Housing (Community Development) in Nebraska

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 988: Change provisions of the Community Development Law

LB 988 amends Nebraska's Community Development Law to update definitions and rules for designating blighted areas and using tax-increment financing. It specifically redefines "blighted area" with new criteria, including unemployment rates, building ages, and affordability requirements (e.g., requiring at least 20% affordable housing). The bill also sets strict limits: cities cannot designate more than 35% of their area as blighted (or 50% for smaller cities), with exceptions for defense sites or designated "extremely blighted" areas. These changes aim to standardize redevelopment planning and limit tax-increment financing use while harmonizing existing law sections.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Property Development

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1168: Authorize the issuance of conduit revenue bonds under the Community Development Law

LB 1168 amends Nebraska's Community Development Law to explicitly authorize cities and redevelopment authorities to issue "conduit revenue bonds" under specific taxpayer agreements. These bonds allow private entities (like developers) to fund redevelopment projects while cities use tax increment financing, with private parties repaying bond costs through agreed-upon payments. The bill primarily affects cities pursuing redevelopment in designated "extremely blighted areas" under Sections 18-2101.02 and 18-2147, streamlining how they structure financing for projects like housing or commercial development. Key changes include updating bond issuance rules in Section 18-2124 to include conduit bonds and harmonizing related reporting requirements in Sections 18-2101.02 and 18-2117.01.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Community Development Housing Finance Property Development

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LR 312CA: Constitutional amendment to authorize cities and villages to incur indebtedness for residential development projects and pledge taxes for such indebtedness and to change provisions relating to redevelopment projects

This constitutional amendment (LR 312CA) would allow Nebraska cities and villages to borrow money for residential development or redevelopment projects in designated blighted areas. It permits municipalities to issue bonds or loans without being restricted by existing charters and to pledge excess property taxes from the project area (above pre-development values) to repay the debt. The tax pledges would last up to 15 years for residential projects or 20 years for redevelopment (potentially extended under specific high-unemployment/poverty conditions). The amendment requires voter approval at the November 2026 general election and would change existing constitutional provisions governing such projects.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Community Development Housing Finance Property Development

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 850: Authorize the use of economic development programs for certain construction or rehabilitation of housing in cities of the metropolitan class and cities of the primary class under the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act

This bill (LB 850) amends Nebraska's Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act to explicitly allow cities of metropolitan class (over 50,000 residents) and primary class (20,000-50,000 residents) to use existing economic development funds for housing construction or rehabilitation. It specifically authorizes these funds for housing projects targeting low/moderate-income residents, workforce housing plans, or affordable housing action plans (as defined in Section 19-5505). The bill updates definitions to include housing construction/rehabilitation as a qualifying business activity for these cities. This change expands current allowable uses of economic development programs without creating new funding. The bill focuses on streamlining how cities can address housing needs through existing local economic development tools.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Housing Finance

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1129: Change provisions of the Community Development Law

LB 1129 updates Nebraska's Community Development Law to modernize how cities address blighted areas. It redefines key terms like "affordable housing" (now including workforce housing and housing for households earning under 150% of county median income) and "area of operation" (expanding to include land outside city limits under specific conditions). The bill changes property acquisition rules, eliminates outdated provisions about land outside city boundaries, and requires expedited review for certain redevelopment plans. These changes directly affect cities, redevelopment authorities, and property owners in designated blighted areas.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Zoning

died · Nebraska · Legislature Feb 12, 2026

LB 1156: Adopt the Disinvested Community Development Incentive Tax Credit Act

Nebraska's LB 1156 creates a tax credit program to encourage private investment in economically distressed communities. It allows taxpayers to claim a 50% nonrefundable income tax credit for cash contributions to qualifying organizations (like community development banks or innovation hubs) that fund projects in designated distressed areas. These funds support affordable commercial space, workforce training, site preparation, and small developer projects, with annual limits of $26.5 million for tax credits and $20 million for supplemental grants. The program targets small developers and underrepresented businesses in neighborhoods facing high unemployment and poverty, aiming to expand local economic opportunities without direct public funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Community Development Property Development Unemployment Workforce Development Tags Economic Development

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1114: Adopt the Community Improvement District Act and the New Taxpayer Recruitment Grant Act, authorize community improvement districts to levy property taxes, and change provisions related to the Community Development Law, the Municipal Inland Port Authority Act, extraterritorial jurisdiction, sanitary and improvement districts, housing authorities, housing agencies, the Nebraska Housing Agency Act, and the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act

Nebraska's LB 1114 amends eligibility rules for expedited review of redevelopment plans under the Community Development Law. It requires projects to be located in blighted areas within cities of under 100,000 population, involve repair/rehabilitation of existing structures (at least 25 or 60 years old) or vacant lots (at least 25 or 60 years platted), and meet specific property value limits ($350,000 for single-family, $1.5M for multi-family/commercial, $10M for historic properties). The bill streamlines the process by mandating a standardized application form, requiring city approval within 30 days, and allowing a single fund for multiple projects. This primarily affects small-city redevelopment projects in designated blighted areas seeking faster permitting without full environmental or zoning reviews.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development Zoning

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 234: Redefine economic redevelopment area under the Urban Redevelopment Act

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.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Community Development

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 626: Authorize redevelopment projects involving affordable housing under the Community Development Law

LB 626 amends Nebraska's Community Development Law to streamline how cities declare areas as "extremely blighted" for redevelopment projects involving affordable housing. It requires cities to conduct studies, hold public hearings, and get planning commission recommendations before declaring an area blighted - ensuring transparency and community input. The bill also sets a 25-year minimum validity for such designations, linking them to tax benefits and affordable housing incentives under existing laws (like tax credits in §77-2715.07). This procedural change directly affects Nebraska cities planning affordable housing projects, though the bill was amended into LB288 and did not advance further.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Property Development

All housing bills