Plans are being made for the return of the Nebraska Legislature to the capitol.
On Monday, State Senator and Legislative Speaker Jim Scheer announced that the Unicameral will reconvene on July 20th. The Legislature’s sine die (day of adjournment) will be August 13th.
The Unicameral suspended the session March 16th due to coronavirus concerns.
In a statement, Scheer said that the decision to resume the session was based on the current belief Lincoln and Nebraska have seen the peak of COVID-19 cases.
Scheer reserved the right to alter the session calendar “should it appear best to do so.”
Changes have been made based on recommendations by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Public Health Department to reduce the number of people on the unicameral floor at any one time and to provide “a modicum of social distancing between members and staff on the floor.”
A detailed memo will be shared with state senators and staff before the July 20th meeting on physical and procedural practices.
Scheer stated the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s general fund is unknown but must be considered. “I am asking you to look at any 2020 priority bill you have that negatively impacts the General Fund during the current biennium (two year period),” Scheer said.