Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update the rules for how large cities in Nebraska can issue bonds to fund public projects. It would require a direct vote from registered voters before a city can issue bonds for any single project exceeding $80 million, unless the money is used for specific smaller expenses like street repairs, police stations, parks, or utility acquisitions. The legislation allows city councils to approve these smaller projects without a public vote, setting annual spending limits for each category such as $100,000 for police stations and $500,000 for sewer work. If passed, this change would alter the current process by adding a voter approval step for major bond issuances while maintaining streamlined approval for routine municipal improvements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing how residential real property is valued for property tax purposes in Nebraska. The key provision would cap annual increases in home valuations at five percent, but it includes a condition that prevents the rule from taking effect until a specific constitutional amendment is adopted and proclaimed by the governor. Because this change requires a constitutional amendment, the bill currently does not alter tax calculations or affect homeowners until that additional legal step is completed. As a result, the legislation has no immediate impact on property taxes or residents at this time.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Nebraska that would allow the state Legislature to use a different method for taxing residential real property. While the amendment maintains uniform taxation rules for most other property types, it specifically creates a separate class for homes, giving lawmakers the authority to limit how much property tax values can increase each year. The change also grants the Legislature flexibility to establish distinct tax categories for agricultural land, motor vehicles, and livestock, ensuring these groups can be taxed differently than standard real estate. Ultimately, the measure seeks to update the state's tax framework to provide more options for assessing home values without altering the fundamental principle of uniform taxation for other property classes.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax exemption for homeowners in Nebraska who have owned and lived in their primary residence for at least forty years. Under the act, these long-term owners would have their property valued at zero for local tax purposes, but they would no longer be eligible for other existing homestead exemptions. The state would reimburse counties for the lost tax revenue, distributing the funds to local governments to offset the reduction in income. Homeowners must apply for this benefit and would only need to reapply every five years, provided they continue to meet the ownership and residency requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Long-Term Resident Homestead Exemption Act, would allow homeowners in Nebraska who have lived in the same property for at least ten years to pay zero school district taxes on their home. To qualify, owners must apply through their county assessor and would only need to reapply every five years as long as they remain eligible. The legislation ensures that the state reimburses counties and school districts for the lost tax revenue, distributing the funds monthly to help cover the shortfall. Additionally, the bill clarifies that recipients of this new exemption cannot simultaneously claim other existing homestead tax exemptions for the same year.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Employee Contributions Tax Incentive Act, allows employed individuals in Nebraska to exclude certain union dues and assessments from their state income tax. The law specifically targets payments made to labor organizations for workforce training, education, and recruitment, while explicitly excluding any portion of those payments used for political activities. Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the tax reduction applies only to the amount of contributions that are already included in an individual's federal adjusted gross income. The Department of Revenue is authorized to create rules and regulations to implement these changes, and the bill also amends existing tax statutes to harmonize these provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update the income limits for Nebraska's homestead tax exemption, which helps homeowners reduce their property taxes based on their earnings. It establishes specific income thresholds for married couples and single individuals, granting full exemption relief to those earning below certain amounts and gradually reducing benefits as income rises. The legislation also sets up a system to automatically adjust these income limits each year based on inflation or housing price changes to keep the program current. Although the bill text outlines these changes, it was indefinitely postponed in August 2024 and did not become law.
Maddy summaryThis bill would update Nebraska law to require a neutral summary statement explaining the effects of voting for or against any constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature. The statement must be printed on the ballot before the title and prepared by the Legislative Council's Executive Board at least four months before a regular election or sixty days before a special election. The law specifies that these summaries must be written in clear, concise language and formatted in italics to avoid creating prejudice for or against the proposal.