Bills boosting family support program heard this week; busy next week will see inheritance tax, education finance bills heard

A pair of bills that would increase benefits under the Aid to Dependent Children program, funded through the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal block grant, had hearings this week.

OpenSky Policy Institute supported LBs 290 and 310 because rather than distribute funds to families who could use the funds to support their families and local business, the state’s TANF fund has grown 64% over the past decade, ballooning to $130 million. That’s more than twice the state’s federal allocation under the TANF program and a clear indication that funds aren’t reaching many families who may otherwise be eligible.

Critical education, revenue bills coming next week

Next week, the Education Committee will hear a pair of bills involving how the state funds its public schools. LB 475 would eliminate the current equalization aid formula while LB 518 would modify the formula to better target state funds to students who may need more services to succeed. Another bill before the committee, LB 627, would provide free student meals.

The Revenue Committee will hear LB 185, which would distribute $500 million to Nebraska taxpayers and their dependents through rebate checks, and LR 23CA, a constitutional amendment to eliminate the inheritance tax, which would significantly impact county budgets.