Quick Post with Good News on Friday

 This has been a long busy week for NREA.  Thank you to everyone that participated in the NREA Legislative Meeting and Reception on Tuesday.  While our attendance was down because of our need to reschedule, I do believe the impact was just as great.

NREA Bills Advance

Both bills that NREA had introduced on our behalf were placed on the Consent Calendar.  It was touch and go for one of the bills (LB 973) because of a small glitch, but for those of you that spoke with Speaker Hadley and Senator Smith we were able to remedy the situation.  We are grateful to speaker Hadley for making sure our bill made the cut.  More than 80 bills were recommended to Consent Calendar and only 55 were included. LB 736- NREA's bill to authorize all utilities in Nebraska the ability to negotiate a contract for a community-based energy development project and LB 973, NREA's bill to increase penalties for violations while moving over-sized loads. were # 25 and # 39 on the list.

Today was Consent Calendar Day and  all of the bills on the Calendar were able to advance. In addition to LB 736 and LB 973, there were a few other bills of interest to NREA  included on the Consent Calendar.

LB 725,  which will eliminate the need to file a Form 521 for utility easements.
LB 913, which will adopt the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act.
LB 783, authorization for utilities over $40 Million in revenues to centrally license all of their vehicles in the county where they are headquartered.

The bills all advanced from General File to Select File and should easily make it through the process to passage this year.

LB 824 is Transformed

LB 824 was advanced by the Natural Resources Committee, but it is not the same LB 824 that we have discussed in the past.  Even with all of the electric utilities in Nebraska taking a neutral position on the bill with the compromise amendment, the bill advocates could not overcome the remaining opposition to the intent of the bill in the Natural Resources Committee.

Prior to advancing the bill, the Committee proposed to amend the bill by gutting all of the original language and replacing it with the language in LB 914 (AM2611), legislation which would provide additional compensation to the Power Review Board member that represents Nebraska on the Southwest Power Pool Regional State Committee.

At first blush it may seem silly to gut one bill and completely replace it with another.  After all, why not just advance LB 914? The reason for the amendment is that LB 824 was designated as a Committee Priority Bill and is guaranteed to have an opportunity for debate.  LB 914 did not have such a priority and by replacing the language LB 914 will have an opportunity to pass this year.

AM2611 will become the bill.  NREA has a position to support LB 914 and when AM2611 is adopted we will be in support of LB 824.  It has been a crazy winding road on this bill from oppose, to neutral and eventually support. Of course all of this is assuming there are no additional negative amendments adopted.  It certainly is not over until it is over.  Stay tuned!