ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION - 2025
COMMITTEE STATEMENT
LB660
Hearing Date: Wednesday February 19, 2025
Committee On: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
Introducer: Andersen
One Liner: Adopt the Secure Drone Purchasing Act
Roll Call Vote - Final Committee Action:
Advanced to General File with amendment(s)
Vote Results:
Aye: 8 Senators Sanders, Andersen, Cavanaugh, J., Guereca, Hunt,
Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper
Nay:
Absent:
Present Not Voting:
Testimony:
Proponents: Representing:
Senator Bob Andersen Opening Presenter
Tom Rawlings State Shield
Opponents: Representing:
Matt Barrall Nebraska State Fraternal Order of Police
Neutral: Representing:
Travis Rozeboom Police Chief's Association of Nebraska, Police
Officers Association of Nebraska and Nebraska
Sheriff's Association
Seth Voyles Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)
* ADA Accommodation Written Testimony
Summary of purpose and/or changes:
Section 1 contains the title section.
Section 2 contains legislative findings relating to the security of the State of Nebraska and espionage, surveillance,
and theft of intellectual property by the People’s Republic of China. These findings further elaborate on the
relationship between these topics and unmanned aircraft systems.
Section 3 contains definitions for terms used in the Act.
Section 4 would prohibit state agencies from purchasing or acquiring drones or unmanned aerial systems unless they
Committee Statement: LB660
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Page 1 fe3e00325494cf79286d828444bb757f are cleared by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation, effective January 1, 2027. It would
also provide a similar prohibition, “to the extent practicable,” for political subdivisions of the state. After January 1,
2027, it would prohibit the expenditure of state funds to purchase or acquire drones prohibited under the Act. This
section would also void any contracts to the contrary.
Section 5 would direct the Division of Aeronautics to consult with the Department of Administrative Services to create
and maintain a “List of Secure Drones for Authorized Purchase” with the names of devices and vendors of drones
approved by the United States Department of Defense, compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act of
2024, determined by the Division to be incapable under normal operating conditions of transmitting data to
unauthorized persons or entities, or otherwise determined by the Division to present no threat to state security. The
Division would be authorized to consult with recognized cybersecurity experts, Nebraska State Patrol and other law
enforcement agencies, the Nebraska National Guard, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, the office of
the Chief Information Officer, or other pertinent entities. The list would then be published on the Division’s website
and updated every six months. There would be a contract preference for approved drones in all state and local
procurement actions.
Explanation of amendments:
AM 1008 proposes substantial revisions to LB 660 and also incorporates provisions from four other bills, including LB
445 (von Gillern), LB 664 (Storer), LB 29 (Conrad), and LB 662 (Andersen).
Section 1 includes the title section from LB 445.
Section 2 contains section 2 from LB 445.
Section 3 contains section 3 from LB 445.
Section 4 contains new language relating to the process for utlizing a design-build contract or manager-general
contractor contract provided for under the provisions from LB 445.
Sections 5 through 19 contain the identically numbered sections from LB 445.
Section 20 contains section 1 from LB 660.
Section 21 contains section 2 from LB 660.
Section 22 contains section 3 from LB 660.
Section 23 contains section 4 from LB 660 with the addition of language providing an exception for electric suppliers,
producers, and distributors.
Section 24 contains section 5 from LB 660 and provides for the Division of Aeronautics, in the development and
maintenance of an authorized drones list, to consult with Nebraska State Patrol, the Department of Administrative
Services, the Committee on Pacific Conflict, and the Law Enforcement Drone Association or another similar
organization.
Section 25 contains section 1 from LB 662 with revised language providing greater clarity on terminology relating to
the revenue and expenditures to be inventoried.
Section 26 contains section 20 from LB 445.
Committee Statement: LB660
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Page 2 fe3e00325494cf79286d828444bb757f Section 27 contains section 21 from LB 445.
Section 28 contains section 22 from LB 445.
Section 29 contains section 23 from LB 445.
Section 30 contains section 24 from LB 445.
Section 31 contains a harmonizing change relating to LB 445.
Section 32 would modify the definition of "public building" for purposes of LB 445.
Section 33 would modify a statute relating to public works of art, relating to LB 445. It would authorize an exception to
the "one-percent" art requirement for projects relating to mechanical system improvements and provides a cap of
three hundred thousand dollars for art per project.
Section 34 contains proposed language providing circumstances under which a waiver could be sought for purposes
of LB 445.
Section 35 contains section 1 from LB 664.
Section 36 contains section 2 from LB 664.
Section 37 contains section 1 from LB 29.
Section 38 contains section 2 from LB 29.
Section 39 contains split operative dates for the provisions of the bill.
Sections 40 and 41 contain the repealers.
Section 42 contains the emergency clause.
Testifiers on LB445:
Proponents:
Senator R. Brad von Gillern , Opening Presenter
Lee Will, Department of Administrative Services (DAS)
Brent Flachsbart, Department of Administrative Services (DAS) - State Building Division
Opponents:
Mike Markey, Arts Council
Suzanne Wise, Self
Meagan Dion, Nebraska Arts Council
Lee Emma Running, Self
Richard Harrison, Self
Lauren Simpson, Amplify Arts
Michael Giron, Self
Committee Statement: LB660
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Page 3 fe3e00325494cf79286d828444bb757f Lance Nielsen, Nebraska for the Arts
Matt Mason, Self
Jon Nebel, Nebraska State Council of Electrical Workers
Turner McGehee, Self
Neutral: None
Committee vote to attach LB445:
Yes: 8 Sanders, Andersen, Cavanaugh, J., Guereca, Hunt, Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper;
No: 0;
Absent: 0;
Present Not Voting: 0;
Summary of LB445:
This bill proposes adoption of a new State Building Construction Alternatives Act and amend or remove existing
provisions relating to state building projects.
Sections 1 through 19 contain the provisions of the new proposed act and would allow for Construction
Manager-General Contractor and Design-Build procedures as an alternative to the current Design-Bid-Build
requirements.
Section 20 raises from fifty thousand dollars to seventy thousand dollars the threshold at which the hiring of a
consultant is required, and provides for this threshold to be adjusted by the Department of Administrative Services
every four years according to “inflationary and market changes.”
Sections 21 and 22 add harmonizing references.
Section 23 makes harmonizing changes and changes reporting requirements for the State Building Division.
Section 24 adds harmonizing references.
Section 25 through 27 would eliminate the requirement that one percent of all appropriations for new construction of
public-facing state buildings be designated for works of art.
Sections 28 and 29 contain the repealers.
Testifiers on LB664:
Proponents:
Senator Tanya Storer , Opening Presenter
Laura Ebke, Platte Institute
Jonathan Wolfson, Cicero Action
Kileen Lindgren, Pacific Legal Foundation
Opponents: None
Neutral: None
Committee vote to attach LB664:
Yes: 8 Sanders, Andersen, Cavanaugh, J., Guereca, Hunt, Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper;
Committee Statement: LB660
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
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Absent: 0;
Present Not Voting: 0;
Summary of LB 664:
LB 664 proposes changes to the Administrative Procedures Act.
First, it would require that agencies considering a new rule or regulation under the act accept comments or written
materials from any person via electronic or mail submission rather than requiring a person to travel to a particular
meeting location.
Second, it changes the venue rules for instances where someone files a challenge to the validity of a rule or
regulation. In addition to the District Court for Lancaster County, venue would also be proper in the petitioner’s county
of residence, in the county where their principal place of business, or in the county where the agency headquarters
are located.
This bill contains the emergency clause.
Testifiers on LB29:
Proponents:
Senator Danielle Conrad , Opening Presenter
Laura Ebke, Platte Institute
Kileen Lindgren, Pacific Legal Foundation
Michael Dwyer, Self
Jonathan Wolfson, Cicero Action
Jennifer Creager, Greater Omaha Chamber, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
Opponents: None
Neutral:
Kenny Zoeller, Governor's Policy Research Office
Jaime Hegr, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Committee vote to attach LB29:
Yes: 8 Sanders, Andersen, Cavanaugh, J., Guereca, Hunt, Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper;
No: 0;
Absent: 0;
Present Not Voting: 0;
Summary of LB29:
LB29 proposes changes to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). It would require that agencies conduct a regular
review of all existing and pending rules and regulations every three years. Each agency head would have to
designate an individual responsible for the review, and would have to create and submit a report to the Clerk of the
Legislature detailing a number of factors. These include the necessity of the rule or regulation, its costs and benefits,
processes within the agency to measure its effectiveness, that a less restrictive alternative has been considered, and
whether the new rule or regulation was necessitated by state statute, federal mandate, or court decision. These
reports upon submission to the Legislature would then be referenced to the committee of appropriate jurisdiction. The
committees would review the reports and then submit a report to the Clerk of the Legislature including
Committee Statement: LB660
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Page 5 fe3e00325494cf79286d828444bb757f recommendations for legislation or clarification of the rule or regulation. Rulemaking would be suspended during the
pendency of the review process unless time sensitive, necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the public, or
subject to state or federal statutory deadlines.
Testifiers on LB662:
Proponents:
Senator Bob Andersen , Opening Presenter
Nicole Fox, Platte Institute
Steve Johnson, Center for Practical Federalism
Allie Bush, Nebraskans Against Government Overreach Grassroots
Kathy Wilmot, Self
Opponents:
Matt Blomstedt, University of Nebraska
Neutral:
Katie Thurber, Nebraska Department of Labor
Committee vote to attach LB662:
Yes: 8 Sanders, Andersen, Cavanaugh, J., Guereca, Hunt, Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper;
No: 0;
Absent: 0;
Present Not Voting: 0;
Summary of LB662:
LB 662 would create a new section of statute relating to the state’s receipt of federal funds. It defines “federal
receipts.” It would prohibit state agencies, employees, and other agents of the state from entering into any agreement
that obligates Nebraska to any maintenance of effort requirements without prior Legislative consent. The bill would
further require state agencies receiving appropriations from the Legislature to biennially prepare federal funding
inventories and submit them to the director of the Department of Administrative Services.
Rita Sanders, Chairperson
Committee Statement: LB660
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
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