This week I wanted to finish sharing information about the rest of the bills that I introduced this year. I also first wanted to share that the vast majority of the bills I introduce come to me as a result of conversations, emails, and phone calls that I have with constituents. Frequently, these interactions alert me to an issue that doesn’t necessarily require new legislation but a conversation with a state agency or official to fix something through the administrative process. The value of this interaction with all of you cannot be overstated. I value this communication and it bears meaningful results.
LB176 requires that companies who apply to receive grants to build broadband projects have to include the approval of the appropriate local government as part of their application. This bill ensures that companies who receive taxpayer funding for these projects make certain that they meet all local zoning and building requirements before receiving these funds. We’ve had numerous situations across Nebraska where a company has received a grant and then come to a local community afterward and demand that their project be approved, regardless of whether the project or its intended location aligns with local zoning, planning, and other considerations. Several lawsuits have resulted from this occurring. LB176 ensures our communities are in the loop prior to funds being distributed.
LB309 enacts the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act. Batteries are powering an increasing number of consumer products. Many of the batteries being used in consumer products are lithium batteries. These batteries last longer, have more power, and are usually rechargeable, unlike most traditional batteries. These convenient products are everywhere, and that’s a good thing, unless they end up being thrown away in the trash. Lithium batteries that are being thrown away are causing fires in our waste and recycling systems. These fires are intense and cost businesses and taxpayers. Lithium batteries and all other batteries are almost entirely recyclable. They contain highly valuable elements that have strategic importance and can be recycled to manufacture new batteries, microchips, and other electronic and industrial products. China has a stranglehold on most of these elements and it makes no sense to keep throwing these batteries away, especially when they can cause fires.
This bill creates a Battery Stewardship Organization (BSO), which will be a voluntary group of battery manufacturers who will pay for the collection of used batteries from consumer products, their transportation to a recycling facility, and public outreach to educate consumers on how to recycle their batteries. The BSO will be overseen and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and will not cost our state taxpayer dollars to run it. Recently, LB309 had a hearing before the Natural Resources Committee. I am working to improve this legislation and hope to soon see it debated on the floor of the Legislature.
LB712 removes the current bifurcated tax system for vaping products and replaces it with a 40% wholesale tax. Most states that tax vaping products use a percent wholesale tax, and the average tax rate for vaping products in those states is 56%. I introduced LB584 my first year in the Legislature to create an excise tax on vaping products. The bifurcated system taxes products with less than 3 milliliters of vape liquid at one rate and those with greater than 3 milliliters of vaping liquid at a different rate. This was necessary at the time to get LB584 passed.
Last year I brought an amendment to a large package of tax bills, LB388, to remove the bifurcated system and replace it with a percentage wholesale tax. My amendment was adopted, but LB388 ultimately died on Final Reading due to concerns with other parts of the bill. I fully expect that Big Tobacco will hire an army of lawyers to oppose LB712 as they are the biggest beneficiaries of the current, bifurcated system.
As always, if I can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff members – Matt and Katie – are available to assist you with your needs and they pass along messages, so if you’d like a call back, please let them know!
Email: jhughes@leg.ne.gov
Phone: 402-471-2756
Facebook: Senator Jana Hughes
