This bill allocates $1.65 million in state funds to the Nebraska Department of Education to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 1050 over the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 fiscal years. The money comes from the General Fund and is restricted from being used for employee salaries or travel expenses. An emergency clause is included to allow the bill to take effect immediately upon approval. The legislation directly affects the state education department and any programs funded under LB 1050.
LB 1050 amends Nebraska's Reading Improvement Act to require students in kindergarten through third grade to meet a reading proficiency threshold before advancing to fourth grade. School districts must administer approved reading assessments three times annually, identifying students scoring below the threshold as having a "reading deficiency" that prevents grade advancement until proficiency is achieved. The bill establishes specific performance thresholds for assessments and creates a test-based portfolio option by January 2027 to demonstrate grade-level reading mastery. This directly affects K-3 students in Nebraska public schools, requiring them to demonstrate grade-level reading skills before moving to fourth grade.
LB 1022 would eliminate the human relations training requirement for educators seeking teaching certificates, special services permits, or administrative credentials in Nebraska schools. Currently, applicants must complete training covering topics like recognizing biases, promoting inclusivity, and understanding diverse cultures. The bill amends state education laws (sections 79-807, 79-808, and others) to remove this requirement and the associated definition of "human relations training." This directly affects educators pursuing or renewing their certification under Nebraska's current system.
Nebraska's LB 1086 changes eligibility requirements for community college gap assistance, directly affecting students seeking financial support to cover costs not covered by other funding. The bill replaces existing rules with a new standard requiring applicants to demonstrate capacity to: complete an eligible program, earn a credential, secure full-time employment, and maintain that employment. It also explicitly excludes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training benefits from eligibility calculations. This policy change aims to ensure gap assistance fills true financial gaps after other public or private funding sources are exhausted.
This bill (LB 538A) allocates $138,227 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $137,431 for 2026-27 from Nebraska’s General Fund to the State Department of Education’s Program 25. It provides funding specifically to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 538 (the parent bill), which is not described in this text. The bill sets limits on salary and per diem expenses ($66,197 for 2025-26 and $68,348 for 2026-27). As a funding measure, it does not create new policy but enables the execution of another bill’s provisions.
LB 428 requires Nebraska school districts to notify parents or guardians 15 days before administering surveys asking students about sensitive topics like sexual health, mental health, medical issues, substance use (drugs/vape/alcohol/tobacco), or political/religious views. Parents gain the right to review surveys in person, receive a copy, or opt their child out of participation. The bill specifically prohibits schools from surveying students in kindergarten through sixth grade about sexual health. It applies directly to all public school districts and families with K-12 students in Nebraska.
LB 605 requires Nebraska school boards to create policies governing transgender student participation in school-sponsored extracurricular activities and athletic associations. The bill mandates that transgender students (defined as having a gender identity differing from their sex assigned at birth) submit written requests with parental involvement, provide medical documentation (including hormone therapy records for female-identifying students), and undergo school board review to confirm eligibility. Key provisions require documentation proving consistent gender identity, medical verification of hormone therapy or surgery for athletic participation, and proof that transgender female students do not possess physical advantages over biological females. The bill was introduced in January 2025, referred to the Education Committee, and withdrawn on March 11, 2025, before moving further.
LB 296A is a funding bill that allocates $0 from the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support Legislative Bill 296. It specifies that total expenditures for salaries and per diems from these funds cannot exceed $160,197 for 2025-26 or $165,403 for 2026-27. The bill directly affects the State Department of Education by providing a procedural funding mechanism for another legislative act. This is a technical appropriations measure with no actual monetary allocation, solely establishing budgetary parameters for a related bill.
