Rep. Rick Holdcroft

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution directs the Nebraska Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to conduct an interim study on the quality and availability of assistance for state veterans and their families. The study will examine the ratio of veteran service officers to veterans, the services these officers provide, federal accreditation rules and penalties, eligibility determination processes, and the disability claims review system. The committee is authorized to consult with other legislative bodies and stakeholders during the study and must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislative Council or the full Legislature upon completion.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 from the General Fund and $1 from the Nebraska State Patrol Cash Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 1235. The funds are designated for Program 100 within the Nebraska State Patrol and cover permanent and temporary salaries and per diems. The legislation declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 765 changes rules for school district bond elections. It requires at least 51.1% voter turnout (up from 50%) for bond approval and clarifies that bond votes can be held during statewide primary or general elections if filed by March 1 (primary) or September 1 (general). The bill also prohibits using public funds (like building or discretionary funds) to support bond campaigns and bans school employees from using paid work time for campaign advocacy. These changes directly affect Nebraska school districts and joint entities (like educational service units) when seeking voter approval for bond issues.

Maddy summaryLB 767, titled "Adopt the Certified Help Options in Claims Expertise for Veterans Act," regulates assistance with veterans' benefits claims. It requires anyone helping veterans file or pursue claims (e.g., for disability compensation) to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, prohibits upfront fees or guaranteed outcomes, and mandates that any payment be contingent on a successful benefits increase (capped at five times the monthly increase). Service providers must use written agreements detailing terms, avoid charging interest, and disclose they are not affiliated with Veterans Affairs agencies. This directly affects veterans navigating claims and non-accredited representatives offering fee-based assistance.

Maddy summaryLB 763 exempts certain private meetings of the Nebraska Board of Parole from public disclosure under the Open Meetings Act. Specifically, it allows gatherings of three or more board members for strategic planning, process improvement, internal training, or administrative discussions - provided these meetings don’t involve decisions on specific parole cases. The bill requires the Board to maintain a public record of each exempt meeting, including the date, topics discussed, and participants, which must be shared upon request. All formal parole decisions (e.g., granting or denying parole for individuals) must still occur in public meetings compliant with the Open Meetings Act.

Maddy summaryNebraska Legislative Bill 764 (LB 764) redefines the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to include certain employees of the Department of Correctional Services who are designated as such by the department. This change directly affects correctional staff working in state prisons or facilities who receive formal designation from their department. The bill amends Section 81-1401 of Nebraska law to add these employees to the list of individuals classified as law enforcement officers under state statutes. This adjustment aligns their legal status with existing classifications like state patrol officers and sheriff's deputies, without altering their job duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Nebraska nonprofits to host "music bingo" events where winning is based on song titles, artists, or music genres instead of traditional numbered bingo. It raises the maximum prize value for bingo games from $25 to $50 and updates rules for special event bingo. The changes directly affect licensed nonprofit organizations operating under the Nebraska Bingo Act, enabling them to offer music-themed games and higher-value prizes while maintaining existing licensing requirements. The bill amends key sections of the Nebraska Bingo Act to clarify definitions and update prize limits.

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 summaryLB 1172 requires Nebraska's electric suppliers (including public power districts, cooperatives, and municipalities with power systems) to maintain at least 75% of their electricity capacity from "dispatchable" sources - electricity that can be quickly supplied on demand, like gas plants, rather than weather-dependent sources. Suppliers must annually certify compliance with this rule to the Nebraska Power Review Board and submit a compliance plan within 60 days if they fall short. The bill defines key terms like "dispatchable electricity" and "capacity" to clarify the requirement, while protecting related communications as confidential until a facility closure decision is publicly announced. It does not apply to closures decided before April 2024.

Maddy summaryLB 1228 establishes new state docket fees for court filings in Nebraska: $116 for civil cases in district court, $111 for dissolution cases, $61 for traffic offenses, and $38 for small claims. The fees fund two new court-specific accounts: $10 from each fee goes to the JUSTICE Software Cash Fund (for court software costs), and the remainder funds the Supreme Court Operations Cash Fund (to support court administrative operations). The bill also clarifies that counties, cities, or villages are not liable for uncollectible fees, directing uncollectible costs to local general funds instead. These changes harmonize existing court fee provisions under Nebraska law.