May 18, 2020

Nebraska lawmakers to return to session on July 20

Posted May 18, 2020 7:11 PM

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers will resume their regular session on July 20, four months after they last met to approve emergency coronavirus funding, officials said Monday.

The new schedule calls for lawmakers to meet every weekday until Aug. 13, except for Aug. 7 and Aug. 10.

Lawmakers abruptly postponed their session in late March amid fears that close contact would help spread the coronavirus. They have 17 days remaining in this year's 60-day session.

It's unclear how the virus and the economic damage that followed will affect bills that were pending. On Friday, the Nebraska Department of Revenue reported a sharp decline in state tax collections last month. Revenue had previously been ahead of projections for the current fiscal year, but now it's roughly in line with what had been predicted.

Among the measures still pending is a bill that seeks to lower property taxes and a tax incentive program to attract businesses.