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Sarpy County lobbyist outlines Nebraska Legislature priorities and budget constraints
Summary
Tim Gave of Catalyst Public Affairs briefed the board on the current legislative session, advising that a large state budget shortfall will limit bills with fiscal notes and highlighting several county‑relevant measures the county is tracking or helping draft.
Tim Gave of Catalyst Public Affairs updated the Sarpy County Board on the 2025 Nebraska legislative session, emphasizing a substantial state budget shortfall and the practical effect on county priorities and pending bills.
Gave told the board the Legislature faces a roughly $432 million shortfall this year and a larger $1.4 billion gap in the next biennium. He said that fiscal constraints mean many bills carrying fiscal notes are unlikely to advance, and that committee action and appropriations work will shape what survives the session. Gave noted the Legislature would adjourn in June and that full floor debate was expected to intensify in March.
Gave described several bills and county priorities: LB612 (a measure the county helped draft) addressing health and human services space costs, originally drafted to pay 100% and later reduced to 50% given budget realities; a documentary stamp tax proposal to raise revenue for housing that may reduce funds channeled to affordable housing programs; a revisited tort claims act bill raising sovereign immunity questions and drawing opposition from NERMA and the League of Municipalities; and discussions about highway and motor‑vehicle tax allocations and whether current formulas disadvantage fast‑growing metropolitan districts.
He said the county has drafted five bills and gotten four introduced; county commissioners will testify on several hearings in coming weeks. Gave also noted the county coordinates with NACO and the county’s legislative delegation and emphasized timely notice when commissioners’ testimony is requested so the board can provide unified appearances where appropriate.
No formal board action came from the briefing; commissioners thanked Gave and emphasized staying engaged on bills that affect county finances and infrastructure.
