This bill requires Nebraska to allocate $1.5 million annually from the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Fund to reimburse mental health providers who serve Medicaid-Medicare dual-eligible patients (people enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare) for behavioral health services. It mandates that these providers receive the higher Medicaid or Medicare rate for such services, rather than a lower combined rate. The funding applies specifically to providers not operating within hospitals, supporting access to mental health care for vulnerable dual-eligible beneficiaries. The bill explicitly states the Legislature's intent to maintain current Medicaid reimbursement rates for these services in the medical assistance program.
Nebraska's LB 1054 appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the State Department of Education. This funding creates a grant program to help school districts, educational service units, and approved private or parochial schools purchase cybersecurity products and services. The bill directly affects K-12 schools across Nebraska by providing financial support for cybersecurity measures. The key provision is the allocation of specific funds for grants, not general funding, to address cybersecurity needs in educational institutions.
This bill (LB 1159) requires the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission to name one specific person to the Hall of Fame by January 1, 2027. The individual must meet four criteria: be a former U.S. House member, former University of Nebraska-Lincoln football coach, former UNL athletic director, and a Hastings High School graduate. The bill amends existing law to create this one-time exception to the standard naming rules, which otherwise limit the Hall of Fame to one inductee every five years. It does not change the general Hall of Fame process or create new policy.
Nebraska's LB 1004 changes how nonalcoholic beer (defined as containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume) is regulated under the Liquor Control Act. The bill removes an existing exemption, requiring nonalcoholic beer to follow most rules for regular beer - including manufacturing, distribution, and sales - though it remains exempt from tax provisions. This directly affects breweries producing nonalcoholic beer, retailers selling it, and consumers purchasing it. The change harmonizes regulatory treatment with traditional beer while maintaining tax distinctions.
LB 1177 creates Nebraska's Child Care Cash Fund, a permanent state fund administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund will provide sustained funding for the child care subsidy program, directly supporting working families who qualify for assistance and helping child care providers maintain stable operations in both urban and rural areas. Key provisions include using the fund for timely payments to providers, setting fair reimbursement rates, covering administrative costs, and funding quality improvement programs - while ensuring it doesn’t replace the state’s required funding match. The bill requires annual reports tracking fund usage, families served, and application outcomes to ensure transparency. This legislation aims to strengthen Nebraska’s workforce and child care system through reliable, long-term investment.
This bill creates two permit options for Nebraska-resident veterans with military service-related disabilities. Veterans rated 50% or more disabled by the VA (or receiving total disability pension) get a free, lifelong combination hunting/fishing permit and required stamps. Veterans rated 10% or more disabled pay $90 for three years or $135 for five years for the same permit package. It applies only to veterans discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, with eligibility tied to VA disability ratings.
This bill appropriates $10 million from Nebraska's General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the Public Service Commission specifically for the Broadband Bridge Program (Program 793). It directly affects the Public Service Commission, which will use these funds to continue implementing the program aimed at expanding broadband access. The bill declares an emergency, meaning it takes effect immediately upon approval. This is a funding allocation, not a new policy, focused solely on providing resources for existing broadband infrastructure efforts.
This bill reduces funding for the Department of Economic Development's Community and Rural Development program by approximately $10 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year. It decreases General Fund allocations from $7.29 million to $6.29 million and cuts Cash Fund allocations significantly (from $36.58 million to $21.67 million and $36.58 million to $27.67 million), while maintaining Federal Funds at about $54.57 million. The bill eliminates $250,000 for prefabricated housing studies, keeps $700,000 for development districts, and maintains $4.88 million for reading mentorship programs. It directly affects the department's budget execution for rural development initiatives, housing studies, and educational support programs. The changes reflect a reallocation of state funds without introducing new policy requirements.
LB 870 changes Nebraska's rules for determining in-state tuition eligibility at state colleges and universities. It adds new residency categories, including students who attended Nebraska high school for three years, military personnel and their dependents stationed in Nebraska, and students who are dependents of Nebraska residents. The bill requires documentary proof of residency for most cases and allows students who lived with a parent in Nebraska during high school to retain in-state status even if the parent moves, provided they intend to make Nebraska their permanent home. This directly affects students applying to Nebraska's public colleges who might otherwise pay higher out-of-state tuition rates.
Nebraska's LB 750 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to increase reimbursement rates for PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program services to at least 80% of the actual cost of care provided at PACE centers. This policy change directly affects PACE providers (who deliver comprehensive medical and social services to seniors) and the elderly beneficiaries enrolled in the program. The bill amends the Health Care Facility Licensure Act to establish this 80% reimbursement benchmark as legislative intent, requiring the state agency to adjust payment rates accordingly. It does not create new funding but mandates a specific reimbursement standard for existing Medicaid-covered PACE services.
LB 1167 amends funding for Nebraska's Department of Economic Development's Industrial Recruitment program, specifying how $11 million in General Funds for fiscal year 2026-27 must be used. It directs this funding exclusively for state aid grants under the Business Innovation Act, with $3 million specifically allocated for microenterprise assistance grants. The bill also reappropriates unspent Cash Fund balances from the Site and Building Development Act and states legislative intent to allocate an additional $4.5 million in Cash Funds for future economic development efforts. This bill directly affects the Department of Economic Development and businesses receiving these targeted grants.
LB 968 appropriates $4 million from Nebraska's General Fund to the Military Department for emergency rescue equipment grants. Political subdivisions (like cities or counties) must prove they can assist in statewide rescue events to qualify for these grants. The funds must be used exclusively to purchase specific equipment, including water rescue gear, wide-area search tools for tornado/floods, structural collapse equipment, and hazardous materials response tools. This bill directly affects local emergency response entities eligible for these equipment grants.
