Nebraska Bills

LB 912, the Community Health Worker Training Endorsement Act, establishes a state system to recognize community health worker (CHW) training programs that meet minimum quality standards. It directly affects CHW training programs and the workers they prepare, enabling these programs to qualify for reimbursement by Medicaid and private insurers. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop rules by December 2026 defining core competencies, application processes, fees, and oversight for program endorsement. Crucially, it clarifies that this endorsement does not create licensure or certification for CHWs, nor does it expand the scope of practice for licensed health professionals. The key change is creating a standardized pathway for CHW services to be covered by insurance, improving access to community-based health support.

Nebraska bill LB 954 amends the Nebraska Advantage Act to require the Department of Revenue to recalculate a business's base-year employee count if the business sells part of its operations covered under an Advantage Act agreement and the sold operations continue operating under a separate entity. The recalculation subtracts employees from the sold operations from the original count, but only if the sold operations remain active for at least 24 months and the sale wasn't primarily to close a location. Existing tax credits or incentives from before the sale remain unchanged. This applies to Advantage Act agreements entered into after December 31, 2016, directly affecting businesses participating in Nebraska's job creation and investment incentive program.

Nebraska Legislative Bill LB 722 amends the Behavioral Health Services Fund to explicitly include services for individuals with substance use disorder. The bill clarifies that funds can now be used for behavioral health services specifically for people with substance use disorder, aligning with existing provisions for serious mental illness. This change, which references the definition in Section 71-430, ensures the fund’s resources directly support treatment and housing-related assistance for this population without creating new funding. The bill affects Nebraskans seeking behavioral health services, particularly those with substance use disorder who qualify under the fund’s existing eligibility criteria.

Nebraska's LB 743 amends the Police Officers Retirement Act to clarify how retiring officers can receive pension benefits. It specifically updates the process for calculating lump-sum payments, requiring the retirement system to use the average of three annuity contracts (one chosen by the officer, one by the committee, and one by the city) to determine the actuarial equivalent value. This change directly affects police officers eligible for minimum pension benefits under existing rules (e.g., 40-50% of pay after 25 years of service). The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and repeals the original section it amends.

LB 1165 amends Nebraska's Key Employer and Jobs Retention Act to adjust the wage retention credit to 5% of wages paid to retained employees earning at least the state average wage, with annual and total spending caps. It creates a new Department of Labor grant program to help employers retain or attract workers after a change in ownership and control, particularly for businesses meeting key employer criteria. The bill also modifies credit percentages under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act and adds capital improvement grants for eligible employers under the Site and Building Development Act. These changes apply to key employers with at least 1,000 equivalent employees in Nebraska during a base year, including those facing ownership transitions.

Nebraska Legislative Bill 794 reorganizes the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's responsibilities by amending key statutes. It eliminates the Healthy Soils Task Force and outdated funding mechanisms related to the Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners Administrative Fund, while clarifying the Department's existing duties. The bill specifically repeals outdated sections (2-401 through 2-404) and streamlines provisions in Sections 2-406 and 81-201 of Nebraska law. These changes directly affect the Department of Agriculture, removing specific advisory structures and administrative requirements without creating new programs or funding. The bill focuses on administrative efficiency rather than new policy initiatives.

LB 1072 is a procedural bill that reorganizes Nebraska's state fund management. It transfers remaining balances from 20+ specialized funds (like Foster Care Review, Nursing Faculty Student Loans, and Capitol Commission funds) to the General Fund by June 2026. The bill also eliminates 30+ obsolete funds and programs (such as the Tractor Permit Cash Fund and Family Home Visitation Act) while creating a new fund for medical cannabis regulation fees. These changes streamline budget administration without introducing new policy initiatives.

This bill amends Nebraska's Uniform Controlled Substances Act to add bromazolam to Schedule I (the most restrictive category) as a controlled substance. It also corrects the spelling of certain substances listed in the law. The primary effect is that bromazolam possession, distribution, or use without authorization becomes illegal under Nebraska law. This change directly affects individuals and businesses handling bromazolam within the state, aligning Nebraska's drug schedule with current regulatory needs.

Nebraska's LB 924 changes how learning communities (groups of school districts collaborating on shared programs) can use property tax levies. It reduces the maximum allowable levy from 95 cents to just half a cent per $100 of taxable property valuation for specific purposes. The new levy funds elementary learning center facility leases, remodeling, and up to 50% of approved capital projects for focus schools or programs. This directly affects learning communities and their member school districts by restricting and redirecting their funding authority. The bill repeals the previous 95-cent levy provision and aligns with updated funding mechanisms under Section 79-2111.

This bill amends Nebraska's traffic laws to clarify rules for motorists encountering livestock and animal herders. It redefines "vulnerable road user" to explicitly include people leading, herding, or driving livestock on highways (Section 60-6,193). The key provision prohibits livestock herders from traveling on roadways with minimum speed limits of 20 mph or higher, requiring them to use lower-speed roads instead. This directly affects ranchers, farmers, and others who lead or herd animals on public roads. The change aims to improve safety by reducing conflicts between slow-moving livestock and faster-moving traffic on higher-speed roadways.

LB 1209 appropriates $XXX from the General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the Legislative Council for Program 122. This procedural bill allocates existing funds to cover the Legislative Council's operational costs without changing policies or creating new programs. It declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon approval, bypassing standard implementation timelines. The bill directly affects the Legislative Council's budget but does not alter any substantive laws or regulations.

LB 835 revises Nebraska's fee structure for services provided by the Secretary of State, specifically updating costs for accessing business records, lien notices, and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings. The bill eliminates outdated provisions related to lien notices under federal and state lien acts, changes fees for electronic database access (including bulk data requests), and repeals a specific section (52-1313.01) to harmonize related laws. These changes directly affect businesses, lenders, and individuals who file or search for UCC records, lien registrations, or business entity information through the Secretary of State's office. The bill focuses on streamlining fees and processes without altering substantive requirements for filings or protections.