PREPARED BY: Scott Danigole
LB 604 DATE PREPARED: February 14, 2025
PHONE: 402-471-0055
Revision: 00
FISCAL NOTE
LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ANALYST ESTIMATE
ESTIMATE OF FISCAL IMPACT – STATE AGENCIES (See narrative for political subdivision estimates)
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
EXPENDITURES REVENUE EXPENDITURES REVENUE
GENERAL FUNDS $37,500 $37,500
CASH FUNDS
FEDERAL FUNDS
OTHER FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS $37,500 $37,500
Any Fiscal Notes received from state agencies and political subdivisions are attached following the Legislative Fiscal Analyst Estimate.
LB 604 changes provisions related to initiative and referendum petitions.
Section 1 requires the Secretary of State to post on hi s or her website a sample copy of petitions with the text of the measure and
notice that the measure is in circulation.
If the Secretary of State ref uses to place the measure on the ballot for any legal insufficiency other than the required number of
signatures, the Secretary of State shall announce the decision on the same date as the posting notice and state the reason for refusal.
Any suit brought shall commence within sixty days after the notice.
LB 604 essentially requires the Secretary of State to determine a measure’s legal sufficiency and the Secretary of State’ s determination
of refusal on the same date as the posting notice. This effectively imposes a five-business day maximum to make such determination.
In order to meet this requirement, the Secretary of State estimates the need to contract for legal resources . Assuming a cost of $250
per hour for ten hours of review on the average of 15 petitions, this estimated cost is $37,500 per year ($250 X 10 hours X 15 petitions) .
There is no basis to disagree with this estimate.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES STATE BUDGET DIVISION: REVIEW OF AGENCY & POLT. SUB. RESPONSE
LB: 604 AM: AGENCY/POLT. SUB: Secretary of State
REVIEWED BY: Joe Massey DATE: 2/14/2025 PHONE: (402) 471-4181
COMMENTS: Secretary of State’s assessment of fiscal impact from LB 604 appears reasonable using the assumptions
provided
Please complete ALL (5) blanks in the first three lines. 2025
LB
(1) 604 FISCAL NOTE
State Agency OR Political Subdivision Name:
(2)
Secretary of State
Prepared by:
(3) Joan Arnold Date Prepared:
(4)
2-13-2025 Phone:
(5)
402-471-2384
ESTIMATE PROVIDED BY STATE AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
EXPENDITURES REVENUE EXPENDITURES REVENUE
GENERAL FUNDS
$37,500 $37,500
CASH FUNDS
FEDERAL FUNDS
OTHER FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
$37,500 $37,500
Explanation of Estimate:
LB604 effectively imposes a potential five-business day maximum on determining the legal sufficiency to place
each measure on the ballot. The number of petitions received by the Secretary of State historically varies
significantly from year to year, but on average, it is estimated that 15 petitions will be received each year.
There is no limit to the number of petitions a single sponsor can file; the office has received 5 or more petitions
on the same day on 4 occasions in the last 4 years. The office does not have sufficient resources to ensure
that these petitions could be reviewed within this five- business-day window. Given the fluctuation in the timing
and number of petitions received, it is anticipated that contractual services for legal resources would be
utilized, rather than full time legal staff. The legal services are expected to cost $37,500 per year ($250 per
hour fee for 10 hours of legal review per petition submitted with 15 petitions expected each year).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _
BREAKDOWN BY MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE
Personal Services:
POSITION TITLE
NUMBER OF POSITIONS
25-26 26-27
2025-26
EXPENDITURES
2026-27
EXPENDITURES
Benefits………………………………...……
Operating…………………………...………. $37,500 $37,500
Travel………………………………………..
Capital outlay…………………...…………..
Aid…………………………………………...
Capital improvements……………………...
TOTAL ………………………………... .. $37,500 $37,500