LB 521 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Change and eliminate provisions relating to the Election Act and elections in cities of the metropolitan class and in cities of the primary class

LB 521 amends election rules for cities of metropolitan and primary class in Nebraska. It changes election dates (moving primary elections to April and general elections to May), modifies how city council members are elected (requiring seven members per city), revises ballot formats to remove party designations, and updates candidate filing requirements. The bill also eliminates outdated provisions about voter registration delegates and political party delegates, while adjusting notice requirements for city council meetings under the Open Meetings Act. These changes affect local election administration in larger Nebraska cities and their voters.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Legislature Passage

May 2025

Legislature Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Jun 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrollment and Review ER75 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended during the Enrollment and Review process to update its scope, correct section references, and add new provisions. The changes include expanding the bill's applicability to include additional statutes, correcting a section number reference, and adding a new exemption for local foster care review boards from the Open Meetings Act.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include additional statutes (sections 14-201 through 14-217.01, 14-376, 14-521, 14-811, 14-1206, 14-1211, 14-1216, 14-1251, 15-301, 43-1304, 43-1308, 70-1014, and 70-1014.02) and to cover elections in cities of the metropolitan and primary classes.

SCOPE

Added new statutes to the bill's scope, expanding its applicability beyond the original list of election-related sections to include additional statutes governing elections in specific city classes and other related areas.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a section number reference from '32-1049' to '32-1409' and added a new reference to '32-1409' in the list of sections to be amended.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision exempting local foster care review boards from the Open Meetings Act requirements.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'valid photographic identification' to include hospital records, assisted-living facility records, nursing home records, hospice records, and intermediate care facility records that show the individual's name and photograph.

Floor votes · Legislature May 1, 2025

How they voted

42–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 49

May 1, 2025

N Nonpartisan49

42 Yea 7

85% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 6, 2025

Introduced

Provisions/portions of LB659 amended into LB521 by AM1152

legislature

Jun 6, 2025

Introduced

Provisions/portions of LB243 amended into LB521 by AM1152

legislature

Jun 6, 2025

Introduced

Provisions/portions of LB19 amended into LB521 by AM1152

legislature

Jun 2, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor on May 30, 2025

executive

May 28, 2025

Legislature · Passed

President/Speaker signed

legislature

May 28, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 49-0-0

legislature

May 8, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Bosn FA190 adopted

legislature

May 8, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Sanders AM1333 adopted

legislature

May 8, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Enrollment and Review ER75 adopted

legislature

May 1, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM1152 adopted

legislature

Apr 29, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Placed on General File with AM1152

legislature

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

legislature

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Date of introduction

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors