Legislative Testimony for LB631: Prohibit counties from prohibiting the use of residential property as short-term rentals
Chairman Brewer and members of the committee, my name is Laura Ebke. I am the Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute, and I am happy to be here today to testify in support of LB631 and thank Sen. Bostar for introducing it. Property rights are a foundational principle of our republic. In 2019, this Legislature...
Legislative Testimony for LB644: Truth in Taxation
Good morning, Chair Linehan and members of the Revenue Committee. I’m Sarah Curry, Policy Director at the Platte Institute and I am testifying in support of LB644. This bill is an extension of LB103, which the body unanimously enacted in 2019. In short, it “puts teeth” in Nebraska’s property tax hearing requirements by adopting a...
Legislative Testimony for LB455: Adopt the Broadband Pole Attachment Act
Good afternoon, Vice Chairwoman Geist and members of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. My name is Nicole Fox, and I am Director of Government Relations for the Platte Institute. I am here to testify in support for LB455. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light significant differences that exist across the state of Nebraska regarding communities...
Legislative Testimony for LB72: Make To-Go Mixed Drinks Permanent
Good morning, Chairman Briese and members of the General Affairs Committee. My name is Nicole Fox, and I am Director of Government Relations for the Platte Institute. I am here today to testify in support of LB72. The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a December 2020...
Legislative Testimony for LB400: Change requirements related to coverage of telehealth by insurers and medicaid
Good afternoon, members of the HHS Committee. My name is Nicole Fox, and I am the Director of Government Relations for the Platte Institute. The Platte Institute supports LB400. Telehealth played an instrumental role in the provision of a variety of health care related services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It allowed patients to gain and maintain access...
Legislative Testimony for LB133 & LR11CA: Proposals for a Nebraska consumption tax
Good afternoon, Chairwoman Linehan and members of the Revenue Committee. I’m Sarah Curry, Policy Director at the Platte Institute and I am testifying in a neutral capacity on LB133 and LR11CA. Thank you to Sen. Erdman for proposing these bills, which is prompting a needed discussion about creating a more complete vision for tax reform...
Legislative Testimony for LB422: Change the sales tax rate and impose sales tax on additional services
Good morning, Chairwoman Linehan and members of the Revenue Committee. I’m Sarah Curry, Policy Director at the Platte Institute and I am testifying in support of LB422. The Platte Institute supports an expansion of the sales tax base to purchases which are not business inputs to avoid tax pyramiding. We also believe any base broadening...
Legislative Testimony for LB50: Change voice analysis examiner and voice stress analyzer provisions under the Licensing of Truth and Deception Examiners Act
Chairman Brewer and members of the Government, Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, my name is Nicole Fox, and I am here today to testify on behalf of the Platte Institute in support of LB50. During the 2018 interim, I was invited to join a group of individuals at a meeting sponsored by Sen. Groene’s office...
Legislative Testimony for LB250: Voluntary interior design registry
Chairman Brewer and members of the committee, my name is Laura Ebke. I am the Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute, and I am pleased to be here today to testify in favor of LB250 as introduced, and in general support of the compromise that was forged in AM43. The Platte Institute has maintained a...
Legislative Testimony for LB263: Universal recognition of job licensing
Chairman Brewer and members of the committee, my name is Laura Ebke. I am the Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute, and I am happy to be here today to testify in favor of LB263 and thank Senator Briese for introducing it. In 2018, Nebraska was the first state to pass a comprehensive occupational licensing...
Legislative Testimony for LB584: Adopt the Mobile Food Unit Act and change fees for a mobile food unit
Good morning, Chairman Halloran and members of the Agriculture Committee. My name is Nicole Fox and I am the Director of Government Relations for the Platte Institute. I am here today to testify in a neutral capacity. In March of 2018, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released its Food Truck Nation study.[i] According to the...
Legislative Testimony for LB60: Change provisions related to community college levies
Good Afternoon, Chairwoman Walz and members of the Education Committee. My name is Nicole Fox, and I am the Director of Government Relations for the Platte Institute. I am here today to testify in opposition to LB60. Community colleges are just one of the many political subdivisions in this state with property tax levying authority. Currently, community...
Legislative Testimony for LB19: Change provisions relating to nail technology and body art
Chairman Arch, members of the committee. My name is Laura Ebke. I am the Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute. In 2019, we testified in opposition to LB607, which is the same bill as LB19 (as introduced). LB607 was advanced from the committee, ultimately passed by the Legislature, and vetoed by the governor because it...
Legislative Testimony for LB211: Adopt the Reflexologist Registration Act
Good afternoon, Chairman Arch and members of the HHS Committee. My name is Nicole Fox, and I am the Director of Government Relations for the Platte Institute. I would like to thank Senator Murman for introducing this bill. I am here today to testify in support. The state of Nebraska has the most burdensome occupational licensing laws in...