This bill appropriates $0 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1 for fiscal year 2026-27 from the Behavioral Health Services Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services to support Legislative Bill 901. The funds are restricted to non-salary expenses and cannot be used for permanent or temporary employee salaries or per diems. Declared an emergency, the bill takes effect immediately upon passage and is part of a legislative package addressing behavioral health services funding.
This legislative resolution directs the Nebraska Health and Human Services Committee to conduct an interim study on whether universal mental health screenings should be implemented in public schools. The study will examine the feasibility, effectiveness, and necessary safeguards for such a program, including workforce capacity, parental consent, student privacy, and equitable access to follow-up services. It will also analyze current mental health supports in schools, review evidence-based screening models from other states, and estimate the fiscal costs and potential funding sources. The committee is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature after completing the study.
This legislative resolution directs Nebraska's Health and Human Services Committee to conduct an interim study on maternal depression in the state. The study will gather data on mental health rates among mothers, review how maternal mental health affects children and families, and examine current screening methods and service availability. It will also compare Nebraska's approach with other states and assess whether additional funding is needed to support potential policy changes. The committee will submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature after completing the review.
This legislative resolution designates May 2026 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Nebraska to highlight the importance of mental health support for women before, during, and after pregnancy. The bill directly affects mothers, families, and healthcare providers by formally recognizing the need to address perinatal mood, anxiety, and depression disorders that affect many new parents. It expresses legislative support for individuals diagnosed with these conditions and aims to raise awareness about the stigma and lack of information surrounding maternal mental health. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the issue and its treatment options.
This legislative resolution directs the Nebraska Health and Human Services Committee to conduct an interim study on play therapy access for children and families in the state. The study will examine evidence on play therapy effectiveness, current regulations, billing challenges, required credentials, and how other states handle this mental health intervention. The committee will review potential policy changes and determine if additional state funding is needed, then submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature. This measure focuses on gathering information to inform future decisions rather than implementing immediate policy changes.
LB 858 allocates $2.1 million annually from state General Funds to seven specific federally qualified community health centers in Nebraska (including Charles Drew Health Center and OneWorld Community Health Centers) for general services, with each center receiving $300,000. It also provides $1.4 million for dental services ($200,000 per center) and $750,000 from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund distributed proportionally based on each center's previous year's uninsured client count. An additional $500,000 from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund is allocated for FY2026-27 to expand services like behavioral health or dental care, with funding tied to the Uniform Data System Report. The bill directs these funds to increase health care access through existing or new services, locations, equipment, or capital projects at the seven centers.
Nebraska's LB 866 amends the state's opioid recovery fund to redirect specific annual transfers to address the opioid crisis. It allocates $1.125 million to first responder behavioral health training, $400,000 to overdose review teams, and $3 million to opioid prevention and treatment programs. The bill also creates a new Drug Detection and Prevention Cash Fund (administered by the Attorney General) to support law enforcement efforts targeting fentanyl, including detection technology, task forces, and public education. Funds must be used strictly for these purposes, with 25% going to prevention/treatment and 75% to infrastructure. The bill directly affects first responders, health services, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives across Nebraska.
LB 825 requires licensed mental health practitioners in Nebraska to complete at least two hours of domestic abuse training every two years. It also mandates that individuals seeking provisional mental health licenses must complete three hours of specific domestic abuse training covering screening tools, risk indicators, trauma-informed care, and referrals. The training must be provided by qualified instructors with relevant experience and additional certification. This applies to all licensed practitioners and provisional license holders under the Mental Health Practice Act, effective January 1, 2027. The bill defines domestic abuse using Nebraska's existing legal definition from section 42-903.
LB 744 amends Nebraska's Workers' Compensation Act and Critical Incident Stress Management Act to include public safety communications personnel - such as 911 dispatchers and emergency communication center staff - within the definition of "first responder." This change allows these workers to seek workers' compensation for mental health injuries, like PTSD, without needing to prove a physical injury, under the same rules that apply to police and firefighters. The bill extends existing eligibility requirements, including mental health screenings upon hiring and annual resilience training, to cover these personnel.
LB 1040 amends Nebraska's Mental Health Commitment Act to allow family members, close friends, or guardians (defined as "interested parties") to file petitions seeking civil commitment for individuals they believe are mentally ill and dangerous. The bill updates the definition of "mentally ill and dangerous" to explicitly include risks of harm to self (e.g., recent suicide threats), harm to others (e.g., violent acts), or property damage, requiring petitions to detail specific behaviors. It adds a penalty for filing petitions in bad faith and clarifies procedures for mental health boards and county attorneys handling these cases. This change expands who can initiate commitment proceedings while setting clearer standards for when civil commitment is warranted.
