LB298A is the appropriation bill for LB298, providing the funding needed to implement the substantive provisions of that companion measure. It appropriates General Fund money to the Legislative Council for the Office of Public Counsel, with separate fiscal-year allocations and a stated salary limit for the program. The bill also authorizes use of an unexpended General Fund appropriation balance existing on June 30 to be reappropriated, and it repeals the original section it replaces.
The measure is a standard budgetary vehicle rather than a policy bill. Its main function is to ensure that the agency or program created or affected by LB298 has the appropriated resources to operate, including salaries and per diems, and it includes an emergency clause so it takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Impact
LB298A amends the state’s appropriations laws by adding a General Fund appropriation for the Legislative Council’s Office of Public Counsel and setting a cap on total expenditures for permanent and temporary salaries and per diems. It also reappropriates any unexpended General Fund balance as of June 30 and repeals the prior version of the section, thereby updating the state budget authority tied to LB298 and ensuring the program can be funded without delay.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It advanced 36-2 and then passed final reading 46-2-1 with an emergency clause, indicating strong bipartisan agreement on the need for the appropriation. The governor approved it on June 4, 2025, reinforcing that the measure had clear support through the legislative process.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive debate or committee controversy in the available record, and no committee transcripts were provided. The only visible opposition is the small number of negative votes on the floor, suggesting limited disagreement, likely over the appropriation itself or the underlying program funding rather than the mechanics of the bill. Because LB298A is an appropriations measure, any contention would most likely concern spending levels, General Fund use, or the necessity of the associated program.