Legislature Preliminarily Approves $84 Million to Fight Coronavirus

The Nebraska Legislature gave preliminary approval Monday to nearly $84 million worth of spending to combat the coronavirus in the state. It was the Legislature’s first meeting since March 12, after which Speaker Jim Scheer postponed the session because of health concerns.

Latest news & resources: netNebraska.org/coronavirus

Monday, Scheer called lawmakers back into session to consider emergency funding to combat the coronavirus. Despite guidance limiting public gatherings to no more than 10, Scheer thanked lawmakers for showing up.

“Colleagues, thank you for coming back. It is truly a historic time in our country. And for us to be here to be able to do something to help the residents of the state of Nebraska I think is even more important, and showing our ability and our resolve to try to solve the problems that are going to be facing residents, both individually and collectively, is something that we need to do,” Scheer said.

Senators then heard Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. John Stinner describe the emergency spending that’s contemplated. It includes $38 million for personal protective equipment, call centers, and computer needs for local governments and health departments, and $13 million for a 50 percent staff increase at veterans homes and care facilities run by the Department of Health and Human Services. It also includes $4 million for additional staff at the department in areas including epidemiology, emergency preparedness and interpreters. There’s $3 million for software, supplies, personnel and equipment for testing, about $350,000 for a computer system to let health and emergency agencies communicate, and $100,000 for UV lightboxes to clean respirators for reuse by healthcare workers.

The request also includes $25 million for unspecified contingencies. All the spending will go through an emergency fund in the state’s Military Department, which Stinner said would make it easier to track.

Stinner thanked Gov. Pete Ricketts’ administration, local authorities and healthcare workers for working together, and called for unity.

“We'll get through this. But now it's our turn to lay down our partisan politics and pass this bill for the state to protect the safety and well-being of all Nebraskans,” Stinner said.

Sen. Kate Bolz had a suggestion for where the $25 million in unspecified spending should go.

“The unobligated resources provided, at least from my perspective, should be prioritized for vulnerable populations served by nursing facilities, and federally qualified health centers,” Bolz said.

Senators then voted 44-0 for the amendment authorizing the spending, and advanced the bill on a voice vote. They’ll technically be back in session Tuesday, but only to observer the one-day waiting period called in the state constitution before final passage of the bill, which is expected to take place Wednesday.

Latest news & resources: netNebraska.org/coronavirus