Nebraska's LB 717 updates state banking and finance laws to align with recent federal changes. It modifies rules for bank lending limits, digital asset depository institutions, maximum interest rates on certain loans, and mortgage professional licensing. The bill also clarifies references to the Nebraska Money Transmitters Act in related laws. These changes directly affect Nebraska banks, trust companies, digital asset depositories, mortgage lenders, and money transmitters operating within the state.
LB 202 exempts licensed physicians and osteopathic doctors in Nebraska from disciplinary action for expressing medical opinions in public or professional forums. It amends the Medicine and Surgery Practice Act to explicitly state that such expression cannot be used to deny, suspend, or revoke a medical license. The bill repeals the prior section that allowed discipline for failing to comply with specific birth/death certificate signing rules, though those administrative requirements remain in effect. This change directly protects medical professionals' First Amendment rights regarding public discussion of medical viewpoints, without altering clinical practice standards.
LB 320 requires hotels and similar public lodging establishments in Nebraska to display multilingual posters about human trafficking (including the National Human Trafficking Hotline number) in guest areas and provide employee training on recognizing and responding to trafficking. The bill directly affects all hotels, motels, and similar lodging businesses by mandating these awareness and training measures. Key provisions include requiring posters in English and Spanish (and other languages as determined), training employees to identify trafficking indicators, and limiting liability for lodging owners regarding third-party trafficking crimes. The bill also establishes a human trafficking task force to study prevention efforts and victim services, but the primary direct impact is on lodging businesses through the poster and training requirements.
LB 663 requires county planning commission members and county board members to complete two hours of annual education on their roles, developed by county attorneys. It revises how counties grant special land use approvals (conditional uses or special exceptions) by clarifying that these decisions must follow existing zoning regulations and cannot require applicants to obtain additional permits from federal, state, or local agencies as a condition. The bill also specifies that property owners seeking such approvals for livestock operations in agricultural zones can request timely determinations of required conditions from the commission or board. This affects county officials responsible for land-use decisions and property owners applying for special land uses.
LB 103 amends Nebraska's evidence rules to prohibit asking victims about their past sexual behavior or sexual assault history during pretrial proceedings, such as hearings or depositions. This directly affects victims in criminal or civil cases involving alleged sexual misconduct, preventing attorneys from using such questions to challenge their credibility before trial. The bill allows limited exceptions in criminal cases (e.g., to establish the source of physical evidence) and in civil cases only if the court determines the evidence's value outweighs potential harm. It also requires written motions and private court hearings before admitting such evidence. The change aims to reduce trauma for victims during legal processes while maintaining specific legal safeguards.
LB 397 repeals Nebraska's requirements for employers to establish workplace safety committees and implement safety programs (sections 48-443 to 48-445). It also terminates a related fund and removes related eligibility criteria from workers' compensation rules. Employers previously required to maintain safety committees or comply with safety program standards will no longer face these mandates. The bill eliminates these specific provisions without creating new requirements or changing other workers' compensation rules.
LB 716 is a procedural bill that removes outdated or expired legal provisions from Nebraska's statutes. It specifically repeals the Next Generation Business Growth Act (which expired January 1, 2017), obsolete sections about the Rural Health Opportunities Loan Pool Fund, and provisions related to the Nebraska Army National Guard complex (expired July 1, 2015). The bill also eliminates redundant or terminated appropriation sections and repeals 12 specific statute numbers (including 50-301 through 50-306 and 90-267-90-270). This cleanup effort harmonizes existing laws by removing references to provisions that no longer have legal effect. The bill does not create new policies or affect any current programs or constituents.
Nebraska's LB 203 clarifies and updates the roles of health directors in local public health departments. It defines key terms like "community-wide directed health measure" (actions affecting all residents without known disease links) and "core public health functions" (assessment, policy, and assurance). The bill changes how health department boards are structured, requiring specific physician/dentist representation and adjusting appointment processes - especially for city-county departments in large counties, where boards are now appointed by the mayor with council/board consent. These changes directly affect county, district, and city-county health departments and their governing boards.
LB 437 would repeal Nebraska's Health Care Certificate of Need (CON) Act, removing a requirement that hospitals and healthcare facilities must obtain state approval before expanding services, building new facilities, or making major capital investments. This change directly affects hospitals, healthcare providers, and potentially patients by eliminating a state review process for facility expansions and capital projects. The bill repeals all provisions of the CON Act (sections 71-5801 through 71-5870) and modifies related sections in the Nonprofit Hospital Sale Act to remove overlapping approval requirements. It does not create new regulations but eliminates existing state oversight for healthcare facility expansions. The bill aims to reduce regulatory barriers for healthcare providers in Nebraska.
LB 668 modifies Nebraska's notice and appeal processes for individuals potentially added to the Adult Protective Services Central Registry or the Central Registry of Child Protection Cases. It requires written notice (sent by certified mail if entry is planned) to alleged abusers or neglectors before registry entry, detailing the report's nature, classification, and their right to appeal within 14 days or request record amendments. For minors aged 12-19, the notice includes information about mandatory expungement hearings and implications of registry entry. These changes apply directly to people accused of abuse or neglect whose cases are investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill does not alter the registries' existence but strengthens procedural safeguards before names are added.
This bill removes a Nebraska law that currently prohibits selling lottery tickets through vending machines or dispensing devices. It directly affects lottery retailers by allowing them to sell tickets via these machines and may impact consumers who prefer this purchasing method. The key change amends Section 9-829 of the State Lottery Act to delete the specific ban on vending machine sales. The bill repeals the existing prohibition while maintaining other current requirements for lottery ticket sales.
LB 212 changes Nebraska's tax on cigars, cheroots, and stogies by setting a 20% tax on the purchase price or manufacturing price, with a maximum tax of $0.50 per item. This directly affects first owners (importers or manufacturers) and retailers selling these tobacco products. The bill repeals the previous tax structure for these items and takes effect October 1, 2025. The change applies specifically to these products, not other tobacco or e-cigarette taxes.
