LB 94 adopts the Digital Skills Empowerment Act to expand digital skills training in Nebraska's underserved communities. It directly affects residents in qualified census tracts (including North Omaha) and returning prisoners by providing grants for training centers ($20M/year) and covering costs like tuition and childcare for low-income individuals ($20M/year). The bill establishes standardized curricula, partnerships with tech companies, and paid apprenticeships ($10M/year) to develop job skills in fields like web development and cybersecurity. Key provisions require training centers to offer virtual/in-person options and ensure industry-aligned programs to increase local employment opportunities.
Nebraska's LB 525, the Agricultural Data Privacy Act, requires businesses collecting farm-related data to obtain explicit written consent from agricultural producers before using or sharing their information. It prohibits denying services, benefits, or rewards to farmers who decline to share data and bans selling or sharing farm data without authorization. The law defines "agricultural data" broadly - including crop yields, GPS equipment data, financial records, and livestock transactions - and mandates that businesses delete such data within 30 days if a farmer revokes consent. The Attorney General enforces the law, with penalties for violations, while excluding data owned by farmers themselves (e.g., when farmers use their own data). This act directly affects Nebraska farmers and ag-tech companies processing farm data, ensuring greater control over sensitive agricultural information.
Nebraska's LB 602, the "Delete Act," establishes new data privacy rules specifically for data brokers - companies that collect and sell personal data without a direct relationship with consumers. The bill requires these brokers to post clear website notices identifying their business, implement comprehensive security programs to protect personal data, and follow strict protocols for employee training, breach response, and third-party vendor management. It directly affects data brokers operating in Nebraska by mandating specific transparency and security measures, while excluding certain entities like financial institutions and government bodies. The law focuses on limiting data collection and enhancing consumer control over personal information through concrete operational requirements.
Nebraska's LB 642, the Artificial Intelligence Consumer Protection Act, requires developers of high-risk AI systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination in key consumer decisions. It directly affects businesses developing or deploying AI systems that make consequential decisions - such as in employment, housing, lending, healthcare, or criminal justice - without human review. The law mandates "reasonable care" to protect consumers from known discrimination risks starting February 2026, with compliance creating a rebuttable presumption of adherence to the standard. It excludes narrow tools like spell-checkers or antifraud systems from regulation, focusing only on AI systems with significant real-world impact on consumers.
LB 477 amends Nebraska's Workplace Privacy Act to protect employees and job applicants from certain employer demands. It prohibits employers from requiring personal login credentials, forcing employees to access personal accounts in their presence, or demanding changes to personal account settings. The bill also restricts location tracking via employer devices except during declared pandemic emergencies under strict conditions (e.g., contact tracing limited to work premises and data destruction within 48 hours). Employees cannot be fired, penalized, or refused employment for refusing these requests or for data collected in violation of the law. The bill directly affects all Nebraska workers and applicants who use personal digital accounts or devices for non-work purposes.
LB 31 requires Nebraska school districts to adopt policies governing the use of student monitoring and tracking technology (like digital hall passes, cameras, or anti-vaping devices) by May 2026. It mandates schools to inventory all such tools, disclose vendor details, costs, data practices, and privacy protections, and allow parents to opt their children out. The bill also requires schools to explain data sharing with law enforcement and ensure accommodations for students with disabilities. These policies must be posted online and align with a model policy developed by the State Board of Education by December 2025.
LB 528 creates a new grant program for STEM-focused learning platforms (for middle and high school science, technology, engineering, and math) managed by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, replacing the previous State Board of Education-administered program. It requires approved platforms to align with state academic standards, meet data security standards, and provide free access to all Nebraska school districts. The bill shifts grant administration from the State Board of Education to the Department of Economic Development, eliminates outdated provisions, and mandates annual reports on program effectiveness. This directly affects developers of qualifying STEM platforms and all Nebraska public school districts.
LB 599 requires Nebraska's State Board of Education to create a comprehensive cybersecurity policy for all public, private, denominational, and parochial schools and educational service units. The policy must include a step-by-step cybersecurity guide for schools, a statewide cybersecurity team to assist schools and address threats, expanded digital safety education for students and staff, a career pipeline to recruit rural students into tech fields, and funding mechanisms to help schools purchase cybersecurity tools. This bill directly affects all Nebraska schools by mandating specific security measures and resources to protect student data and infrastructure.
Nebraska's LB 204, the Biometric Autonomy Liberty Law, establishes rules for how businesses and government entities handle biometric data like fingerprints, voice prints, and iris scans. It requires businesses to obtain clear written consent from individuals (using simple language) before collecting biometric data, prohibits forcing people to use implantable devices or submit to biometric collection, and gives individuals ownership of their data. Businesses must securely store biometric data, allow individuals to transfer their data to another provider within 30 days upon request, and destroy it after a set period or when the original purpose is met. The law applies to all private businesses in Nebraska and aims to regulate data use while prioritizing individual control over sensitive biometric information.
Nebraska's LB 615 prohibits distributing AI-generated deepfakes (videos, audio, or images falsely depicting candidates) within 90 days before an election if they misrepresent a candidate's actions or speech with intent to harm their reputation or deceive voters. It requires clear, visible disclosures (e.g., "This video has been AI-generated") when using synthetic media, with specific size and duration rules for visual content and audio announcements. Exceptions include news broadcasts clearly stating authenticity questions, satirical content, and media outlets publishing with explicit disclaimers. The law directly affects political campaigns, social media users, and media distributors during election periods but exempts bona fide news coverage. Candidates can seek court orders to block violations of the ban.
