LB 1071 is a budget bill that sets funding levels for Nebraska's state government for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. It defines key fiscal periods, redirects unspent funds from previous years to current budgets, and establishes limits on state employee salaries and per diems. The bill specifically caps total salary and per diem spending for state agencies, with adjustments based on prior-year encumbrances, and allows exceptions only for federal funds or specific legislative approvals. This bill directly affects all Nebraska state agencies managing budgets and payroll during the 2025-2027 biennium.
Nebraska's LB 1086 changes eligibility requirements for community college gap assistance, directly affecting students seeking financial support to cover costs not covered by other funding. The bill replaces existing rules with a new standard requiring applicants to demonstrate capacity to: complete an eligible program, earn a credential, secure full-time employment, and maintain that employment. It also explicitly excludes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training benefits from eligibility calculations. This policy change aims to ensure gap assistance fills true financial gaps after other public or private funding sources are exhausted.
LB 1235 updates Nebraska's medical cannabis laws by amending the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act and Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act. It establishes a patient and caregiver registry, creates a directory of healthcare practitioners who can recommend cannabis, and sets licensing requirements for practitioners and cannabis businesses. The bill introduces sales tax on medical cannabis (separate from marijuana taxes), outlines commission powers for regulation and enforcement, and defines key terms like "qualified patient" and "allowable amount." These changes directly affect medical cannabis patients, their caregivers, healthcare providers, and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission.
LB 748 expands Nebraska's Educational Savings Plan Trust to allow trust funds to cover costs for state-recognized postsecondary credential programs (such as certifications or apprenticeships), in addition to traditional degree programs. This change directly affects Nebraska residents using the state's 529 savings plan who pursue non-degree credentialing programs approved by the state. The bill amends the definition of "qualified education expenses" to include these programs, as specified in the revised statute sections. It does not alter contribution rules or eligibility for the savings plan itself.
LB 1212 creates two new license types for internationally trained physicians in Nebraska who completed medical education outside the U.S. It allows a "limited license" (valid up to 6 years total) requiring supervision by a participating health care entity (like a hospital or health center) and completion of a state-approved assessment program. A "restricted license" would permit independent practice in designated health profession shortage areas after meeting the same requirements. The bill requires physicians to hold ECFMG certification, pass USMLE steps 1 and 2, maintain valid U.S. work authorization, and be employed by a participating entity during the limited license period. This directly affects internationally trained physicians seeking to practice medicine in Nebraska, particularly in underserved rural or urban areas.
This bill changes how Nebraska calculates state aid for cities and towns. It requires the Department of Revenue to use each municipality's prior year's certified property tax levy data (separating bond and nonbond taxes) to determine aid amounts. Municipalities with tax levies below the state average face a 20% aid reduction for each cent below the average, up to 80% total reduction. The calculation uses population and property tax averages, and if the aid fund is insufficient, money is allocated proportionally to all cities.
Nebraska's LB 525, the Agricultural Data Privacy Act, requires businesses collecting farm-related data to obtain explicit written consent from agricultural producers before using or sharing their information. It prohibits denying services, benefits, or rewards to farmers who decline to share data and bans selling or sharing farm data without authorization. The law defines "agricultural data" broadly - including crop yields, GPS equipment data, financial records, and livestock transactions - and mandates that businesses delete such data within 30 days if a farmer revokes consent. The Attorney General enforces the law, with penalties for violations, while excluding data owned by farmers themselves (e.g., when farmers use their own data). This act directly affects Nebraska farmers and ag-tech companies processing farm data, ensuring greater control over sensitive agricultural information.
LB 304 removes the expiration date (sunset) for Nebraska's participation in the federal Child Care Subsidy program, making the program permanent beyond its current September 30, 2026, deadline. It directly affects low-income families with children who qualify for child care assistance based on income thresholds (up to 185% of the federal poverty level before October 1, 2026, or 130% after). The bill maintains existing eligibility rules, including transitional assistance for families exceeding income limits, and ensures funding comes from federal Child Care Development Block Grant funds rather than state general funds. It does not change income levels or subsidy structures but extends the program's duration indefinitely.
LB 429 requires Nebraska school boards to provide equal access to school employees' mailboxes, meetings, and posting spaces for all professional employees' organizations (like teacher unions or professional development groups). It mandates that if one organization is allowed to recruit at employee events, display information, or post materials in school spaces, all similar organizations must receive the same access. The bill also prohibits school boards from naming school calendar days or breaks after any professional employees' organization. This applies to all school employees, including teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals, and aims to ensure fair treatment among competing professional groups.
LB 441 allows local governments in Nebraska to permit virtual inspections for certain residential building projects (under three stories and 10,000 square feet) instead of requiring in-person visits. It requires permit applicants to list onsite workers and mandates that inspections be conducted live via video unless the inspection is nonstructural (using photos/video instead). The bill also requires that inspection records - showing pass/fail results and reasons for failures - be made publicly available online if the building remains standing. This directly affects homeowners, builders, and local building departments by changing how inspections are conducted and recorded.
This Nebraska bill (LB 596) updates how legal notices and publications required by law must be distributed. It allows notices to be published online via digital news platforms (without print options) and adds a new requirement: all such notices must also be posted on a statewide website repository maintained by Nebraska newspapers, starting October 1, 2022. The bill keeps existing newspaper publication rules in place but mandates the online posting as an additional step. It directly affects government entities, courts, and businesses that must publish legal notices, as well as newspapers and digital platforms that distribute them. The change ensures notices are accessible both through traditional media and a centralized online system.
LB 365 requires Nebraska's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Act) to cover and reimburse for home blood pressure monitoring devices when prescribed by a healthcare provider. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who need regular blood pressure monitoring for conditions like hypertension. The bill amends existing coverage rules to add these services to the list of covered medical supplies, similar to how continuous glucose monitors were recently added. It mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to provide this coverage without additional cost to eligible patients.
