Nebraska LB 677 updates the state's medical cannabis framework by clarifying key definitions (like "cannabis products" and "caregivers"), establishing new licensing rules for cultivators and dispensaries, and imposing a special sales tax on medical cannabis sales. It prohibits open cannabis containers in vehicles, removes medical cannabis from existing marijuana tax categories, and directs tax revenue to specific state funds. The bill directly affects qualified patients, registered caregivers, cannabis businesses, and the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which now oversees regulation. It also repeals outdated provisions and harmonizes existing laws, though it remains pending in committee as of March 2025.
This bill appropriates $3,217,273 from the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to the State Racing and Gaming Commission (Program 166) to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 1001. It also sets a salary limit of $154,334 for FY2026-27 and amends funding allocations for the Gamblers Assistance Program (Program 164), including $1,150,000 in state aid for FY2026-27. The bill directly affects state agencies managing gambling assistance programs by providing specific funding for their operations. This is a procedural appropriation bill, not a policy change.
LB 261 is Nebraska's state budget bill for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, allocating funds for government operations, education, capital projects, and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. It reappropriates unspent balances from previous years and specifies how federal recovery funds must be used, including restrictions on salary spending. The bill requires agencies to submit detailed budget reports and limits total salary/wage expenditures unless federal funds cover the excess. This directly affects all state agencies, universities, and programs receiving state or federal funds during the 2025-2027 budget period.
This bill, LB 644A, is a funding measure that allocates specific state funds to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 644. It provides $30,000 from the State Settlement Cash Fund for Fiscal Year 2025-26 (and none for 2026-27) to the Attorney General's office for Program 507, and $50,000 annually from the General Fund for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission for Program 94. The bill explicitly prohibits using these funds for state employee salaries or per diems. As an appropriation bill, it directly affects the Attorney General and the Accountability Commission by providing targeted financial support for their work related to Legislative Bill 644.
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.
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.
This bill eliminates numerous state advisory groups, boards, and commissions - including the Climate Assessment Response Committee, Women's Health Initiative Advisory Council, and Palliative Care Act - and removes their funding. It also modifies department responsibilities, such as adjusting the Board of Mental Health Practice and the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill specifically terminates the Whiteclay Public Health Emergency Task Force and streamlines overlapping government structures by repealing obsolete provisions. These changes aim to simplify state agency operations by removing redundant entities and consolidating functions.
This bill sets funding levels for Nebraska state agencies during fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25. It allocates specific sums for state government operations, handles unspent balances from prior years, and establishes a cap on state employee salaries and per diem payments. The bill requires agencies to operate within these budget constraints, including limits on total compensation for permanent and temporary staff. It directly affects all state agencies receiving operating funds and governs how they manage their budgets.
LB 262 appropriates $632,982 from the General Fund for each fiscal year (2025-26 and 2026-27) to pay salaries for Nebraska Legislature members, as required by law. The bill includes a spending cap of $588,000 annually for salaries and per diems, ensuring total expenditures do not exceed this amount. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was approved by the governor on May 21, 2025. This procedural bill directly affects legislators by funding their compensation.
Nebraska Legislative Bill LB 263 appropriates funds for the salaries and benefits of constitutional state officers for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. It directly affects Supreme Court judges, Court of Appeals judges, district/juvenile and county court judges, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Auditor of Public Accounts. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each position while establishing "salary limits" that restrict total expenditures for salaries and per diems. It includes provisions for reappropriating unspent funds and transferring budgets among judicial programs to support court operations. This is a standard funding measure, not a policy change, ensuring constitutional officers receive authorized compensation for the specified fiscal periods.
