Greetings from your State Capitol. This week, the Legislature started debate on bills that amend the biennial budget passed last session. Before that discussion began, the Legislature debated LB283, a bill that would provide for year-round Daylight Saving Time. The bill advanced to the next round of debate. Under the terms of the bill, this would only occur if allowed under federal law and three border states passed similar bills. While the bill begins to address the issues that arise when we reset the clock twice a year, I don't expect anything to change for some time.

The debate on the budget package has been lengthy, arduous, and highly informative. The budget package includes LB1011, LB1012, and LB1013. Each bill deals with specific types of state funds and transfers of funds. The budget is adjusted based on recommendations from the Governor, bills Senators introduce, and the Appropriations Committee's experience on creating the budget.

A large chunk of the budget debate centered on prison overcrowding and criminal justice reform. Each Senator has a different idea on how to reform the criminal justice system and as you can imagine it is a contentious debate. The budget directs $241 million toward building a new prison, however, the number of beds that would be added will not resolve the problem with prison overcrowding. The Nebraska Criminal Justice Reinvestment Working Group recommended 21 proposals to deal with prison overcrowding and sentencing reform, the intent of which is to alleviate prison overcrowding and recidivism.

The Working Group included several criminal justice experts, and was led by the Legislature's Chair of the Judiciary Committee, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. While those proposals are contained in a separate bill, LB920, the Legislature discussed them in conjunction with the proposed allocation in the budget of millions of dollars for a new prison. Seventeen of the 21 proposals in LB920 are non-controversial, however concerns have been raised over four that deal specifically with sentencing reform . There will be more to come on this issue as the session moves forward.

As always, feel free to contact me anytime at (402) 471-2642 or mwilliams@leg.ne.gov. Thanks again for your continued support. Matt