LINCOLN - In his latest legislative column, State Sen. Bob Hallstrom says other state senators have made three bills he introduced as their priority for the session and said he continues to work on Johnson County’s claim for expenses linked to a 2017 prison disturbance at Tecumseh.

Bills relating to business liability related to trucking and two-year protection orders have been designated as priorities. His own priority bill would make first reports of workplace injury confidential.

Hallstrom says he presented information to the Business and Labor Committee regarding Johnson County’s attempt to recoup litigation expenses and court costs associated with the state prison.

 

Here is the senator's column:

We have passed the midpoint of the Legislative session and in the next week will complete the public hearing process and move to all day floor debate for the rest of the session.  

 

Last week I reported that I had designated LB 455 as my priority bill. LB 455 would make first injury reports relating to workplace injuries confidential, and is designed to avoid the avalanche of solicitations which injured employees receive from attorneys once a “report of first injury” is filed with the Workers’ Compensation Court.

 

Three other senators have designated bills that I introduced as their individual priority bills, including LB79, LB80, and LB340. LB79 and LB340 address business liability relating to trucking accidents and asbestos litigation and LB80 would allow protection orders to be issued for an initial period of up to two years, in the court’s discretion.

 

FLOOR ACTION

This week, I had LB 341 advance to Final Reading. LB 341 would adopt the Nebraska Statutory Thresholds for Settlements Involving Minors Act, to establish standards and procedures for settling claims involving minors. We expect the bill to receive final approval and be sent to the Governor for signing in the near future.

 

Also, this week, I had LB 230 advance to Final Reading. LB230 establishes the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. Under this legislation, only safe kratom products may be sold, and such products must comply with federal and state manufacturing, packaging, and labeling requirements. Two amendments were successfully added to this bill. One added LB 184, which would restrict the use of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes. The other amendment added LB475, which amends the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to add Tianeptine to the list of Schedule II controlled substances.

 

DISTRICT CONCERNS

On Monday, the Business and Labor Committee held a public hearing on LB 534. The bill is designed to appropriate funds for certain claims against the state. I submitted information to the Committee regarding a claim by Johnson County to recoup litigation expenses and court costs associated with the prison disturbance at the Tecumseh State Prison in March 2017. Initially, this claim was rejected by the state, but I continue to work with Senator Myron Dorn to obtain a successful resolution of this claim yet this session.

I welcome your input on issues of interest and importance to you. I encourage you to follow along on my Facebook page designated as Senator Bob Hallstrom, for updates on legislation and District 1 activities. Please feel free to contact me directly at Senator Bob Hallstrom, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509; Telephone (402)471-2733; or email me at bhallstrom@leg.ne.gov.