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 924 changes how learning communities (groups of school districts collaborating on shared programs) can use property tax levies. It reduces the maximum allowable levy from 95 cents to just half a cent per $100 of taxable property valuation for specific purposes. The new levy funds elementary learning center facility leases, remodeling, and up to 50% of approved capital projects for focus schools or programs. This directly affects learning communities and their member school districts by restricting and redirecting their funding authority. The bill repeals the previous 95-cent levy provision and aligns with updated funding mechanisms under Section 79-2111.
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.
LB 31 requires Nebraska school districts to adopt policies governing the use of student monitoring and tracking technology (like digital hall passes, cameras, or anti-vaping devices) by May 2026. It mandates schools to inventory all such tools, disclose vendor details, costs, data practices, and privacy protections, and allow parents to opt their children out. The bill also requires schools to explain data sharing with law enforcement and ensure accommodations for students with disabilities. These policies must be posted online and align with a model policy developed by the State Board of Education by December 2025.
LB 417 establishes the Nebraska Promise Program, providing tuition waivers for eligible Nebraska residents attending University of Nebraska campuses or Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. It covers up to 15 credit hours per semester after federal grants and scholarships are applied, targeting students with family incomes under $65,000 annually and requiring a 2.5 GPA. The bill also extends similar tuition waivers to community colleges (up to 2 years) and state colleges (up to 4 years) for qualifying low-income students. Funding for these waivers comes from a new College Promise Fund, with reimbursements distributed monthly from the General Fund to institutions after annual certification. The program requires institutions to verify eligibility and maintain a standardized appeals process through the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.
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.
