Provide, change, and eliminate provisions relating to elections for certain purposes related to bonds and tax levies
LB135 is an elections and local finance bill that revises a wide range of Nebraska statutes governing how school districts and other political subdivisions may seek voter approval for bonds, tax levies, levy overrides, and budget authority increases. The bill standardizes and updates election procedures for special elections, primary and general election ballot placement, notice requirements, certification deadlines, canvassing, early voting, and cancellation or withdrawal of submitted ballot issues. It also addresses how cross-county school bond elections are conducted and how election costs are allocated.
Substantively, the bill changes the rules for school district bond elections, school district general fund budget authority increases, special building taxes, lease-purchase financing, teacherage taxes, and related voter-approval processes. It also revises provisions for joint public agencies and political subdivisions seeking to exceed levy limits or final levy allocations, including petition thresholds, meeting procedures, ballot language, duration limits, and rescission or modification of previously approved excess levy authority. In addition, the bill repeals several original and revised statutes and outright repeals one section, indicating a broader cleanup and harmonization of election and financing law.
LB135 would significantly affect Nebraska election law and local government finance by rewriting the procedures that school districts, counties, cities, villages, and other political subdivisions must follow when asking voters to approve bonds or tax increases. It would alter statutes in the Revised Statutes of Nebraska and the Cumulative Supplement, changing notice, timing, certification, ballot, and canvassing rules, while also modifying the substantive authority to issue bonds or levy taxes for school construction, operations, and other public purposes. The bill would therefore impact school boards, county election officials, registered voters, and local governing bodies that rely on voter-approved financing mechanisms.
The bill appears to have received mixed but generally workable support during floor consideration. Several amendments were adopted by substantial margins, and the bill advanced at one stage with a 27-9 vote, suggesting meaningful support for the overall concept. However, the final advancement motion later failed on a 16-16 tie, and the bill was ultimately indefinitely postponed, indicating that support was not sufficient to carry the measure through the legislative process. The voting pattern suggests interest in refining election and financing procedures, but not consensus on the final package.
The main points of contention likely centered on the scope of changes to local election procedures and the balance between voter control and local government flexibility in approving bonds and tax levies. Because the bill touches school district borrowing, levy overrides, and special election rules, likely areas of disagreement include whether the bill makes it easier or harder for local governments to seek voter approval, how much authority should be given to boards versus voters, and whether the procedural changes are too broad or too technical. The close final vote suggests unresolved concerns among senators about the bill’s overall structure or specific provisions, even after amendments were adopted.