LB 839 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Change reporting requirements under the Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Act and provide requirements for projects under the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act

LB 839 amends Nebraska's Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Act to update reporting requirements for cities. It requires cities to submit biennial reports to the Urban Affairs Committee detailing efforts related to affordable housing, including whether they have adopted or implemented an affordable housing action plan (new requirement added at subsection (m)). This directly affects all Nebraska cities with residential zoning, as they must now report on their progress toward housing affordability goals. The bill streamlines reporting by modifying Section 19-5504, repealing the original section while adding specific new data points for transparency.
Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Legislature Passage
Apr 2026
Legislature Passage
Feb 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Last action Apr 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Final Reading · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its initial introduction to its final reading, refining its focus from general housing and zoning to specifically addressing the Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Act and the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act. Key changes include updating the repeal date for previous statutes from 2024 to 2025, shifting the reporting start date for multifamily housing units from 1991 to 2021, and adding new requirements for cities to explain obstacles to accessory dwelling units and provide recommendations for state assistance.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed and clarified to explicitly target the Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Act and the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act, while expanding reporting requirements to include modern construction data and barriers to accessory dwelling units.
TIMELINE

The repeal date for the original section of the Missing Middle Housing Act was updated from the 2024 Supplement to the 2025 Supplement.

REQUIREMENT

Reporting requirements for multifamily housing units were updated to only count units constructed on or after January 1, 2021, instead of since 1991.

Cities must now report on specific efforts to expand accessory dwelling units, identify obstacles to their development, and list areas where they are allowed by right.

A new requirement was added for cities to provide recommendations on state actions that could assist in constructing affordable housing.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'accessible' and 'multifamily rental unit project' to clarify eligibility for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

ELIGIBILITY

Criteria for receiving Affordable Housing Trust Fund assistance were expanded to include specific accessibility standards and International Building Code classifications.

Floor votes · Legislature Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

291
Passed · 19 other
Total votes 49
Feb 24, 2026
N Nonpartisan49
29 Yea 1 Nay 19
59% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
38
Key actions
9
Committee
2
Apr 10, 2026
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Apr 10, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 34-15*-0
legislature
Mar 31, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Rountree FA1136 adopted
legislature
Mar 31, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Rountree FA1135 adopted
legislature
Mar 31, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Rountree FA1134 adopted
legislature
Mar 31, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Rountree FA1139 adopted
legislature
Mar 31, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Dover FA1133 adopted
legislature
Feb 24, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Urban Affairs AM1865 adopted
legislature
Feb 17, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM1865
legislature
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Urban Affairs Committee
legislature
Jan 8, 2026
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Victor Rountree
Victor Rountree
NNonpartisan
NE
3