A bill that would require Gov. Pete Ricketts to apply for $120 million of federal rent and utility assistance money could be going nowhere despite passing in the Legislature.
The bill passed on a 26-15 vote Wednesday, but crucially did not pass with an emergency clause, which means the law would take effect after the deadline to apply for the funding. The bill needed 33 votes to pass with an emergency clause.
Additionally, Ricketts, who has repeatedly said he opposes the additional aid, could issue a veto.
In order for the bill to have the desired effect, the U.S. Department of the Treasury would first have to agree to extend the deadline for Nebraska beyond March 30, which Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln said is a possibility. Additionally, LB1073 would need 30 votes to override a Ricketts veto.
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Sens. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Rich Pahls of Omaha, who previously voted yes on the bill, were excused from Wednesday's vote, while Sen. Robert Hilkemann of Omaha, another previous yes vote, chose not to vote Wednesday. Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha was a new yes vote for LB1073 Wednesday after not voting on the bill previously.
Regardless of the bill's outcome, Hansen, who designated LB1073 his priority bill, said there were other options available for the state to access rental assistance for residents, although he did not name specifics.
Lawmakers have been at odds with Ricketts over the funding, with many senators pushing him to accept the aid. Earlier this month, all nine members of the Appropriations Committee not to apply.
Despite this, Ricketts has held firm that Nebraska does not need the money. Ricketts has argued that the COVID-19 pandemic emergency is over, and pointed out that the state still has about $30 million of unused federal funding from the first round of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Senators opposing the bill have echoed Ricketts' arguments, and argued that the federal assistance would hurt Nebraska taxpayers. Supporters have argued the opposite, and noted that the funding available for Nebraska will go elsewhere if the state does not request it.
Ricketts now has five days to either sign or veto LB1073. Earlier this week, the governor declined to say whether he would veto the bill, but he repeated his opposition and touted the state's low unemployment rate.
"We are not in an emergency, so therefore it’s not appropriate for us to ask for emergency funds when we’re not in an emergency," he said.