Rep. Justin Wayne

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to allow the Attorney General to assign district attorneys and their staff to perform criminal and juvenile court duties in Nebraska counties with fewer than 100,000 residents. Effective January 1, 2026, these designated district attorneys would serve as the county attorneys for their assigned areas, and all personnel involved would be full-time employees of the Attorney General's office rather than local county employees. The legislation also updates legal definitions to clarify that the term "county attorney" includes any district attorney assigned under this new arrangement.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Nebraska's tort and consumer protection laws to allow victims of death, child abuse, or sexual assault of a child to file claims against government entities and to adjust civil penalties under consumer protection statutes. It establishes specific definitions for terms like gross negligence and malice, and it creates a tiered system for awarding punitive damages based on the severity of the defendant's misconduct. Under the new rules, juries can order defendants to pay additional fines to punish egregious behavior, with caps ranging from one million to five million dollars depending on the category of wrongdoing, unless the case involves conduct threatening human life. Any punitive damages awarded under these provisions must be used exclusively to support public schools in the county where the penalty was imposed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Aid to Municipalities Act to provide state grants for infrastructure projects in Nebraska cities and villages. The Department of Economic Development would manage a new fund to distribute these grants, which can be used for construction, equipment, or debt related to specific projects like water systems, waste facilities, airports, and transit. Each grant is capped at ten million dollars, and the funds must be kept in a separate account to ensure they are used exclusively for the intended purposes. Additionally, the legislation updates existing state statutes to clarify definitions of terms such as "state aid" and "capital improvements" for various local governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Nebraska's tax laws to adjust the rates and rules for taxing cigars, cheroots, stogies, and other tobacco products. It establishes a tax of twenty percent on the purchase price or a maximum of fifty cents per item for cigars, cheroots, and stogies, while also setting specific rates for snuff and electronic nicotine delivery systems. The legislation clarifies that licensed sellers are responsible for collecting these taxes from other licensed buyers and states that the new tax applies in addition to any existing taxes. If passed, the changes would take effect on October 1, 2024, replacing the previous tax provisions currently in the state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis Nebraska bill proposes to modify how a specific gasoline tax is calculated and collected, directly affecting producers, suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, importers, and retailers. The legislation would set a minimum average wholesale price of $2.44 per gallon for tax purposes starting in 2025 and establish a cap to ensure the tax rate change does not exceed one cent per gallon between calculation periods. All revenue generated from this tax would be directed to the Highway Trust Fund, which would then distribute the money to the state Department of Transportation, counties, and municipalities for road and street projects. Although the bill outlines these specific financial and procedural changes, it was indefinitely postponed in August 2024 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Aid to Municipalities Act, which creates a state fund to provide grants to cities and villages in Nebraska for specific infrastructure projects such as water systems, airports, and public buildings. To receive funding, municipalities must submit an application to the Department of Economic Development, and individual grants cannot exceed ten million dollars. The legislation also amends existing tax laws to clarify how certain property tax revenues and other funds are classified as restricted or nonrestricted for budgeting purposes. Although the bill outlines these new financial mechanisms for local governments, it was indefinitely postponed in August 2024 and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Solar Panel Energy Property Tax Reduction Act to provide financial assistance for installing solar panels on real property in Nebraska. It creates a grant program administered by the Department of Natural Resources, offering up to $5,000 per applicant toward the purchase and installation of solar equipment, with a total annual funding cap of $2 million. To receive these funds, property owners must submit detailed applications and commit to completing the installation within one year, while the program prohibits grants for previously installed panels or repeat applicants at the same location. The legislation also requires the department to submit annual reports detailing grant recipients, total expenditures, and estimated electricity generation to the Governor and the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new luxury tax on specific high-cost items, including motor vehicles over $50,000, jewelry over $5,000, and clothing over $1,000. The tax rate is generally 2.25% of the purchase price, but it increases to 3.7% for items exceeding $400,000 and includes an additional 5% surcharge on the amount above certain higher thresholds for vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and luxury goods. Several exemptions exist, such as for military personnel and commercial vehicles, and the tax would be collected by sellers and added to existing taxes. If enacted, the law would take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes shifting the duties of the clerk of the district court to clerk magistrates in certain Nebraska counties and allows for the consolidation of various county offices, such as the assessor and county clerk, into a single position. Under the plan, county boards must hold public hearings and seek voter approval before implementing these office consolidations, which would also change how terms are served and potentially alter residency requirements for elected officials. Additionally, the legislation outlines how county buildings should accommodate these new roles and sets specific limits on taxes that counties can levy to fund courthouse and office maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to legalize cannabis in Nebraska by establishing the Cannabis Control Act and creating a system for issuing licenses to cultivators, stores, and manufacturers. It removes cannabis from the list of controlled substances while setting specific rules for how the plant can be grown, sold, and consumed, including a ban on possessing open containers in vehicles. The legislation also includes a "Clean Slate" provision to expunge past cannabis-related criminal convictions and allocates tax revenue generated from sales to specific state funds. Additionally, the bill outlines definitions for various cannabis terms and adjusts penalties for related offenses, such as those involving synthetic cannabinoids and drug paraphernalia.