Judiciary Committee Omnibus Bill Gains First Round Approval at Legislature

A measure that included several different bills advanced at the legislature on Wednesday.  

As part of the committee amendment was Senator Teresa Ibach’s LB1199, which would expand eligibility for the Legal Education for Public Service and Rural Practice Loan Repayment Assistance Act by increasing the population threshold from 15,000 to 75,000 residents and providing additional funding.

The proposal is intended to address the growing shortage of attorneys in rural Nebraska by allowing more communities to qualify for assistance, Ibach said, adding that expanding eligibility and funding would help attract and retain lawyers in underserved areas and ensure residents have access to legal services.

Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island offered an amendment to Ibach’s proposal, adopted 39-0, to extend eligibility to larger communities with attorney shortages, such as in Hall County, which otherwise would be excluded because they include a U.S. Census metropolitan statistical area. Senators then approved that division of the committee amendment on a 39-0 vote. 

See the complete report on that bill from the Unicameral Update here.