LB 786 creates new military honor license plate designs for Nebraska residents who served in all 11 U.S. military branches (including the Space Force), specific campaign medal recipients (like the Inherent Resolve Medal), and veterans with disabilities (including a wheelchair symbol option). It requires verification through the Department of Veterans' Affairs, limits plate costs to match standard plates, and specifies design rules for alphanumeric and personalized message plates. The bill also includes a sunset clause that would stop issuing certain plates if fewer than 100 are registered annually for two consecutive years. This directly affects eligible veterans, active service members, and those with qualifying military service or disabilities.
LB 1117 amends Nebraska's tuition waiver programs for dependents of veterans and first responders. It updates eligibility rules for veterans' dependents (e.g., requiring residency, exhausting VA benefits, and specifying qualifying service-related deaths/disabilities) and revises the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act to clarify waiver terms for their dependents. The bill's key new provision requires the state to reimburse public colleges 50% of waived tuition costs for veterans' dependents starting July 1, 2028, based on available funds, with prorated payments if appropriations are insufficient. This directly affects veterans' dependents, first responders' dependents, and public institutions receiving these waivers. The bill harmonizes existing rules but does not change the core waiver benefits themselves.
Nebraska's LB 882 amends tax exemption rules to expand homestead tax relief for veterans and surviving spouses. It directly affects veterans with 100% service-connected disability (or temporary disability), their unremarried surviving spouses, and spouses who remarried after age 57. The bill simplifies certification requirements: veterans qualifying under section 77-3506(2)(a) no longer need annual applications (only every 5 years), while others must provide annual certification from the VA, except every 5 years. Surviving spouses who remarry before age 57 lose their exemption, requiring notification to the county assessor.
LB 1164, the Prior Learning Act, requires Nebraska's public colleges and universities to allow students to earn college credit for prior learning - such as military training, work experience, or professional certifications - by passing approved exams. The state education commission must approve a list of these exams and set minimum passing scores (cut scores) by September 2026. Institutions must develop and publish policies for awarding credit, prioritizing it for general education or major requirements over electives, and report annually on student usage and credit awarded. This directly affects students seeking to accelerate degree completion and public institutions administering credit.
This bill creates two permit options for Nebraska-resident veterans with military service-related disabilities. Veterans rated 50% or more disabled by the VA (or receiving total disability pension) get a free, lifelong combination hunting/fishing permit and required stamps. Veterans rated 10% or more disabled pay $90 for three years or $135 for five years for the same permit package. It applies only to veterans discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, with eligibility tied to VA disability ratings.
LB 398 updates Nebraska's motor vehicle laws to align with federal standards and introduces new license plate options. It creates permanent Arbor Day license plates for vehicles, updates fees for organizational, military honor, prisoner-of-war, disabled veteran, and Purple Heart plates, and establishes a dedicated fund to support Arbor Day plate grants. The bill also modifies commercial driver's license requirements, changes fees for DMV record requests, and updates trailer plate rules for commercial fertilizer transport. These changes directly affect drivers, commercial vehicle operators, and the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.
LB 82 adopts the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, allowing Nebraska to join a multi-state agreement that enables cosmetologists licensed in Nebraska to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. This directly affects licensed cosmetologists - especially military members and their spouses relocating across state lines - and Nebraska's State Licensing Authority, which will administer the compact. Key provisions include creating a "Multistate License" recognized by all participating states, requiring uniform licensure standards, and establishing a shared system for reporting disciplinary actions and safety concerns. The compact aims to improve public access to cosmetology services, reduce administrative burdens for workers, and enhance cross-state cooperation on licensing and safety.
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Licensing
LB 64 changes Nebraska's rules for Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies. It requires insurers to offer these policies to people under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to disability (not just those 65+), and establishes an annual 30-day open enrollment period starting January 1, 2026, based on the applicant's birthday. During this period, insurers cannot deny coverage, charge more based on health status, or exclude preexisting conditions. Premiums for under-65 disability enrollees can be up to 150% of the standard rate for those 65+, but must be actuarially sound and not unfairly discriminatory.
LB 410 requires most health insurance policies in Nebraska to cover medically necessary prosthetics (like artificial limbs) and orthotics (custom devices for body parts, such as braces) as prescribed by a doctor. It applies to individual/group health plans, hospital/surgical policies, and self-funded employer plans (where federal law doesn’t block it), matching the coverage level provided under Medicare for these items. The bill prohibits annual or lifetime dollar limits specifically for prosthetics/orthotics (though standard deductibles may still apply) and ensures access to care from non-contracted specialists. This directly affects Nebraskans with insurance who need these medical devices, ensuring coverage aligns with Medicare standards without additional financial barriers for these specific services.
LB 150 creates a pilot program where mental health professionals assist police during mental health emergencies, directly affecting law enforcement agencies and individuals in crisis. It eliminates the Division of Parole Supervision and its director position, transferring those responsibilities to the Department of Correctional Services. The bill also updates legal definitions (like changing "school employee" to "school worker" for sexual abuse offenses), removes minimum post-release supervision for certain felonies, and modifies debt collection rules. It makes numerous other technical changes across Nebraska law, including updating veterans' justice program provisions and mental health commitment act procedures.
