LB 816 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Provide privileges and immunities relating to peer support services communications by public safety personnel and change provisions relating to emergency protective custody

LB 816 protects the confidentiality of communications between public safety personnel and peer support team members. It makes peer support meetings and related records privileged and confidential, meaning they cannot be disclosed in court, treated as public records, or used in disciplinary proceedings. This law directly affects law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and support staff (like dispatchers) who receive or provide peer support for critical incidents or personal issues. The only exceptions to confidentiality are with the recipient's written consent or if a person's safety is at immediate risk.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Legislature Passage
Apr 2026
Legislature Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Signed Apr 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Final Reading · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its initial introduction to its final reading, incorporating a new sponsor (Wordekemper) and refining the legislative text. The most significant change is the expansion of the definition of 'Public safety agency' to explicitly include hospitals, thereby extending peer support privileges and protections to hospital personnel. Additionally, the bill's purpose statement was updated to clarify that it amends specific existing statutes and includes provisions for persons taken into emergency protective custody.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was expanded to include hospital personnel and their communications under the peer support privilege, whereas the original draft only covered traditional public safety agencies like law enforcement and fire departments.
SCOPE

Added 'hospital' to the definition of 'public safety agency' to include physicians, nurses, and other hospital staff under the peer support privilege.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new finding that peer support is beneficial for public safety personnel experiencing stress and trauma.

DEFINITION

Modified the bill's purpose statement to explicitly mention amending specific Revised Statutes sections and adding provisions for emergency protective custody.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Wordekemper as a co-sponsor to the bill.

Floor votes · Legislature Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

280
Passed · 21 other
Total votes 49
Feb 11, 2026
N Nonpartisan49
28 Yea 21
57% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
6
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Apr 17, 2026
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB1084 amended into LB816 by AM2323
legislature
Apr 17, 2026
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB755 amended into LB816 by AM1814
legislature
Apr 7, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on April 7, 2026
executive
Apr 1, 2026
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Apr 1, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 48-0-1
legislature
Mar 6, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Storer AM2323 adopted
legislature
Feb 11, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Judiciary AM1814 adopted
legislature
Feb 2, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM1814
legislature
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
legislature
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors