Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement) in Nebraska

in committee · Nebraska · Legislature Mar 30, 2026

LR 431: Interim study to examine best practices and policies implemented in other states to reduce domestic violence and improve outcomes for survivors

This legislative resolution directs the Judiciary Committee to conduct an interim study examining domestic violence prevention and support policies used in other states. The study will review best practices in areas such as law enforcement training, specialized court models, access to rural shelters, interagency coordination, data collection, and offender accountability measures. The committee will gather input from survivors, advocacy groups, law enforcement, and healthcare providers to inform its findings. Upon completion, the committee will submit a report with recommendations to the Legislative Council or the full Legislature for potential policy improvements in Nebraska.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1181A: Appropriation Bill

This bill allocates $50,000 from the Victim's Compensation Fund for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. The funds are designated for Program 206 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 1181, which was passed in the 2026 legislative session. The appropriation specifically prohibits using these funds for employee salaries or travel expenses, restricting them to other program-related costs. This measure provides financial resources to help carry out the provisions of the previously enacted LB 1181.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Appropriations Law Enforcement

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 909: Prohibit sexual abuse by a law enforcement officer

Nebraska's LB 909 creates a specific criminal offense for "sexual abuse by a law enforcement officer," directly affecting law enforcement officers who commit such acts and minors (ages 16-19) who are protected under the new definition. The bill amends multiple laws to add this offense to the list of sexual assault crimes, requiring offenders to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act. It updates victim protections and notification rules to include this specific abuse type, ensuring victims receive the same safeguards as those abused by others. The law harmonizes existing statutes to explicitly address police-perpetrated sexual abuse while maintaining consistent legal definitions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

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 Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1059: Prohibit certain conduct relating to mobile tracking devices and change penalties for stalking

LB 1059 prohibits installing or using mobile tracking devices on another person's property or to monitor their movement without their consent. It specifically bans tracking without consent, requiring removal after consent is revoked (e.g., if a protection order is issued or a spouse files for divorce). Exceptions include law enforcement use, court-ordered monitoring, parents tracking minor children under specific family circumstances, caregivers for vulnerable adults with medical certification, and private investigators acting in legitimate legal investigations. The bill directly affects individuals who might misuse tracking technology and aims to protect privacy by strengthening consent requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1039: Prohibit school resource officers and security guards from using corporal punishment

LB 1039 prohibits school resource officers and security guards in Nebraska public schools from administering corporal punishment to students. The bill requires schools to establish written agreements with these personnel that include mandatory 20-hour training on de-escalation, implicit bias, student rights, and trauma-informed practices. It also mandates schools to maintain records of student referrals to law enforcement and establish clear policies for notifying parents and advising students of their rights during questioning. The bill directly affects all K-12 schools employing resource officers or security guards, extending prohibitions on corporal punishment to these roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement K-12 Education School Safety

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 993: Provide a cause of action for deprivation of constitutional rights by a law enforcement officer, eliminate the defense of qualified immunity as prescribed, and change provisions of the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and State Tort Claims Act

LB 993 creates a new legal pathway for people in Nebraska to sue law enforcement officers who violate their constitutional rights (like freedom from unreasonable searches or excessive force). It eliminates "qualified immunity" (a defense that previously shielded officers from lawsuits) and requires public employers (like cities or counties) to cover legal costs for officers unless they acted maliciously. The bill also waives government immunity for these cases and exempts them from standard tort claims processes, allowing victims to seek damages for injuries, emotional harm, or loss of liberty within three years of the violation. This directly affects law enforcement officers, their employers, and Nebraskans whose rights were allegedly violated by police or correctional staff.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1020: Provide for and change offenses involving mobile tracking devices, stalking, unlawful intrusion, operation of unmanned aircraft systems, and swatting and eliminate the requirement that courts impose probation for Class IV felonies

This bill amends Nebraska law to address several criminal offenses. It prohibits installing mobile tracking devices on others' property without consent (with limited exceptions for parents, law enforcement, or business purposes), updates stalking penalties, restricts drone operations in sensitive areas requiring operator certification, and creates a new offense for "swatting" (false emergency reports) that mandates restitution. It also removes the mandatory probation requirement for Class IV felony convictions. The bill directly affects individuals using tracking technology, drone operators, and courts handling specific criminal cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Probation & Parole Emerging Technology

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 906: Prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings or disguises and require officers to wear appropriate identification

This bill requires Nebraska law enforcement officers on duty to wear clear identification displaying their name, badge number, and agency name, and prohibits them from wearing facial coverings or disguises that obscure their identity. It directly affects all state, local, tribal, and federal officers working in Nebraska during routine operations. Exceptions include covert operations, health protection (like masks for airborne diseases), and safety gear for smoke or toxins. The law aims to improve public trust and officer accountability by ensuring visible identification during interactions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LR 299CA: Constitutional amendment to create the Nebraska Board of Commutation and transfer powers of the Board of Pardons

This Nebraska legislative resolution (LR 299CA) proposes a constitutional amendment to create a new Nebraska Board of Commutation, transferring the power to reduce prison sentences (commutations) from the current Board of Pardons to this new board. The amendment specifies the Board of Commutation would consist of seven members appointed by the Governor (nonpartisan) and confirmed by the Legislature, requiring diverse expertise including mental health, restorative justice, criminal law, law enforcement, and lived experience with incarceration or victimization. It would not affect the existing powers of the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State regarding pardons, fines, or reprieves. This change requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

All criminal justice bills