Nebraska's LB 909 creates a specific criminal offense for "sexual abuse by a law enforcement officer," directly affecting law enforcement officers who commit such acts and minors (ages 16-19) who are protected under the new definition. The bill amends multiple laws to add this offense to the list of sexual assault crimes, requiring offenders to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act. It updates victim protections and notification rules to include this specific abuse type, ensuring victims receive the same safeguards as those abused by others. The law harmonizes existing statutes to explicitly address police-perpetrated sexual abuse while maintaining consistent legal definitions.
LB 746 eliminates outdated language from Nebraska's Population Health Information Act, which governs the state's health information exchange for sharing clinical data. The bill does not change existing requirements for health care facilities (like hospitals or clinics) or health insurance plans to participate in data sharing, including deadlines such as September 30, 2021, for facility participation. It streamlines the law by removing redundant or obsolete provisions, making the statute clearer without altering operational rules. This update affects only the legal text of the Act and does not impose new costs or obligations on health care providers or insurers.
This bill increases penalties for drivers who cause death while using wireless communication devices (like texting) in violation of Nebraska law. It upgrades motor vehicle homicide charges to higher felony classifications (Class IIIA, IIA, or II) depending on the specific device violation committed, and imposes longer license suspensions or revocations (up to 15 years for severe cases). The bill also specifically addresses fatalities involving an unborn child, applying the same enhanced penalties when the driver’s device use caused the death. These changes affect drivers convicted of causing death while violating wireless device laws (sections 60-6,179.01-02, 60-6,213-214, or 60-6,196-6,197.06).
LB 908 requires Nebraska family courts to consider specific research when determining the best interests of a child in custody cases under the Parenting Act. The bill amends state law to mandate that courts evaluate "credible research showing increased intellectual and social growth in children who have equal access to both parents" as part of their decision-making. This directly affects judges, attorneys, and families involved in custody disputes across Nebraska. The provision adds this research consideration to existing factors courts already weigh, such as parental conflict and child safety, without changing other legal standards.
LB 754 amends Nebraska law to update requirements for permits related to explosives and display fireworks. It adds new restrictions for explosives permits, prohibiting applicants with certain domestic violence misdemeanor convictions, active felony charges, or who are illegal immigrants. The bill also requires fingerprinting and background checks for individuals seeking to use explosives, and updates the application process for display fireworks permits handled by the State Fire Marshal. These changes directly affect businesses and individuals applying for explosives storage, use, or purchase permits, as well as those seeking professional fireworks display permits.
LB 799 requires cities, counties, and state agencies in Nebraska to annually report details about service contracts they award. Specifically, they must submit information by August 1st each year on the contractors, contract values, and whether contracts were awarded to businesses in economically disadvantaged areas (defined as "economic redevelopment areas" or "qualified census tracts"). The Division of Administrative Services compiles these reports by September 1st and makes them publicly available online, while also sending summaries to the Governor and Legislature. Failure to submit reports results in the suspension of state aid payments until compliance is achieved.
Nebraska's LB 873 imposes a 10% excise tax on retail sales of kratom products starting July 1, 2027, requiring retailers to maintain electronic sales records and file monthly tax returns. It updates the definition of "adulterated" kratom products to include those containing specific alkaloids (like 7-hydroxymitragynine) without meeting legal definitions or mixed with dangerous non-kratom substances. Retailers and processors face escalating penalties: up to $1,000 for first violations, $5,000 for second, and up to $20,000 for third violations, with processors risking a 3-year sales ban for selling adulterated products. The tax revenue will fund the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund, and retailers may avoid penalties if they reasonably relied on a processor's representation that a product was compliant.
LB 846 amends Nebraska's individual income tax code to change how personal exemptions and standard deductions are calculated. It replaces the previous inflation-adjusted personal exemption credit with a new method using the Consumer Price Index from August 2017 forward, and updates standard deduction amounts for different filing statuses (e.g., single filers increase from $3,000 to $4,750). The bill affects all Nebraska residents filing individual income tax returns who claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions. Key changes include updated dollar amounts for standard deductions and a revised formula for calculating the personal exemption credit based on federal filing status. These provisions apply to tax years beginning in 2018 and beyond.
Nebraska's LB 859 requires counties with public defenders to appoint "county conflict counsel" when the public defender cannot represent indigent defendants due to conflicts of interest or other court-approved reasons. These appointed attorneys must represent low-income criminal defendants in the same way as public defenders, with full-time requirements in counties over 170,000 population. The bill mandates counties to notify judges and court officials when hiring such counsel and prohibits these attorneys from taking private fees for these cases. It does not change eligibility for indigent representation but ensures consistent access to legal counsel during gaps in public defender availability.
LB 811 amends Nebraska's Municipal Land Bank Act to clarify which cities can establish land banks. It updates Section 18-3404 to specify that only cities classified as "metropolitan class" or "primary class" may create standalone land banks, removing ambiguous language. The bill harmonizes these requirements with other sections of the law and ensures consistency in how municipalities form land banks. This directly affects Nebraska cities seeking to create land banks to manage vacant or abandoned properties.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly require that only U.S. citizens may serve as electors (voters) in Nebraska. It would amend Article VI, Section 1 of Nebraska's Constitution to state: "Only a United States citizen who has attained the age of eighteen years... shall be an elector." The amendment would be submitted to Nebraska voters in the November 2026 general election for approval or rejection. If approved, it would clarify and reinforce the existing citizenship requirement for voting eligibility under state law.
LB 988 amends Nebraska's Community Development Law to update definitions and rules for designating blighted areas and using tax-increment financing. It specifically redefines "blighted area" with new criteria, including unemployment rates, building ages, and affordability requirements (e.g., requiring at least 20% affordable housing). The bill also sets strict limits: cities cannot designate more than 35% of their area as blighted (or 50% for smaller cities), with exceptions for defense sites or designated "extremely blighted" areas. These changes aim to standardize redevelopment planning and limit tax-increment financing use while harmonizing existing law sections.
