Nebraska's LB 272 expands homestead tax exemptions to include veterans with 10-99% service-connected disabilities (previously only 100% disability was covered) and their eligible surviving spouses. It directly affects disabled veterans receiving VA compensation for partial disabilities (not total exemption under other sections), as well as their unremarried spouses or surviving spouses who remarried after age 57. The bill adds a new eligibility category (subsection 2(g)) effective January 1, 2026, requiring annual tax exemption applications with VA certification - except for every fifth year. This changes prior rules that limited exemptions to 100% disabled veterans or specific surviving spouse scenarios.
Nebraska's LB 234 redefines eligibility for "economic redevelopment areas" under the Urban Redevelopment Act. It sets specific criteria: an area qualifies if its unemployment rate is at least 150% of the state average and its poverty rate is 20% or higher, based on federal census data. The bill also includes adjacent census tracts meeting these standards. This change directly affects communities meeting these economic hardship thresholds, determining which areas can access redevelopment programs and funding. The bill amends existing law but does not create new programs or funding mechanisms.
LB 78, now law after being signed by the governor on May 20, 2025, creates a new housing assistance program for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. It establishes the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Housing Assistance Fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide rental payments, security deposits, and other housing-related support. The bill also modifies juvenile sentencing rules to require courts to consider if an offender was a victim of abuse or trafficking when deciding whether to impose imprisonment. These changes directly affect survivors seeking housing stability and offenders in juvenile court cases where victimization is relevant.
LB 267 allows tenants facing domestic violence to have the person who committed the violence removed from their rental agreement, whether that person is a roommate or not. To do this, tenants must provide landlords with a court order or certification of domestic violence, plus written notice with the perpetrator's name and a requested termination date. Landlords must then follow specific steps: change locks within 24 hours for non-roommates (or install new locks after removal for roommates), notify the tenant about access, and may recover court costs from the perpetrator. This law directly affects tenants experiencing domestic violence, landlords who must act promptly, and the perpetrators facing eviction.
LB 92, the Residential Tenant Clean Slate Act, allows tenants to have certain eviction records sealed from public view under specific conditions. It directly affects tenants who were evicted for reasons like nonpayment during the 2020-2021 pandemic emergency, wrongful eviction, or if their case was dismissed or reversed. Key provisions require courts to automatically seal records upon dismissal of an eviction case, and allow tenants to petition for sealing if they meet criteria like a reversed judgment or a minor defendant. Once sealed, landlords cannot consider the eviction in housing applications, and tenants can deny the incident occurred in job or housing screenings. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to all eviction cases regardless of when they occurred.
LB 101 amends Nebraska's landlord-tenant law to guarantee tenants the right to a jury trial in eviction cases. It prohibits landlords from including rental agreement clauses that waive tenants' legal rights (including jury trial rights) or require tenants to pay landlord attorney fees. The bill requires courts to inform defendants of their jury trial option at first appearance and mandates that eviction cases seeking possession be scheduled for trial within 10-14 days if tried without a jury. This directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords initiating eviction proceedings under Nebraska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
Nebraska bill LB 223 amends the state's Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's lawful source of income. It specifically protects tenants and buyers who receive government assistance like Social Security, child support, housing vouchers (e.g., Section 8), or public housing benefits. The bill adds "lawful source of income" to existing protected categories (such as race or disability) under Section 20-318, making it illegal for landlords to refuse housing or impose different terms solely because of these income sources. This change directly affects housing providers and renters relying on public assistance programs.
LB 469 requires Nebraska landlords to include a standardized form in all residential eviction notices starting February 1, 2026. The form, developed by the State Court Administrator and posted online, must provide tenants with clear information about legal assistance, financial resources, and how to report housing discrimination. This bill directly affects landlords who serve eviction notices and tenants facing eviction proceedings. It mandates a specific, accessible resource tool to help tenants navigate housing disputes under Nebraska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
LB 506 requires landlords in Nebraska to disclose radon-related information to tenants. Landlords must provide copies of radon test results showing hazards (4+ picocuries per liter) and a standardized disclosure form explaining radon risks and mitigation options at lease application or upon tenant request. Tenants can conduct their own radon tests during tenancy; if results show a hazard, they may terminate the lease without penalty (within 90 days) or pay for mitigation (with rent deductions if landlord consents). Landlords cannot withhold security deposits for radon testing or mitigation, though they may retain deposits if tenants install systems without consent. The law applies to leases signed on or after its effective date.
LB 17 prohibits Nebraska residential landlords from charging certain fees, such as application fees when no units are available or for inconsistent pricing, and caps late fees at 5% of overdue rent or $50. It requires landlords to provide written receipts for all fees, disclose tenant background check details (including the reporting agency's contact info), and share consumer reports with applicants. The bill also mandates clear written itemization of all mandatory and optional fees in rental agreements, including their frequency and cancellation options. These changes directly affect landlords and tenants in Nebraska rental housing, aiming to increase transparency and limit unfair charges.
