Members, Please allow this email to serve as an update on LB196. It is good news, and I am now asking for your help in getting it over the finish line. The STAN Board, Matt Schaefer (our lobbyist), and I have been working diligently with Senator Bostar (LB196 introducer), the Retirement Committee, and the Governor's Office to keep the bill moving through the legislative process. Yesterday LB196 was voted out of the Retirement Committee with amendments and has now advanced to the Senate floor for debate. The bill has been amended from its original form due to budgetary issues. Cutting the state’s budget and limiting spending has been a major focus for this year’s legislature. So far, concerns about the cost have been the only real opposition to our bill. With the amendments, as currently proposed, LB196 will now reduce retirement contributions from either 16% or 17% down to 10% for all Troopers. This will put about $382.00 to $580.00 additional dollars pretax in each Troopers monthly paycheck. That is an additional $4,584.00 (new Troopers) to $6,960.00 (Step 15 Troopers) annually. In an effort to cut the costs of LB196, the amendments did remove the increase to the spousal death benefits and the change to the COLA adjustments from the bill. Without these amendments, we could not guarantee that LB196 would have advanced out of committee. The STAN board has discussed this extensively, and we know that these two items were both very important to our members. Senator Bostar has already pledged to address these with future legislation. The STAN Board, as well as myself, fully plan on pushing for these two changes in future legislative sessions. LB196 is now heading to the Senate floor for debate, and this is where I need your assistance. For everyone who reached out to the Senators on the Retirement Committee about advancing LB196, I sincerely thank you. This action was instrumental in advancing our bill out of committee. Going forward our bill is going to be discussed by every Senator from across the state. I need your help to ensure that every Senator hears from at least one constituent in support of LB196. Please take a few minutes to reach out via phone or email and ask your Senator to support LB196. It is this personal contact that will show each Senator that this bill is truly important to you as one of their constituents. Hearing directly from someone who lives in their district will place accountability on each Senator. With just a little bit of time and effort from each of you, we can reach Senators throughout the state to ensure that LB196 has the best possible chance of passing. If you do not know who your Senator is please use the link below. https://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php [https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/8PDvS6lpwRJZjlQhP6oiGMA0nN8iMR2osQ3y0gi...] Click on the “Landing Page” [https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/UPtanwZuGPbRNNryqaDRIRynq6069pqMWhUNj3y...] This will give you their contact info. When you reach out to your Senator, feel free to explain to them why you feel that they should vote in favor of LB196. Below is an example which you are free to use directly or modify when you contact your Senator. Dear Senator______________, I am a _________ with the Nebraska State Patrol and a constituent of your district and I ask that you support and vote in favor of LB196. This bill will have a positive impact by allowing me to bring home more of the income that I earn which will help me to take care of myself and my family. LB196 will also significantly aid the Nebraska State Patrol in its efforts to recruit new Troopers and retain its current ones. The State Patrol is currently down more than 70 Troopers. LB196 makes the Nebraska State Patrol more competitive with the other agencies we are losing the best candidates too. This will aid in filling those vacancies, and with more Troopers on the road, the Patrol will have more resources to keep every citizen of Nebraska safer. Please take just a few minutes to reach out this week, because the discussions and vote on this bill will be happening soon. Thank you, Lucas Bolton Legislative Liaison State Troopers Association of Nebraska STAN PO Box 6729 Lincoln, NE 68506