Labor & Employment

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 522: Change provisions relating to the date when compensation begins and provide for cost-of-living adjustments under the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act

LB 522 amends Nebraska's Workers' Compensation Act to change when injury compensation begins and add automatic cost-of-living adjustments. It removes the three-day waiting period for most injuries (compensation now starts immediately after the first day of disability, not day four) and requires annual adjustments to weekly benefits based on inflation. This directly affects injured workers receiving compensation and employers covered under the state's workers' compensation system. The bill does not change existing benefit rates or injury classifications but ensures weekly payments keep pace with rising costs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves 3-day waiting period for workers' comp and adds automatic COLA, directly advancing worker financial protection under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 440: Adopt the Education Leave and Support Act

LB 440, the Education Leave and Support Act, creates a state fund to help school districts cover costs when teachers take federal medical leave (FMLA). It requires school districts to collect a 0.35% payroll fee from certificated teachers' wages (with employers matching this amount), which funds the State Education Leave Fund. This fund reimburses school districts for hiring substitutes during the first six weeks of a teacher's FMLA leave, ensuring teachers don’t need to use personal or sick leave during that period. Any surplus funds over 20% of annual needs will transfer to an Education Retention Fund to address teacher shortages and support professional development. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, with reimbursements starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 0.35% payroll tax to fund education leave program, directly allocating state resources to support public education budgets and teacher retention.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state fund to reimburse districts for substitute costs during teacher FMLA leave, directly supporting educators' medical leave needs and preventing personal/sick leave depletion.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds teacher medical leave (FMLA) through payroll fees, ensuring access to healthcare leave without personal/sick day use, directly supporting healthcare access for educators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFund reimburses districts for substitute costs during teacher FMLA leave, preventing use of personal/sick leave - directly protects workers' rights and benefits under Labor & Employment95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Paid Leave

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 442: Establish a state child care subsidy program

LB 442 establishes a Nebraska state child care subsidy program to assist families with incomes between 130% and 400% of the federal poverty level. The program will provide sliding-scale payments where families pay no more than 39% of their gross income for child care, based on a fixed-rate schedule updated annually. It is funded by a 0.52% payroll tax (39% employer, 13% employee) and includes specific provisions for qualified apprentice workers and child care providers. The program begins October 1, 2026, with eligibility determined by income and provider background checks.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds child care subsidies via new 0.52% payroll tax (39% employer, 13% employee), advancing state budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides child care subsidies for working families (enabling employment) and includes specific provisions for qualified apprentice workers, a direct employment support.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 30: Provide for an income tax adjustment for income received from overtime compensation

Nebraska bill LB 30 would exclude income earned from overtime compensation from state taxable income. This change directly affects Nebraska residents who receive overtime pay, as it removes this specific income source from their taxable base. The bill amends Section 77-2716 of the state tax code to create a subtraction for overtime earnings, meaning workers would pay state income tax only on regular wages, not extra overtime pay. This is a concrete policy change to reduce the tax burden on overtime income, without altering other tax provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes overtime pay from taxable income, reducing tax burden for workers - direct tax relief aligning with support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExcludes overtime pay from taxable income, increasing workers' disposable income without reducing benefits or protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Labor Standards

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 551: Prohibit tenure at certain postsecondary educational institutions and require a written policy regarding terms and conditions of employment

This bill prohibits new academic tenure appointments for faculty at Nebraska's public universities (University of Nebraska system), state colleges (Nebraska State Colleges), and community colleges. It requires each governing board to adopt a written policy covering dismissal grounds (like performance or budget issues), annual faculty evaluations, and minimum professional standards. The policy must address how faculty employment terms and conditions are managed, replacing the previous tenure system for new hires. This directly affects faculty members at these public institutions by changing their employment security and review processes.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits new faculty tenure, replacing job security with performance-based dismissal policies, directly restricting academic freedom and faculty benefits.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits new faculty tenure, weakening job security protections for academic staff, a core labor right under employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 313: Change provisions under the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act relating to subrogation of third-party claims and the distribution of proceeds in the settlement of third-party claims

This bill amends Nebraska's Workers' Compensation Act to clarify how settlement money from third-party injury claims is distributed. It directly affects injured workers, their families, employers, and workers' compensation insurers. Key provisions require that after deducting recovery costs: one-third of remaining funds go to the employee, then insurers are reimbursed for past/future compensation payments, and any leftover funds go to the employee. The changes replace older rules to create a clearer, standardized process for splitting settlement proceeds.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies settlement distribution to ensure injured workers receive one-third of funds before insurer reimbursement, strengthening financial recovery under workers' comp.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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signed · Nebraska · Legislature Feb 25, 2026

LB 397: Change and eliminate provisions relating to workplace safety committees and a workplace safety program and terminate a fund

LB 397 repeals Nebraska's requirements for employers to establish workplace safety committees and implement safety programs (sections 48-443 to 48-445). It also terminates a related fund and removes related eligibility criteria from workers' compensation rules. Employers previously required to maintain safety committees or comply with safety program standards will no longer face these mandates. The bill eliminates these specific provisions without creating new requirements or changing other workers' compensation rules.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill repeals workplace safety committee and program requirements, removing employer mandates that protect worker safety. This weakens workplace safety regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 455: Change provisions of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act relating to injury reports and workers' compensation insurance policies and deductibles

LB 455 would require injury reports filed under Nebraska's Workers' Compensation Act to be kept confidential by default, meaning they cannot be publicly accessed. Employees can choose to waive this confidentiality to allow public access to their specific reports, and this waiver remains in effect even if they change jobs. The bill specifies who may access these reports without waiver, including the affected employee, their attorney, the employer or insurer involved, certain attorneys handling related claims, or government agencies compiling statistics (with employee identities redacted). It does not change the types of injuries requiring reporting but clarifies who can view the reports under specific circumstances. The bill is currently postponed indefinitely in the Nebraska legislature.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentConfidentiality protects worker privacy in injury reports, aligning with labor rights protection under workplace safety policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 26: Include certain hospital and health clinic employees within statutes protecting health care professionals from assault

LB 26 would expand legal protections against assault to include all employees at hospitals and health clinics, not just licensed medical staff like doctors or nurses. It redefines "health care professional" in Nebraska's assault statutes to explicitly cover non-clinical workers such as receptionists, administrative staff, and support personnel. This change ensures that anyone working in these facilities - regardless of their specific role - would be protected under existing laws for assault against healthcare workers. The bill directly affects thousands of frontline healthcare employees who previously may not have been explicitly included in these legal safeguards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands legal protections for all hospital/clinic staff (including non-clinical workers) under assault statutes, strengthening workplace safety in healthcare settings.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands assault protection to non-clinical hospital staff, strengthening workplace safety protections for all facility employees under existing statutes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Primary Care

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 694: Prohibit discrimination based on military or veteran status

Nebraska's LB 694 adds "military or veteran status" as a protected class under existing anti-discrimination laws. It amends multiple statutes to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations - including places like restaurants and clubs - based on this status. The bill explicitly allows businesses to offer voluntary discounts or benefits to veterans (e.g., veterans-only services) but bans denying services or opportunities due to military/veteran status. It aligns with Nebraska's broader civil rights framework without creating new enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on military/veteran status, directly protecting tenants from exclusion per bill's housing anti-discrimination provisions.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds military/veteran status as protected class in employment, prohibiting discrimination and strengthening worker protections under anti-discrimination laws.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits discrimination against veterans in employment, housing, and public accommodations, protecting their rights without restricting benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Employment

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