This legislative bill amends various sections of Nebraska's statutes to update provisions related to census data, particularly concerning development districts and the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act. Key changes include redefining terms under acts such as the Community Development Law and the ImagiNE Nebraska Act, with population data for funding allocations now based on the latest federal decennial census or determined by the Department of Economic Development if unavailable. The bill also establishes a framework for distributing funds to areas with high poverty concentrations, requiring the formation of committees to oversee project funding and community engagement, while emphasizing transparency through mandated annual reports on funded projects.

Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions and eligibility criteria for redevelopment projects and associated tax incentives, introducing terms like "new investment" and "workforce housing." It outlines tax incentives available to qualifying taxpayers, including refunds and exemptions on sales and use taxes, and establishes a tiered credit system based on new employee hiring and average wages. The bill also updates the definition of economic redevelopment areas to rely solely on the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate for determining unemployment and poverty rates, while repealing outdated language regarding census data. It will become operative on July 1, 2025, but includes a provision for immediate effect due to the existence of an emergency, reflecting the urgency of the proposed changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13-1906, 13-2610, 18-2103, 77-6831, 77-6906, 81-1203
Final Reading: 13-1906, 13-2610, 18-2103, 77-6831, 77-6906, 81-1203
Slip Law: 13-1906, 13-2610, 18-2103, 77-6831, 77-6906, 81-1203