The Nebraska Legislature is beginning its third week of public hearings on bills introduced this session, and we have just over 40 legislative days until the end of this short session. This week I would like to talk about the hearing on one of my bills, Legislative Bill 743, which would repeal the restrictions on trapping in the county road rights-of-way, put in place by an amendment last session.

LB743 was heard last Wednesday, Jan. 30 and advanced out of the Natural Resources Committee to General File on Friday. We had a great discussion in the hearing, a discussion that should have taken place last session and avoided the negative consequences of a ban. About 14 people testified in favor of the repeal, three in opposition of the repeal, and one in the neutral position.

Game and Parks gave technical testimony regarding the types and sizes of traps and, which traps were legal to use in the county right-of-way prior to last years ban. They also were confident with the regulations that were in place prior to last years ban that the rules would provide the needed safety for people and non-target animals.

There was discussion on how several trappers provide a service for their local county officials and neighbors by trapping nuisance animals and minimizing the costs and damages to their counties and neighbors. Beaver and muskrats building dams in culverts and creeks, badgers digging holes in roads, and raccoons eating crops are some of the more common problems that can cause extensive damage for county governments and others forcing them to pick up the tab. The ban unnecessarily complicated this service and in many cases made it impossible for trappers to provide these services.

We also heard from many fur harvesters about the negative economic impact the ban caused this past year on their business and incomes. This is definitely not the economic development route we want to take in rural Nebraska. I believe Game and Parks is very capable of protecting the public and regulating fur harvesters without a ban on trapping in the county road right-of-way.

The last piece of information I would like to touch on are the public hearings coming up for my bills over the next couple of weeks. If you would like to come and support a bill in Lincoln, the hearing dates are:

LB751 on Feb. 5, 2008: this bill would change the distance from the stream bank where state funds could voluntarily be used to manage vegetation, from 100 ft to 1320 ft.

LB1041 on Feb. 7, 2008; this bill would protect certain water purchased or leased for river-flow enhancement purposes from diversions downstream.

LB1131 on Feb. 13, 2008, this bill authorizes a collection fee for collection of a natural resources district occupation tax.

LB1132 on Feb. 13, 2008, this bill will change provisions relating to river-flow enhancement bonds.

LB1127 on Feb. 13, 2008, this bill will change permitted uses of the Water Resources Cash Fund.