LB 878 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Require paid parental leave for state employees

This bill requires Nebraska state employers to provide paid maternity leave to employees who give birth or adopt a child. Full-time state employees would receive six weeks of paid leave, while part-time employees would receive leave proportional to their regular work schedule. The leave must be taken within six months of the child's birth or adoption, and employees must return to their original position or an equivalent role after leave. The bill also prohibits retaliation against employees who use this leave and ensures continued benefits during the leave period.

Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Legislature Passage

Apr 2026

Legislature Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrollment and Review ER154 → Final Reading · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a proposed amendment into the final legislative text, establishing a comprehensive paid parental leave program for Nebraska state employees. The final version defines specific eligibility requirements, such as being a permanent employee with over 1,250 hours of service, and grants eligible workers 240 hours of paid leave to bond with a new child. It also mandates that employees returning from leave must be restored to their original or an equivalent position with full benefits intact.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single amendment regarding word choice to a complete statutory act covering definitions, leave entitlements, usage rules, and anti-retaliation protections for all permanent state employees.

DEFINITION

New definitions were created for 'agency head', 'parental leave', 'parental leave eligible employee', and 'permanent state employee' to clarify who qualifies for the program.

ELIGIBILITY

Specific eligibility criteria were established, requiring employees to be permanent, have at least 1,250 hours of work in the last year, and have a child under 12 months old.

REQUIREMENT

The bill mandates that full-time employees receive 240 hours of paid parental leave, while part-time employees receive a proportional amount.

New rules were added restricting leave usage to within six months of the child's birth or adoption and prohibiting intermittent use unless medically necessary.

ENFORCEMENT

Protections against retaliatory actions, such as firing or demotion, were added for employees who use their parental leave.

TIMELINE

The act was finalized with an operative date of July 1, 2026, and an emergency clause allowing immediate effect upon passage.

Floor votes · Legislature Mar 17, 2026

How they voted

29–5

Passed · 15 other

Total votes 49

Mar 17, 2026

N Nonpartisan49

29 Yea 5 Nay 15

59% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2026

Legislature · Passed

President/Speaker signed

legislature

Apr 10, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 41-7*-1

legislature

Apr 8, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Guereca AM3135 adopted

legislature

Apr 7, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Passed over

legislature

Apr 7, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Kauth FA1185 adopted

legislature

Apr 7, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Enrollment and Review ER154 adopted

legislature

Mar 17, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Kauth AM2715 adopted

legislature

Mar 3, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Placed on General File

legislature

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

legislature

Jan 8, 2026

Introduced

Date of introduction

legislature

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors