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ARCHIVED ISSUES: A Look Back

2007 State Legislation for the Arts & Humanities

LB429

LB429 proposed to amend legislation passed in 2006 that exempts certain purchases by museums from sales and use tax. The amendment would have added performing arts venues to the definition of "museums" and would have exempted items related to the live production of performing arts from sales and use tax, including memberships.

LB429 never got out of committee.

Download an LB429 Fact Sheet here.

Read LB429 here.

2006 Arts & Humanities Issues

Initiative 423 was defeated November 7.
Thank you to all who voted against this amendment.

Congress Passes NEA Increase
On May 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by $5 million each. The amendment passed impressively by a voice vote.

In addition, an amendment that would have drastically reduced NEA funding was defeated by an overwhelming margin. The amendment, offered by Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO), would have cut NEA funding by $30 million, shifting funds to further increase the wildfire management program. The amendment failed by a vote of 106 to 312.

Nebraska Representatives Fortenberry, Terry and Osborne all voted against the amendment that would have cut NEA funding by $30 million. Click here to take two minutes to thank your Representative for his support of the arts.

State Legislation for the Arts & Humanities
Several arts and humanities related bills were on the agenda for the 2006 session of the Nebraska Unicameral, but only one of these bills became law (LB1189). Below is a list of the bills proposed this year. For ideas on how to continue to advocate for the arts in the off-season, and how you can help strengten our efforts for next year, click here.

LB931 | LB1087 | LB1093 | LB1131 | LB1189 LB1235

For a summary sheet of all proposed bills, click here.

LB931 would have placed $2 million into the Nebraska Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund. The funding proposed in this bill was vetoed by Governor Heineman.

Read LB931
LB931 Fact Sheet
Nebraska Cultural Endowment

LB1087 proposed to exempt purchases by museums and museum memberships from sales and use taxes.
This bill was killed on General File. We are planning on trying for this again in 2007.

Read LB1087
LB1087 Fact Sheet

LB1093 would have worked with the Nebraska Department of Education to establish a core curriculum standard which would include (among other subject areas) arts education for all public schools in the state.
This bill did not get out of committee.

Read LB1093
LB1093 Fact Sheet
For arts education resources, visit:
Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education

LB1131 proposed to change the distribution of interest earned on the Cash Reserve Fund, allocating fifteen percent to the Nebraska Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund.
LB1131 was changed so that the interest from the General Fund goes only to the Capitol Restoration project.

Read LB1131
LB1131 Fact Sheet
Nebraska Cultural Endowment

LB1189 includes a provision that states, "Sales and use taxes shall not be imposed on the gross receipts from the sale, lease, or rental of and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of purchases of fine art by any museum defined in
section 51-702."
LB1189 was passed into law with 43 votes on April 6, 2006.

Read LB1189

LB1235 would have provided an appropriation to establish a monument to Nebraska poets and writers in honor of Ted Kooser, Poet Laureate of the United States.
This bill did not get out of committee.

Read LB1235
LB1235 Fact Sheet

Funding for a Full Time Fine Arts Coordinator at the Nebraska Department of Education passed the vote by the full legislature, but the funding for this position was vetoed by Governor Heineman. Senator Matt Connealy (16) moved to override this veto, but only received 14 votes-not enough to override the Governor's decision.

What Can I Do?

Visit our Take Action page for tips and resources on how to successfully advocate. This page also provides contact information for your state senator.

Consider becoming a member of Nebraskans for the Arts, which will keep you up-to-date on further opportunities to support the arts in Nebraska. To download a membership form, click here.

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