Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Mar 3, 2026

LB 877: Designate certain substances as controlled substances under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

LB 877 amends Nebraska's Uniform Controlled Substances Act to add specific substances to the list of controlled drugs and correct spelling errors in the existing schedule. This change will subject these substances to the same legal restrictions as other controlled drugs under state law, affecting law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals who possess or distribute them. The bill updates the law's definitions and schedules to include these new substances. The exact list of substances designated is not provided in the bill text excerpt.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds substances to controlled list, expanding criminalization and enforcement scope without reform indicators90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Mar 3, 2026

LB 751: Require a study to improve reporting and investigation of missing Black women and children

Nebraska's LB 751 requires the Nebraska State Patrol to conduct a study aimed at improving how missing Black women and children are reported and investigated within the state. The study will involve collaborating with the Commission on African American Affairs, law enforcement partners, community organizations, and the U.S. Department of Justice to identify barriers, assess resource needs, and develop strategies for better reporting and investigation. The State Patrol must submit a report by June 1, 2027, containing data on missing Black women and children, analysis of existing barriers, and specific recommendations for policy or resource improvements. This bill directly affects Black women and children in Nebraska who go missing, as well as the state agencies responsible for their safety and investigation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAddresses systemic gaps in missing persons investigations for Black women/children, aligning with civil rights protection and criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Mar 3, 2026

LB 741: Change the membership of the Racial Profiling Advisory Committee and the Nebraska Children's Commission

This bill changes membership requirements for two existing state committees. For the Racial Profiling Advisory Committee, it adds specific representatives from police associations (Fraternal Order of Police, Sheriffs Association), civil rights groups (ACLU, NAACP), labor (AFL-CIO), and legal organizations (Nebraska State Bar Association), while keeping existing roles for commission directors. For the Nebraska Children's Commission, it adds a representative from a federally recognized Nebraska Indian tribe (selected from a list by the Commission on Indian Affairs) and an African American Affairs representative (selected from a list by that commission). These changes adjust who serves on the committees but do not create new policies or directly affect the public. The bill amends existing statutes governing both committees' composition.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds civil rights groups (ACLU, NAACP) and police associations to racial profiling committee, promoting accountability oversight in law enforcement practices.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Feb 10, 2026

LB 518: Change requirements for a report by the Department of Correctional Services and Board of Parole

LB 518 amends Nebraska law to change reporting requirements for the Department of Correctional Services and Board of Parole. The bill requires these agencies to submit an annual electronic report by February 1 detailing: (1) the percentage of inmates released without supervision, including their offense types and risk assessments; (2) data on parole revocations and hearings; and (3) recommendations to reduce releases without supervision. Key mechanisms include mandating at least nine months of supervision for parolees and requiring risk assessments to inform release decisions. The report aims to provide transparency on recidivism, cost savings from parole, and factors leading to unsupervised releases. This directly affects parole decisions and oversight for inmates completing sentences in Nebraska correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires data on unsupervised releases and mandates recommendations to reduce them, promoting data-driven reform to lower recidivism and improve oversight in corrections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 78: Adopt the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Assistance Act, change provisions relating to sentencing juveniles, and change the rate and allocation of the documentary stamp tax

LB 78, now law after being signed by the governor on May 20, 2025, creates a new housing assistance program for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. It establishes the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Housing Assistance Fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide rental payments, security deposits, and other housing-related support. The bill also modifies juvenile sentencing rules to require courts to consider if an offender was a victim of abuse or trafficking when deciding whether to impose imprisonment. These changes directly affect survivors seeking housing stability and offenders in juvenile court cases where victimization is relevant.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modifies documentary stamp tax allocation to fund new housing assistance program for survivors, directly advancing budget/tax funding for public services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates housing assistance for domestic violence/sex trafficking survivors and modifies juvenile sentencing to consider victim status, advancing victim support and rehabilitative sentencing reforms.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Housing Assistance Fund to provide rental payments and housing support, directly funding housing assistance for vulnerable populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 530: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle homicide, motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child, tampering with an electronic monitoring device, controlled substances violations, adult and juvenile probation, detention of juveniles, motorists passing stopped vehicles or vulnerable road users, and speed limits

LB 530 amends penalties for several offenses, changing violations of specific sections to Class I misdemeanors. It directly affects individuals convicted of motor vehicle homicide (including cases involving unborn children), tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certain controlled substances violations, and improper passing of stopped vehicles or vulnerable road users. The bill modifies existing law by specifying that these offenses will now carry the penalty classification of a Class I misdemeanor, rather than a higher or unspecified level. This change affects sentencing outcomes for these specific violations, without altering the underlying prohibitions or creating new offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDowngrades serious offenses like motor vehicle homicide to Class I misdemeanors, weakening accountability for violent crimes.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases penalties for dangerous driving behaviors including improper passing of stopped vehicles/vulnerable road users and speed limits, directly enhancing transportation safety standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 48: Establish a Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Center Pilot Program

LB 48 establishes a five-year pilot program for Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Centers in Nebraska's metropolitan cities. These centers will provide free, 24/7 support services - including mental health counseling, family support, educational resources, and trauma-informed care - to youth and families at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. To qualify, centers must partner with community organizations, meet quality standards through a formal designation process, and track outcomes to measure success in preventing justice system involvement. Two centers will be designated under this program, focusing on addressing root causes like family dynamics and mental health through community-driven solutions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents juvenile justice system entry via free support services (mental health, trauma care), aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and strengthen community-based alternatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExplicitly includes mental health counseling as core service in pilot centers, advancing access to mental health care for at-risk youth.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 2, 2025

LB 499: Change membership provisions relating to the Crime Victim's Reparations Committee

LB 499 amends Nebraska's Crime Victim's Reparations Committee membership rules to ensure more targeted representation. It requires the Governor to appoint five public members: two representing charitable organizations serving victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, or domestic abuse; two with direct experience supporting victims of those crimes; and one victim themselves. The bill also establishes staggered two-year terms for initial appointments before standard four-year terms begin. This directly affects the committee's composition and ensures members have specific expertise relevant to victim support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires victim and service provider representation on reparations committee, enhancing victim support within criminal justice system per reform indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature May 21, 2025

LB 704: Change provisions relating to the review and modification of an incarcerated parent’s child support order

This bill requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to automatically review a noncustodial parent's child support order within 15 business days if they are incarcerated for more than 180 days. The department must notify both parents, request financial information within 30 days, and complete the review within 120 days. If the review finds no need to reduce support, the incarcerated parent is granted a conference to discuss the findings. The bill directly affects incarcerated parents paying child support, their children, and the state agency managing these orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdjusts child support for incarcerated parents to reduce financial barriers, aiding reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Nebraska · Legislature May 15, 2025

LB 640: Change calculation of a sentence reduction for good behavior during confinement in a jail

LB 640 modifies Nebraska's law (section 47-502) governing sentence reductions for good behavior in city or county jails. It changes how the reduction applies by allowing inmates to earn one day off their total remaining sentence - covering all consecutive sentences - for each day they maintain good conduct after the first 15 days of confinement. This directly affects individuals incarcerated in local jails, including those serving sentences for parole or probation violations. The bill repeals the original section and clarifies that the reduction applies to the "aggregate of [the inmate's] remaining term" rather than individual sentences.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModifies sentence reduction to allow 1 day off per day of good conduct after 15 days, incentivizing rehabilitation and reducing unnecessary incarceration - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice