Budget & Taxes

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 2, 2025

LB 382A: Appropriation Bill

LB 382A appropriates $2 million from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are designated for Program 571 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 382. The bill specifies that the money must be used solely for state aid and cannot cover salaries or per diems for state employees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2M from Medicaid fund for HHS program implementation, advancing state budget allocation for essential services without tax impact.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $2M annually from Medicaid fund for healthcare program implementation, directly funding public health services per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Medicaid

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 359: State intent regarding appropriations for reimbursement rates for child welfare service providers

LB 359 requires Nebraska's state agencies to appropriate funds for a five-percent increase in reimbursement rates for child welfare and juvenile justice service providers during fiscal year 2025-26. This directly affects providers contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Supreme Court, including group homes, foster care agencies, family support services, and emergency shelters. The increase applies to all existing contracted services under these programs, such as out-of-home care, family preservation, and kinship navigation, and is intended to be in addition to any other funding increases provided by law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires state appropriation of funds for 5% reimbursement rate increase to child welfare providers, directly funding essential public services under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases reimbursement rates for child welfare providers under DHHS, directly funding health-related services for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 674: Change provisions relating to the Perkins County Canal Project and provide for transfers from the Perkins County Canal Project Fund

LB 674 amends Nebraska law to redirect funds from the Perkins County Canal Project Fund. It requires transferring $250 million to the General Fund and $250 million to the Water Sustainability Fund by June 30, 2025, for state use. The bill also directs the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study on the canal project's costs, timeline, alternatives, and impacts on Lincoln and Omaha's water supplies, with findings due to the Legislature by December 31, 2022. This legislation restates the state's intent regarding the South Platte River Compact but does not fund actual canal construction. The bill takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $500M from canal fund to General/Water Sustainability Funds, enhancing state budget allocation and fiscal management per bill's transfer provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 598: Provide funding to school districts to cover extraordinary increases in limited English proficiency student expenditures, change provisions relating to the elementary site allowance and certification dates under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act and reimbursement for special education programs and support services, and change eligible uses of the Education Future Fund

This bill (LB 598) provides funding to Nebraska school districts to cover unexpected, significant increases in costs for students learning English (limited English proficiency programs). Districts with annual LEP expenditures exceeding $50,000 or 0.5% of their budget can apply for payments from the Education Future Fund, calculated as the difference between current-year costs and 107% of the prior year's costs. It also updates how elementary school sites qualify for funding, adjusts special education reimbursement rules, and expands eligible uses of the Education Future Fund to include costs for students with 504 plans. These changes aim to address specific financial pressures on school districts while modifying administrative processes under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides funding from Education Future Fund to cover LEP program costs, advancing budget allocation for education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides direct funding to school districts for LEP student costs via Education Future Fund, strengthening financial support for language access in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 268: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to implement a provider rate increase for developmental disability services

LB 268 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to increase reimbursement rates for providers of developmental disability services starting in fiscal year 2025-26. The bill mandates a rate increase equal to 150% of the state minimum wage, with annual adjustments tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index. This directly affects service providers who support individuals with developmental disabilities by increasing their funding. The legislation aims to harmonize existing provisions and is funded using federal resources designated for this purpose.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates increased state spending on developmental disability services via higher provider reimbursement rates tied to minimum wage and CPI.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 150% of state minimum wage rate increase for developmental disability service providers, directly funding healthcare services for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 114: Change provisions relating to Department of Motor Vehicles fees

LB 114 increases the fee for driver record abstracts (copies of driving histories) from $3 to $21 per request. It also adjusts revenue distribution, directing 5.5% to the Department of Motor Vehicles fund, 11.5% to the General Fund, and 4% to the Operator's License Services Replacement Fund. The bill similarly raises vehicle record copy fees from $1 to $3.18 per copy and increases bulk vehicle record fees to $41.80 per thousand records. These changes affect anyone requesting DMV records, including individuals, employers, and law enforcement agencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases DMV fees to generate new revenue, directing 11.5% to General Fund and other funds. This strengthens state budget management through fee-based revenue streams.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 55: State intent regarding appropriations for medicaid rates for mental health providers

LB 55 allocates $1.5 million from the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Fund for FY2025-26 to maintain Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health providers who serve patients eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare (dual-eligible). It specifically ensures these providers - those not practicing in hospitals - are paid at current Medicaid rates for behavioral health services (Program 348) when Medicare rates are lower. The bill directly affects mental health providers serving dual-eligible Medicaid/Medicare patients by preventing reduced payments. Note: This bill was amended into LB261 on June 6, 2025, and is no longer active.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M from Hospital Quality Fund to maintain Medicaid rates for mental health providers, ensuring continued funding for essential services without rate cuts.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1.5M to maintain Medicaid rates for mental health providers serving dual-eligible patients, preventing rate reductions and ensuring continued access to behavioral health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 702: Adopt the Neighborhood Empowerment Act

LB 702 would establish the Neighborhood Empowerment Act, creating a program to provide direct grants to Nebraska neighborhood associations for community projects. Eligible associations could apply for up to $5 million annually (subject to funding) to fund initiatives like park upgrades, safety improvements, local business support, or community events - excluding salaries or political activities. Applicants must demonstrate resident participation and submit annual reports on fund usage and community impact. The program prioritizes historically underserved communities and requires unused funds to be returned to the state treasury.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via grants for community projects, directly increasing government spending on neighborhood initiatives within the budget framework.95% confidence

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signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 293A: Appropriation Bill

This bill allocates $266,358 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $272,186 for fiscal year 2026-27 from Nebraska's General Fund to the Department of Labor's Program 194. The funds are specifically designated to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 293 (the parent bill, introduced earlier in the same session). The bill also sets annual limits of $179,108 for salaries/per diems in 2025-26 and $184,482 in 2026-27 for these appropriations. It is a funding measure with no policy changes of its own.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates specific funds to Department of Labor program, directly supporting budget allocation without policy changes per fiscal management guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 705: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act, provide for regulation of medical cannabis, and adopt the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Justice Act and the Cannabis Conviction Clean Slate Act

LB 705 updates Nebraska's medical cannabis laws by expanding patient access, regulating the industry, and addressing past convictions. It allows qualified patients to possess up to five ounces of cannabis, defines key terms (like "caregiver" and "cannabis product"), and imposes a special sales tax on medical cannabis sales - revenue from which will fund specific programs. The bill also prohibits open cannabis containers in vehicles, removes medical cannabis from marijuana tax categories, and adopts the Cannabis Conviction Clean Slate Act to expunge eligible past cannabis convictions. These changes directly affect medical cannabis patients, caregivers, dispensaries, and individuals with prior cannabis-related criminal records.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes special sales tax on medical cannabis with revenue funding specific programs, directly supporting budget allocation and fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncludes Cannabis Conviction Clean Slate Act to expunge past cannabis convictions, reducing barriers for affected individuals and advancing criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands medical cannabis patient access (up to 5oz), regulates industry, and funds programs via sales tax - directly advancing healthcare access and patient rights under medical treatment framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Drug Policy

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