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LB 116

Change provisions of the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act and the Nebraska Visitors Development Act

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Beau Ballard and 1 co-sponsor

LB 116 lets counties directly spend lodging-tax funds to expand and maintain county-owned tourism attractions, with a $150 million cap per project.

Approved by Governor on March 25, 2025
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Bill Summary · LB 116

Summary — LB 116 (2025)

Title: Change provisions of the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act and the Nebraska Visitors Development Act
Status: Enacted (Approved by Governor March 25, 2025)
Introduced: January 10, 2025 · Primary sponsor: Sen. Beau Ballard

Purpose

LB 116 updates two related laws to (1) modernize and clarify how the state assists local convention/meeting facilities (Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act) and (2) expand permissible uses of county lodging-tax (County Visitors Improvement Fund) revenues under the Nebraska Visitors Development Act so counties can directly support county-owned tourism projects, including expansion and maintenance of visitor attractions.

Key provisions

  • Defines “applicant” for the Convention Center Act as the political subdivision that applies for assistance (Section 13-2603).
  • Establishes a maximum aggregate appropriation (cap) of $150,000,000 for any one approved project under the Convention Center Act (Section 13-2603).
  • Clarifies that associated hotels and nearby retail areas (for purposes of eligibility calculations) may be treated as contiguous or noncontiguous areas when an eligible facility is within 600 yards of the State Capitol; applicants must depict such areas on a submitted map (Section 13-2603).
  • Clarifies allowable uses of state assistance: state assistance may be used to repay amounts expended or borrowed (including principal and interest on bonds) for acquiring, constructing, improving, repairing, replacing, financing, or equipping eligible facilities; to pay for capital improvements to eligible facilities; and to acquire/construct/repair/replace/equip nearby parking facilities (Section 13-2604).
  • Harmonizes and updates related procedural and statutory language across sections of the Convention Center Act (Sections 13-2605 and 13-2610 as amended).
  • Amends the Nebraska Visitors Development Act (Sections 81-3717 and 81-3720) to explicitly add “expansion” and “maintenance” of visitor attractions and facilities as permissible uses of the County Visitors Improvement Fund and to allow counties to directly fund expansion, improvement, and maintenance of county-owned visitor attractions/facilities. The amendments also add “maintenance” in other specified fund-use areas and harmonize statutory language with the Convention Center Act.
  • Technical and clean-up changes, and repeal of original sections where replaced.

Note: Earlier committee language that would have added procedural requirements about providing additional information after hearings and making public hearing testimony an explicit board consideration was removed by amendments (Conrad AM197 and subsequent enrollment changes) prior to final passage.

Who is affected

  • Political subdivisions (cities, counties, joint public agencies) that apply for state assistance under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act.
  • Counties that levy lodging (room) taxes and manage County Visitors Improvement Funds — these counties may now directly invest lodging-tax proceeds in expansion, improvement, and maintenance of county-owned tourism assets.
  • Associated hotels, nearby retailers, and parking facilities as defined for project eligibility and economic impact considerations.
  • State board and agencies administering the Convention Center assistance program.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Two fiscal notes were filed (Jan 22, 2025 and Mar 19, 2025); summary bill text does not include fiscal figures beyond the $150 million project cap.
  • Legislative actions: Referred to Revenue Committee Jan 14; hearing Jan 23; amendments adopted Feb 7; passed Final Reading Mar 20 (vote 43–2–4); presented Mar 20; approved by Governor Mar 25, 2025.
  • The act harmonizes statutory language and clarifies permissible uses rather than creating new funding streams; budgetary impact depends on future applications and county choices to deploy lodging-tax revenue for expansion/maintenance projects.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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