The Nebraska Legislature adjourned last week, and it was a productive session for safe biking and walking, even though some opportunities were left on the cutting room floor.
LB 530, our Vulnerable Road User (VRU) bill, will become law. A special thank you goes out to the courageous crash victims and family members of victims killed on our roadways for sharing their stories at the legislative hearing and showcasing the importance of such a bill. If you wrote a letter of support or called your state senator about this issue, we also owe you a big thank you.
We are grateful to Senator Kathleen Kauth for her leadership in sponsoring this bill; she was a steadfast champion. Kauth was even wearing the pink bike pin we gave her on her lapel when the bill was read on final reading.
What does this mean?
- Vulnerable Road User is formally defined in state statute;
- Increased judicial options for judges to consider when sentencing drivers involved in serious injury/fatal VRU crashes;
- Increased fines for speeding;
- Upgrades Nebraska’s 3-foot passing law requiring drivers to ‘change lanes to pass when possible.
A Decade in the Making
This has been 10 years in the making, something we were told back then would not be possible, so we shouldn't even try.
If you've been with us for a while, you've heard us say this before: it takes equal parts effort and luck for bills to cross the finish line. In this case, the luck came in the form of LB 530 being added to the Judiciary Committee's priority bill package, which supported its movement through the process.
The challenge now is to ensure that law enforcement officers, judges, and the driving public learn and understand the new law. We'll be working with partners to determine the best channels for disseminating information while ensuring the state does the same on its end.
A Win for Trail Development
In another notable win, our friends at the Nebraska Trails Foundation worked with Senator Robert Dover to introduce a bill providing property tax credits to landowners who provide trail easements. Bike Walk Nebraska proudly testified as a proponent at the hearing. The language from this bill was eventually incorporated into LB 647, which passed and will become law.
Automated Enforcement makes Incremental Progress
Left on the cutting room floor were two bills we strongly supported. LB 600 and LB 616, introduced by Senator DeBoer and Senator John Cavanaugh, respectively, would have allowed for automated enforcement (safety cameras) for speeding in school and construction zones, as well as for red light running. Neither bill made it out of committee, but productive conversations were had, leading to the creation of an Interim Study to be conducted through November. Safety cameras can be an effective tool in changing driver behavior, but it is a complex process. Bike Walk Nebraska is advocating for a seat at the table during the Interim Study to ensure the needs of vulnerable road users are represented.
Portion of MoPac Funding Cut
Our biggest disappointment came with the state budget that was passed this session. The $8.3 million allocated by the Unicameral in 2022 for use to connect the gap in the MoPac Trail was reduced to $5 million in a rescission. The Appropriations Committee faced a challenging task in addressing the state's budget shortfall this year. While we are disappointed to see some of the MoPac funds had to be clawed back, we understand the challenge the Senators faced.
All in all, we came out ahead this year in the Unicameral. We are thrilled that the Vulnerable Road User law has passed, and we look forward to leveraging the momentum to continue the conversation regarding the safety cameras.
