Vetoed by Governor Jim Pillen

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends various laws relating to housing oversight and authority in Nebraska.

Highlights:

• Requires that Nebraska housing authorities in metropolitan cities comply with city rental inspection and registration ordinances, code enforcement, and the inspection of residential rental properties (Sec. 1).

• Amends certain existing requirements such that they apply to elections held six years after the first election of trustees (Sec. 2). 

• Prohibits the Board or Administrator from assessing real property that meets at least one of the following criteria (Sec. 3):

• Is not assessable;

• Is not included within the corporate boundaries of the district for any of the improvements that are installed outside of the corporate boundaries; or

• Has not been specially benefited by any public improvements installed by the district that are located outside of the corporate boundaries.

• Requires that the owner of property that meets at least one of the aforementioned criteria shall pay the district a sum equivalent to the amount the property has been specially benefited (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the district to bring action against a property owner in order to recover the aforementioned amount or upon disagreement of the aforementioned amount (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the Board or Administrator to levy special assessments on benefited property to the extent by which such property is specially benefited (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the cost of such public improvements to be paid from the collection of special assessments (Sec. 3).

• Requires that housing agencies in metropolitan cities visually inspect a unit for bed bug infestations prior to renting the unit (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits agencies from showing, renting, or leasing a unit the agency reasonably suspects has an infestation (Sec. 5).

• Requires that agencies disclose to prospective buyers if adjacent units are infested or being treated for an infestation (Sec. 5).

• Establishes certain notification requirements during the investigation of a complaint (Sec. 5).

• Requires that agencies perform a professional inspection within 10 days of receiving a complaint relating to an infestation (Sec. 5).

• Requires that agencies notify tenants within 10 days, provide remedial services within 21 days, and maintain relevant records for 2 years upon determination of an infestation (Sec. 5).

• Requires that housing authorities in metropolitan cities submit to the Legislature a bi-annual report and specifies the information the aforementioned report is to include (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text