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Nebraska State Capital photo provided courtesy of the Office of the Capitol Commission.

March 6, 2023

Policy & Advocacy News for the Week of March 6, 2023

byAlicia Christensen, Director of Advocacy, Policy, and Research

Tenants' Rights Bills Scheduled for Committee Hearings

The Judiciary Committee will hear testimony about the significance on five bills aimed at strengthening renter protections on Wednesday, March 8th, at 1:30. 

 

LB248 - Prohibit Source of Income Discrimination

  • Bars landlords from declining any tenant based on how the tenant pays rent (e.g., SSI, Section 8, SSDI, etc.) 
  • Offers a guarantee program for landlords, similar to the risk mitigation fund offered by the Metro Housing Collaborative

 

LB175 - Tenant Clean Slate  

  • Allows certain tenants to petition the court to have their eviction records sealed so they no longer show up on rental history reports
  • A tenant qualifies three years after an eviction or if their eviction was dismissed or vacated

 

LB182 - Imposes Reporting Requirements

  • Requires the court system to provide a report on eviction cases with information necessary to track and monitor eviction filings  
  • Must include the grounds for the eviction (non-payment, criminal activity, non-renewal, etc.)

 

LB187 – Grants Tenants a Right to Legal Counsel  

  • Requires appointment of an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings  
  • Limited to Omaha and Lincoln 

 

LB545 – Change When Eviction Can Occur

  • When the court grants an eviction, it issues a writ -- this is what permits a sheriff to change the locks and evict the tenant
  • This bill would change the law to say that the sheriff can’t be sent to change the locks for 10 days (i.e., earliest writ issued is on 11th day)

 

LB270 – Change Provisions Relating to Rental Registration Ordinances 

  • Limited to cities with a rental registration ordinance already in place (including Omaha)
  • The city must inform residents when a code violation is found at rental property 
  • When the city must condemn a rental property for code violations, the city must have plan to rehouse tenants (providing for transportation, temporary housing, etc.) and meet with residents before condemning the property 
  • If a landlord isn’t in compliance with the city registration ordinance, they can’t terminate a tenant’s lease
  • Requires landlords to remove and replace lead service lines 

 

If this legislation is important to you, you can submit a comment to the Judiciary Committee for the record.

To be considered, comments must be submitted by noon on Tuesday, March 7th.

Link to Committee Hearing Schedule for March 8

Another important housing justice bill is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, March 9th with the Judiciary Committee:

LB8 - changes the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Act

  • Makes the rules for dealing with abandoned mobile homes more fair
  • Aligns the Mobile Home Act with protections afforded tenants under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Other Items of Note with Hearings Next Week:

Tuesday, March 7th

Urban Affairs

LB531 - amends last year's ARPA legislation

  • $10 million allocated to Lincoln, $10 million allocated to a city outside Lincoln and Omaha, with the rest going to qualified census tracts in Omaha
  • Specifics and details are not provided

 

LB424- creating a state Department of Housing and Urban Development

Wednesday, March 8th

Appropriations will hear several affordable housing development bills:

LB504 and LB741 - appropriating funds

  • $50 million over two years to the Rural Workforce Housing Investment fund to provide housing grants
  • Allocates another $50 million over two years to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to finance loans, grants, subsidies, credit enhancements, and other financial assistance for community affordable housing projects

 

LB786 - allocating money

  • Appropriates $100 million over two years for the Department of Economic Development and NIFA to provide for development of housing units in Omaha
  • Priority given for housing located two miles from an airport, housed in a qualified census tract, and mixed-income housing

 

LB789 - allocating money

  • Appropriates $100 million over two years for the Department and NIFA to provide for innovative housing solutions

 

LB801 - allocating money to housing funds

  • Transfers $200 million over two years to the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund and Affordable Housing Trust Fund to provide workforce housing grants

 

Health and Human Services

LB310 - change maximum payment level under the aid to dependent children program

  • Changes maximum payment level for monthly assistance from 55% of the standard of need to 85%, starting on September 10, 2023

Thursday, March 9th

The Executive Board will hear testimony on LR2CA, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would change Nebraska’s government from a unicameral legislature to a bicameral legislature

Together takes the experience and voice of those it serves to elected officials. Together advocates for policies at the local and state level to increase housing stability, safe and affordable housing, food security, and economic security.

 

Advocacy

Together's advocacy team works with a broad coalition of organizations throughout our community to advance policies in areas of affordable housing, access to food, and economic security for those in need.

Research

Our research supports Together by evaluating programs, advising on best practices, and making sure that the experiences of those we serve are accessible to our elected officials. We also partner with other organizations in the community to provide research and evaluation services as needed.

Results

Together has led efforts to provide safe housing by advocating for the city to pass a rental registration and proactive inspection ordinance. The advocacy team has worked on key legislative efforts to increase tenant protections at the state level, reduce the cliff-effect in SNAP and childcare programs, and enact a statewide eviction moratorium in response to COVID-19. Together’s advocacy efforts resulted in millions of dollars of CARES funding directed towards rental assistance for Omaha families.

By collaborating with other advocacy organizations to help support initiatives addressing the root causes of poverty, Together is able to keep hundreds of families in their home. 

Our 2023 Impact

  • Households served through Crisis Engagement Program

    622

  • Pounds of Food Distributed Through Choice Food Pantry

    2,844,794

  • Volunteer Hours Contributing to the Mission

    4,394

  • Exits to Positive Housing Destinations After STEHP

    61

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