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 737 requires Nebraska's Health and Human Services Committee and Urban Affairs Committee to hold an annual joint public hearing each October. The hearing must assess progress on the Olmstead plan - Nebraska's strategy to provide community-based services for people with disabilities - specifically in housing, employment, education, community supports, and transportation. Committees must submit a written report to the Legislature by December 31 each year. This bill directly affects individuals with disabilities by ensuring regular public evaluation of their access to community services, and it mandates state agencies to provide transparent updates on implementation. The bill amends existing law to replace prior reporting requirements with this structured annual review process.
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 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.
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.
This bill changes Nebraska's rules for listing taxable tangible personal property, such as business equipment or vehicles. It requires property owners to file annual forms with county assessors by May 1, using forms provided by the Tax Commissioner. The bill also clarifies that those seeking exemptions under the Nebraska Advantage Act or ImagiNE Nebraska Act must submit required documentation by the same deadline, or lose the exemption. Failure to file on time results in forfeiture of exemptions, even if taxable property is still listed under standard rules.
This Nebraska bill (LB 935) allows courts to award attorney fees and costs to local governments when they face frivolous or harassing lawsuits. It specifically targets claims against "political subdivisions" (cities, counties, school districts, and other local entities) that lack legal merit or are filed solely to delay or harass public officials. The law requires courts to hold a separate hearing to determine if a claim or defense was frivolous before ordering fees, with exceptions for good-faith legal arguments or prompt dismissals. Local governments can request these fees as a motion or claim, and courts may award them in addition to other judgments. The policy aims to prevent wasteful use of taxpayer resources on baseless litigation.
LB 910 requires defendants convicted of sexual offenses against children to pay a $100 fee for each electronic device (like phones or computers) seized during their prosecution. The fee funds forensic analysis of these devices by the Nebraska State Patrol, covering costs related to examining digital evidence. This applies only to cases involving victims under 18, and courts must waive the fee if a defendant is found indigent. The law directly affects convicted offenders in these specific cases, not general criminal defendants.
