20 bills introduced as Nebraska senators start special session

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lawmakers met at the State Capitol building Thursday for the first day of a special session.

Gov. Jim Pillen called senators in to address Nebraska’s increasing property taxes, calling it “a crisis.”

His plan would reduce property taxes by 50% by removing sales tax exemptions on items like pop and candy and increasing “sin taxes” on cigarettes, alcohol and keno gambling.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen officially calls special session on property taxes

But lawmakers offered their own ideas on Thursday, introduced 20 bills and five constitutional amendments.

One would legalize online sports betting and use the revenue for property tax relief.

Another introduced by State Sen. Carol Blood would add a new income tax bracket for higher earners. Nebraskans making $250,000 or more would pay 9%.

SEE ALSO: ‘No plan and no real direction’: Nebraskans slam Pillen’s property tax plan at forum

The session adjourned after about an hour. More bills will be introduced throughout the week before hearings begin on Monday morning.

Blood said if lawmakers work together, the session should be short.

“If this is indeed an emergency, and if indeed they are going to listen to their ideas, then we should be able to expedite this and get done with this,” she said, “The fact we’re being told by some people we might be here past Labor Day is ridiculous, and it also tells me people are planning on digging their heels into certain issues instead of working as a team.”

SEE ALSO: Pillen proposes removing 100-plus exemptions, raising ‘sin taxes’ to cut property taxes

But State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan said lawmakers should take as long as they need in order to solve the property tax problem.

“I don’t think we can go home without solving the problem,” she said. “It’s the only thing we’re focused on. It’s not like regular session where we have all kinds of things going on where it’s hard to keep up.”