Housing

LB 266 prohibits local governments in Nebraska (cities, counties, and their agencies) from passing any ordinances that would impose rent controls on private rental properties. The bill defines "ordinance" broadly to include local laws, rules, or regulations, and states such restrictions are null and void if enacted. Exceptions allow local governments to adopt ordinances aimed at increasing affordable housing supply through land-use rules or voluntary private programs where property owners contractually agree to rent restrictions. This law overrides local home rule charters and became effective upon the governor's approval on April 7, 2025.

Nebraska's LB 21 adopts the Uniform Unlawful Restrictions in Land Records Act to remove discriminatory property restrictions from land records. It directly affects property owners and homeowners' associations (HOAs) holding restrictions based on race, religion, sex, or other protected characteristics that violate state or federal law. The bill creates a streamlined process: owners can submit amendments to remove unlawful restrictions from their own property, while HOA governing bodies must remove such restrictions within 90 days of a member request without requiring a member vote. Amendments must be recorded in land records with specific language clarifying they only remove unlawful restrictions, not valid ones, and do not affect property conveyances.

Nebraska's LB 231 adopts the Uniform Special Deposits Act, creating standardized rules for "special deposits" held by financial institutions (like banks, credit unions, or digital asset depositories). These deposits include funds for specific purposes such as escrow for property sales, tenant security deposits, or payment system guarantees, where beneficiaries (e.g., tenants or buyers) receive funds upon meeting agreed conditions. The law defines key terms like "contingency" (a specific event triggering payment) and ensures financial institutions must pay beneficiaries when conditions occur and they have knowledge of the event. This applies to all such deposits governed by an account agreement, regardless of the parties' connection to Nebraska, and clarifies when beneficiaries can claim funds without court intervention.

LB 182 amends Nebraska's Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act and Child Care Tax Credit Act to clarify how tax credits can be used. It allows developers of affordable housing projects to transfer or sell their allocated tax credits to other taxpayers (like investors), and expands permitted uses of child care tax credits beyond their original scope. The bill specifically updates rules for allocating credits to pass-through entities (like partnerships or LLCs) and ensures credits only apply to projects completed after 2018. These changes directly affect affordable housing developers and childcare providers seeking tax credit benefits.