Rep. Kathleen Kauth

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 730 requires public schools and state agencies to designate restrooms and locker rooms based solely on biological sex (male or female), with signage indicating permitted use. It prohibits individuals from using facilities designated for the opposite sex, except for limited exceptions like custodial staff, emergency assistance, or parents accompanying children. The bill mandates that all state agencies define an individual's sex as male or female for administrative rules, enforcement, and dispute resolution, using specific biological criteria (reproductive systems producing sperm or eggs). It includes limited protections for individuals with differences in sex development under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This bill directly affects public schools and state agencies operating in Nebraska.

Maddy summaryLB 1187 adjusts fees for physical and electronic inspections under Nebraska's Livestock Brand Act, directly affecting livestock owners, inspectors, and entities like banks or dairies that request inspections. It sets a physical inspection fee of $0.85 per head until June 30, 2023, then increases to a maximum of $1.10 per head starting July 1, 2023. Similarly, electronic inspections will cost $0.85 per head until June 30, 2023, then up to $1.10 per head. The bill eliminates a separate mileage charge and replaces it with a $30 surcharge to cover inspector travel costs, while removing outdated provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LB 1179) updates committee names and references in Nebraska statutes to reflect a restructuring of legislative committees. It changes references to the Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee, and Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, and adds a new reference to the "Telecommunications and Technology Committee." The bill does not alter policy content or create new requirements; it only updates statutory language to match the renamed and merged committee structure. This affects legislative staff, committee members, and any references to these committees in existing laws.

Maddy summaryLB 731, the Gender Transition Malpractice Accountability Act, extends the time period for filing malpractice lawsuits related to gender-altering procedures, allowing individuals more time to seek legal action if harm is discovered later in life. It requires insurance companies to cover certain medical treatments and procedures that arise from gender-altering procedures, such as complications from surgeries or hormone therapies. The bill also modifies civil action rules under the Let Them Grow Act and excludes medical services for disorders of sex development or acute treatments for infections or injuries caused by the procedure.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1174 updates reporting rules for money transmitters (like Western Union) and introduces a new tax on international money transfers. It requires quarterly reports including transaction details for all U.S. jurisdictions and specifies amounts sent to foreign countries, with special reporting for transactions to countries designated as "adversaries" by federal law. The bill imposes a 2% tax on most international transfers, increasing to 20% for transfers to those designated adversary countries, but exempts transfers involving active-duty military members or their dependents (who must show valid military ID). Money transfer companies collect the tax from senders and remit it quarterly to the state. This affects both money transmitters operating in Nebraska and individuals sending money internationally through these services.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1173 establishes an annual $250 filing fee for employers with over $100,000 in annual payroll who submit quarterly wage reports under the state's Employment Security Law. The bill renames the "Contractor and Professional Employer Organization Registration Cash Fund" to "Contractor, Business, and Professional Employer Organization Registration Cash Fund" and specifies that fees collected will fund this renamed account. Employers with lower payrolls ($100,000 or less) and those qualifying for exemptions (e.g., self-employed contractors under $3,000 annual payroll) are not subject to this fee. The bill also modifies existing fee structures for contractor and professional employer organization registrations but does not change eligibility for unemployment benefits or employer tax obligations.

Maddy summaryLB 732 prohibits healthcare practitioners in Nebraska from providing cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers to individuals under 19 years old, as part of amendments to the "Let Them Grow Act." The bill directly affects transgender and non-binary minors seeking gender-affirming care, restricting access to these treatments unless a medically verifiable disorder of sex development is diagnosed. It defines exceptions for congenital defects related to sex development (excluding gender dysphoria) but explicitly bars these treatments for minors without such conditions. The law amends multiple sections of Nebraska’s health statutes to enforce this age restriction and clarify prohibited medical services.

Maddy summaryLB 132 modifies Nebraska's Rules of the Road (section 60-6,273) to change how evidence about not wearing seatbelts is used in civil lawsuits. It prohibits courts from considering whether a person was not wearing an occupant protection system or three-point safety belt when determining liability or cause in injury cases. However, such evidence may be used to reduce damage awards for failure to mitigate harm, but only by up to 5%. This directly affects individuals involved in civil litigation following vehicle accidents where seatbelt use is disputed.

Maddy summaryLB 535 increases penalties for assaulting specific healthcare and emergency personnel in Nebraska. It prohibits assault on frontline behavioral health providers (like direct support professionals) and healthcare workers (including licensed practitioners and facility employees) while they are on duty at their facilities. The bill amends assault statutes to add these groups to the list of protected individuals, requiring enhanced penalties for causing serious bodily injury to them during work hours. It also clarifies and streamlines existing assault provisions related to officers, emergency responders, and healthcare professionals. The law directly affects healthcare workers, behavioral health providers, and emergency responders by making assaults against them punishable as more serious offenses.

Maddy summaryLB 201 amends Nebraska's Money Transmitters Act to require money transmitters (like Western Union or digital payment services) to collect a fee for each transaction sent outside the U.S. The fee is either 10% of the transaction value or $10,000, whichever is lower. Transmitters must pay this fee quarterly to the Nebraska Department of Banking by the 15th of the following month. This bill directly affects businesses licensed to send money internationally within Nebraska and becomes effective January 1, 2026.