LB 1207 requires Nebraska school districts to provide full-time school employees with five paid mental health leave days each school fiscal year, at their regular salary. Employees cannot be asked for medical documentation to use this leave, and the days do not reduce other accrued leave (like vacation or sick time). The bill takes immediate effect upon approval due to an emergency declaration, directly impacting school employees across the state.
Nebraska's LB 1054 appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the State Department of Education. This funding creates a grant program to help school districts, educational service units, and approved private or parochial schools purchase cybersecurity products and services. The bill directly affects K-12 schools across Nebraska by providing financial support for cybersecurity measures. The key provision is the allocation of specific funds for grants, not general funding, to address cybersecurity needs in educational institutions.
LB 970 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to submit a state plan amendment seeking federal approval to add early literacy promotion and intervention services to well-child visits under the existing Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. This change would directly affect children under 21 covered by Nebraska Medicaid who receive routine well-child checkups. The bill mandates that these visits include screenings and interventions for early literacy development, integrating this service into the current EPSDT framework. The key mechanism is the submission of a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for approval. This policy change would expand the scope of preventive services provided during standard pediatric visits for Medicaid-eligible children.
LB 1201 creates a grant program for Nebraska elementary school classrooms to provide high-quality, age-appropriate books and monthly parent engagement materials. It prioritizes schools with high poverty rates (40%+ students), low academic performance, or significant reading deficiencies among K-5 students. The program, funded with up to $1 million annually from the Education Future Fund, requires book distribution in English and Spanish, classroom tracking of book usage, and monthly materials for caregivers. Schools must report on outcomes by December 2028 using reading assessment data. This directly affects participating elementary schools and their students, focusing on literacy support through classroom resources and family engagement.
Nebraska's LB 1241 requires school boards and private school authorities to verify employment histories for applicants in roles involving regular student contact. Schools must obtain written authorization from applicants to contact their past employers (over the last 20 years) and confirm whether applicants faced allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or related disciplinary actions. Applicants who provide false information or withhold required details face civil penalties up to $500 or denial of employment. The bill mandates schools to review these records before hiring and allows immediate termination if misconduct history emerges post-hiring, excluding grievance procedures. This directly affects all school applicants and school employers across Nebraska's public, private, denominational, and parochial schools.
LB 1008 amends Nebraska's School District Property Tax Relief Act to revise the minimum annual funding levels for property tax relief. It sets specific minimum relief amounts for tax years 2024 through 2030 (e.g., $750 million for 2024, $902 million for 2030) and establishes a formula for future years: prior year's minimum plus the percentage increase in statewide property values (as determined by the Department of Revenue) plus $75 million. The bill also adds a provision requiring funds transferred to the relief fund under Section 77-4602 to be included in the annual relief calculation. This amendment replaces the original funding structure in Section 77-7305 of the Revised Statutes.
This bill amends Nebraska's Site and Building Development Fund to update eligible activities for financial assistance. It adds new provisions allowing grants for infrastructure upgrades at military installations (like nuclear command facilities), $2 million grants to specific cities for revitalizing former university properties to support foster youth, and matching funds for inland port authorities. The bill also expands eligibility to include golf facility construction in metropolitan cities and clarifies requirements for entities receiving assistance. These changes directly affect cities, counties, military partners, and economic development organizations seeking funding for industrial sites, infrastructure, and community projects.
Nebraska's legislature passed Legislative Resolution 296 urging the U.S. President and Congress to permanently extend higher meal reimbursements for childcare centers under the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. Specifically, it requests making permanent the 2022 Keep Kids Fed Act provisions that provide family day care homes with Tier I reimbursement rates (instead of lower Tier II) and an additional 10 cents per meal. This would directly support Nebraska's 1,283 participating childcare programs serving 23,695 low-income children, ensuring continued access to nutritious meals after current federal funding expired in 2023. The resolution has no binding effect but formally requests federal action.
Nebraska's LB 1194, the Real Food Act, establishes state dietary guidelines prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods for public health. It requires state agencies (Health, Agriculture, Education) and programs like school lunches to update educational materials by 2027 to align with specific food recommendations: emphasizing whole proteins (including animal and plant sources), whole-food fats (like nuts and avocados), colorful produce, full-fat dairy without added sugar, and fiber-rich whole grains over refined carbs. The bill directs agencies to launch public awareness campaigns and partner with communities to promote these guidelines, while highlighting Nebraska-produced foods. It directly affects state nutrition programs, schools, and healthcare services that serve residents. The guidelines become effective January 1, 2027.
LB 1182 establishes a $50,000 annual minimum base salary for all full-time certified teachers in Nebraska public schools starting in the 2027-28 school year, applying equally regardless of experience or education level. Beginning in 2029-30, this minimum salary will adjust annually based on changes in Nebraska’s state General Fund receipts (with a minimum 0% increase), and the salary cannot decrease from the previous year. The bill also directs the state to transition to a block grant funding system for public education, replacing the current foundation aid structure, with quarterly payments to school districts starting July 2027 based on enrollment and the new teacher salary minimum. This affects all Nebraska public school districts and their certified teaching staff through direct salary requirements and funding changes.
