The First Session of the 101st Nebraska Legislature recently adjourned Sine Die. Over the last five months, a number of important legislative bills have been passed by your Nebraska Legislature. I would like to give you a quick update on a few:

*LB 16 - I co-sponsored Senator Tom White's "Taxpayer Transparency Act", which requires the state to develop a website that provides data on the state budget, public contracts, and tax incentives, because we need to help restore the belief that government should work for the people it serves. This will allow Nebraskans to easily see how their tax dollars are spent and will encourage transparency and efficiency in our state government.

*LB 63 - This wide-sweeping crime bill modernizes penalties on those who have committed certain criminal activities, including gang and graffiti-related crimes. As a co-sponsor of this important, I worked with Senator Ashford to find seed funding for the Office of Violence Prevention, which will provide community funding for anti-violence and crime prevention programs.

*LB 555 - My priority bill this year, LB 555, increases the research tax credit provided by the Nebraska Advantage Research and Development Act. In order to qualify for this credit, the research must be performed at a college or university-owned facility in Nebraska. This "Innovation Economy" bill provides an opportunity to create high-wage, high-skilled jobs right here in Omaha and Bellevue.

*LB 603 - I was pleased to work with a small group of Senators to develop a compromise on the issues brought to light by the "Safe Haven" situation last year. LB 603 provides additional funding fro children's mental health services and increases the access fro health insurance for Nebraska's most vulnerable children. While LB 603 offers more services to those families battling the behavioral health bureaucracy in our state, I firmly believe this is only a first step in helping families who are placed in these difficult situations. I will continue to work with my colleagues and community advocates to find solutions to the problems brought to light last year.

While this has been a difficult session due to the unique budget circumstances, I believe these key pieces of legislation are just a few of the new laws that will help make South Omaha and Bellevue safer and stronger.

As we begin working for the next legislative session in January 2010, please don't hesitate to contact my office with your thoughts on these or any issues facing our state.

Working for you,

Senator Heath Mello