how proposed funding decisions would affect them. Public hearings help

ensure the budget process is not merely a technical exercise, but a democratic one.

The committee also released its Preliminary Report detailing all approved mid-biennium

budget adjustments to date, which is now available on the Legislature's website.

On Wednesday, February 4, I presented LB 1230 to members of the Judiciary

Committee. LB 1230 proposes to update laws governing mobile homes to reduce title

barriers, clarify abandonment and disposal procedures, and better protect ownership

and lien rights. Paul Elofson testified in support of the measure on behalf of the

Nebraska Manufactured Housing Association, saying the bill would make current

procedures under the Storage Lien Act more efficient and allow landlords to better

manage their communities. Stephen Hipple, president of the Nebraska Manufactured

Housing Association and owner of a Bellevue mobile home community, also supported

the measure.

Following two hours of debate, my personal priority bill moved to a vote after cloture

was invoked. The bill was passed on Final Reading with a vote of 33–16. By the end of

Friday’s adjournment, the Legislature will have sent a total of 6 bills to the Governor for

consideration.

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]