LB 48 establishes a five-year pilot program for Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Centers in Nebraska's metropolitan cities. These centers will provide free, 24/7 support services - including mental health counseling, family support, educational resources, and trauma-informed care - to youth and families at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. To qualify, centers must partner with community organizations, meet quality standards through a formal designation process, and track outcomes to measure success in preventing justice system involvement. Two centers will be designated under this program, focusing on addressing root causes like family dynamics and mental health through community-driven solutions.
Nebraska LB 415 amends gambling regulations and debt collection procedures. It allows racetracks to operate casino-style games and sports wagering with new licensing rules (e.g., one operator per track, no racing license requirement) and requires gambling operators to check winners' accounts against state debts before paying winnings. Specifically, operators must deduct outstanding unemployment overpayments or state tax liabilities from winnings and remit the deducted amount to the Department of Revenue. This directly affects gambling winners (who receive reduced payouts) and state agencies (which collect debts automatically). The bill updates sections of Nebraska's Gambling Winnings Setoff for Outstanding Debt Act to include sports wagering and cash device winnings.
LB 288 creates a new financing mechanism allowing Nebraska municipalities to establish "clean energy assessment districts" that let property owners fund energy efficiency, grid resilience, and renewable energy projects through annual property assessments. It directly affects residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial property owners who choose to participate in these districts, covering costs for projects like solar panels, insulation, smart grid technology, and backup power systems. The bill requires municipalities to define eligible projects and sets repayment terms tied to the project's useful life, with property owners paying back through their property tax bills over time. This replaces previous financing rules under Nebraska's Property Assessed Clean Energy Act and related housing laws.
LB 77A appropriates $500,000 annually from the Department of Insurance Cash Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the Department of Insurance for "Program 69," specifically to support implementation of Legislative Bill 77. This funding directly affects the Department of Insurance's operations under Program 69, which relates to insurance regulation. The bill explicitly prohibits using these funds for state employee salaries or per diems. As an appropriation measure, it provides targeted financial resources to carry out another legislative act without altering policy substance.
This bill appropriates $1 million from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund for each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are specifically designated for Program 33 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 48 (which establishes Medicaid managed care reforms). The appropriation includes a $60,000 annual cap on salary and per diem expenses for the program. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, and directly affects Medicaid program administration.
LB 245 updates Nebraska's food safety regulations by amending the Pure Food Act and Weights and Measures Act. It harmonizes state rules with current federal standards, specifically adopting the 2022 FDA Food Code (excluding certain definitions like "adulterated food"). The bill clarifies exemptions for small-scale food operations, including home-based sales at farmers markets, bake sales, and temporary events like festivals, while removing outdated sections of the law. These changes directly affect small vendors, home cooks, and temporary food sellers by reducing regulatory burdens for specific activities. The law also updates requirements for food facility permits and equipment standards.
LB 192 modifies Nebraska's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility rules and removes certain administrative requirements. It temporarily increases the gross income eligibility limit to 165% of the federal poverty guideline (until October 1, 2025), while keeping net income limits unchanged, and eliminates the annual report requirement for the Department of Health and Human Services on SNAP efforts. The bill also removes the need for an evaluation report on the TANF-funded program that implemented the income change. This directly affects SNAP beneficiaries and streamlines reporting for the state agency managing the program.
LB 275A appropriates $329,347 for Program 33 and $629,165 for Program 354 within Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with the latter amount designated as state aid to support Legislative Bill 275. It provides no funding for these programs during the 2025-26 fiscal year. The bill sets a $95,442 cap on salary spending for Program 33 in 2026-27 while prohibiting all salary expenses for Program 354. This funding directly affects how the Department of Health and Human Services allocates resources for these specific programs.
LB 391 creates the Give to Enable Support Program to help individuals with disabilities cover qualified disability expenses. It establishes a cash fund funded solely by private donations (not state funds) managed by the State Treasurer, starting January 1, 2026. Qualified individuals with disabilities can apply annually to receive accounts funded from this cash fund, which they can then use to pay for approved disability-related expenses. The program requires applicants to submit documentation proving disability status and personal details, with approvals based on available funding. The bill also includes minor tax adjustments related to interest and dividends but focuses primarily on the new disability support mechanism.
LB 275 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to screen all children in state custody (state wards) for eligibility for Social Security benefits within 60 days of entering care. If eligible, the department must apply for benefits, manage payments through a trust account, and provide written notices to the child (in age-appropriate language), parents, and guardian ad litem about eligibility, approvals, denials, and payment management. The bill mandates detailed accounting of benefit use and ensures funds are conserved for the child's future needs while complying with federal asset limits. This directly affects children under state care who may qualify for Social Security benefits, ensuring their potential benefits are identified and managed properly.
This bill adds nurse anesthetists and dietitian nutritionists to Nebraska's Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act. It expands eligibility for student loans and loan repayment programs to include these professions, allowing them to qualify for financial assistance if they practice in designated health shortage areas. Specifically, nurse anesthetists and dietitian nutritionists become eligible for up to $15,000 annually in loan repayment (capped at $45,000 total) under the same terms as other qualifying healthcare providers like nurse practitioners and physical therapists. The bill amends existing statutes to formally include these professions in program eligibility and shortage area designations.
Nebraska's LB 9 updates tobacco tax and regulation laws to address new nicotine products. It defines "nicotine analogues" (substances chemically similar to nicotine or with similar effects) and creates a new category for "alternative nicotine products" (noncombustible items like vapes or gums containing nicotine, excluding e-cigarettes and FDA-regulated drugs). The bill adds taxes on these products, allows seizure of illegal items as contraband, and imposes penalties for violations. It directly affects retailers selling these products, requiring compliance with new tax rules and labeling. The law excludes e-cigarettes and FDA-approved nicotine products from its provisions.
