Bill > LB291

This bill adopts the Aid to Municipalities Act, which establishes a new state grant program to provide financial assistance to cities and villages in Nebraska for infrastructure projects. The Act defines infrastructure projects broadly, including facilities like waste management, water treatment, transportation systems, municipal buildings, and redevelopment projects. Municipalities can apply to the Department of Economic Development for grants up to $5 million, with applications considered in the order received and subject to available appropriations. The bill creates the Aid to Municipalities Fund and indicates legislative intent to appropriate $15 million annually for these grants. The funds can be used exclusively for constructing, acquiring, or equipping infrastructure projects, or for paying principal and interest on bonds issued for such projects. Grant recipients must place the funds in a separate account and cannot commingle them with other municipal funds. The bill also makes minor amendments to existing statutes regarding budget limitations and state aid reporting, and directs the Revisor of Statutes to assign the new Act to a new article in Chapter 18 of Nebraska statutes. The Department of Economic Development is authorized to develop rules and regulations to implement the grant program.

Housing and Urban Affairs

Urban Affairs Committee (L)

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58999