Rep. Jane Raybould

Maddy summaryLB 843 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver allowing refugees and immigrants to access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This directly affects refugees and immigrants who are currently ineligible for SNAP under federal rules. The bill mandates the department to file this specific waiver with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand SNAP eligibility for these groups. It does not change existing SNAP rules but seeks federal permission to include these populations in the program. The bill focuses on administrative action by the state department, not on new funding or benefit amounts.

Maddy summaryLB 1016 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver by July 1, 2026, to allow Medicaid reimbursement for traditional healing services. This bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly American Indian and Alaska Native communities, by enabling access to culturally grounded health practices previously excluded from coverage. Key provisions mandate tribal consultation in defining services and provider eligibility, ensure traditional healing does not replace standard Medicaid care, and require budget neutrality. The waiver aims to improve health equity through services developed with tribal nations, as specified in the bill's requirement for federal approval under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1018 clarifies restrictions on campaign committee spending under the Political Accountability and Disclosure Act. It explicitly prohibits committees from using funds for candidates' personal expenses, including clothing, medical costs, auto payments, mortgage/rent, personal debts (except campaign loans), or personal services like legal fees. The bill also bans committee funds for office supplies or furnishings related to a candidate's public office, except as specified. This directly affects political committees managing campaign finances by tightening rules on permissible expenditures. The changes clarify existing law without creating new restrictions, focusing on preventing misuse of campaign funds for personal candidate benefits.

Maddy summaryLB 792 repeals Section 68-2306 of the Family Home Visitation Act, which was a provision defining when the law applied. This change removes a specific requirement about the act's scope, eliminating a rule that governed its applicability. The repeal directly affects the legal structure of the Family Home Visitation Act by removing this provision from the statute. The bill does not alter the core provisions of the act but simplifies its application by eliminating this specific rule.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1037 modifies how the state handles cigarette and tobacco tax refunds for sales on tribal lands. It replaces individual refund applications with a new process where tribes can negotiate a tax refund formula with the Governor, capping refunds at taxes actually paid by tribal businesses on tribal land. The bill directly affects federally recognized tribes selling tobacco products on their own land (where state tax is precluded by federal law) and the state tax office. Key provisions require the Governor to negotiate in good faith with tribes upon request, establish a 60-day negotiation timeline, and ensure negotiated formulas don't exceed actual tribal tax payments.

Maddy summaryLB 1225 modifies Nebraska's juvenile court process by establishing an expedited appeal timeline for decisions transferring cases to adult court. It requires the Court of Appeals to review such appeals within 90 days of filing, advancing them on the docket without standard extensions. This applies directly to juveniles facing transfer motions under Section 43-274, ensuring faster resolution of whether their case remains in juvenile court. The change aims to reduce delays in these sensitive proceedings while maintaining the juvenile court's authority to issue temporary orders during appeals.

Maddy summaryLB 1088 (Nebraska, 2026) requires individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes or subject to domestic abuse protection orders to surrender all firearms and ammunition within 48 hours. This applies to people ordered to comply by a court during sentencing for domestic violence, when issuing a protection order, or for violating such orders. The law mandates surrender to a law enforcement officer or designated person, with firearms stored securely and returned after the order period (up to 7 years for convictions). Violating this requirement is a Class I misdemeanor, and courts must notify individuals of their obligations and federal firearm restrictions.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1017 establishes a $3,500 annual limit on individual contributions to candidate committees during an election period (calendar year). It requires committees to refund any contributions exceeding this amount within 10 days and report the excess, but does not apply to a candidate's own personal funds. Starting in 2029, the limit will automatically adjust every two years based on the Consumer Price Index, rounded to the nearest $100. This bill directly affects individual donors and candidate committees by setting a concrete contribution cap with built-in inflation adjustments.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 779 prohibits health care facilities and medical debt collection agencies from charging interest or late fees on medical debt for 90 days after the final invoice is due, with any annual interest capped at 3%. The bill also prevents liens or foreclosures on a patient's primary residence to collect unpaid medical bills. It directly affects patients who owe medical debt by limiting collection practices and protecting their homes from debt-related property seizures. The law applies to all medical debt defined as obligations for health care services, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryLB 762 requires most health insurance policies in Nebraska to cover treatment for two specific pediatric conditions: pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). It mandates coverage for recommended treatments like antibiotics, medication, behavioral therapy, plasma exchange, and immunoglobulin, directly affecting families of children diagnosed with these conditions and insurers offering health coverage in the state. Insurers must report coverage denials for these treatments annually to the Department of Insurance, which will publish a public report starting in 2028. The bill aims to ensure access to medically necessary care for affected children without insurer denials.