Rep. Danielle Conrad

Maddy summaryLB 421 would allow licensed Nebraska racetracks to offer online sports betting through approved platforms under existing gaming laws. It prohibits betting on in-state college sports events and bans athletes, coaches, referees, and others with insider access from wagering. The bill also changes how tax revenue from sports betting is distributed to state and local entities. This proposed legislation affects licensed racetrack operators and state tax allocations but remains pending in committee.

Maddy summaryLB 49 requires Nebraska's State Board of Education to create a model policy for school districts governing "ban and bar actions" - prohibitions on students, parents, or others from school property or activities. The model policy mandates that such actions can only be used for immediate safety threats or court enforcement, must be limited to one year (unless court-ordered), and must include written notice with appeal options. School districts must adopt this model policy (or a similar one) by July 1, 2026, ensuring bans cannot discriminate and include clear appeal processes for affected individuals. The bill directly affects all Nebraska public school districts and their policies regarding school access restrictions.

Maddy summaryLB 14, the Hunger-Free Schools Act, requires all Nebraska public and nonprofit private schools participating in federal meal programs to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student during the school day. It replaces previous reimbursement systems by having the State Department of Education reimburse schools for meals that would otherwise cost students (like reduced-price or full-price meals), based on differences between federal free-meal rates and standard rates. Schools with high poverty rates (62.5% or more students eligible for free meals) must use the federal "community eligibility" program to maximize funding. This directly affects school districts and participating private schools, ensuring all students receive free meals while aligning state funding with federal nutrition program rules.

Maddy summaryLB 440, the Education Leave and Support Act, creates a state fund to help school districts cover costs when teachers take federal medical leave (FMLA). It requires school districts to collect a 0.35% payroll fee from certificated teachers' wages (with employers matching this amount), which funds the State Education Leave Fund. This fund reimburses school districts for hiring substitutes during the first six weeks of a teacher's FMLA leave, ensuring teachers don’t need to use personal or sick leave during that period. Any surplus funds over 20% of annual needs will transfer to an Education Retention Fund to address teacher shortages and support professional development. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, with reimbursements starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryLB 152 creates a homestead exemption in Nebraska, effective January 1, 2026, that exempts the first $100,000 of a primary residence's actual value from property taxes. It directly affects Nebraska homeowners who occupy their property as their primary residence, as defined by the bill. Key provisions include setting the exemption amount, allowing transfers of the exemption when moving to a new homestead, and requiring state reimbursement for the tax loss. The bill harmonizes existing homestead exemption rules and amends multiple tax statutes to implement this change.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Nebraska's maximum monthly aid for dependent children to automatically adjust each year based on annual inflation rates, ensuring benefits keep pace with rising costs. It directly affects families receiving Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) benefits by changing how the state calculates the highest possible monthly payment amount. The key provision modifies the existing law to tie the maximum payment level to the annual inflation factor, replacing the previous calculation method. This change applies to the maximum payment standard, not all benefit amounts, and becomes effective starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryLB 283 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to implement "express lane eligibility" for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by using existing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data. This means eligible children who already receive SNAP benefits will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP without needing separate applications, covering initial applications, renewals, and automatic updates. The bill directs the state to submit federal plan amendments by October 2025, with implementation starting January 1, 2026. It specifically affects children in SNAP households who qualify for medical assistance programs. The policy change streamlines enrollment by leveraging existing federal data sharing.

Maddy summaryLB 171 adjusts Nebraska's individual and corporate income tax rates for 2025 and future years. It reduces the top individual income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.20% for taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, with further gradual reductions to 4.55% in 2026 and 3.99% after 2027. The bill also modifies corporate tax rates and establishes a new inflation adjustment mechanism using the Consumer Price Index for income tax brackets. This directly affects Nebraska residents and businesses filing state income taxes, altering their tax liability based on income levels. The changes apply to tax years starting in 2025, with specific rate schedules updated annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Nebraska's tax code to adopt the First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account Act, though the provided text primarily details tax adjustments for educational savings programs (specifically referencing the Nebraska educational savings plan trust and "Achieving a Better Life Experience" accounts). It would allow taxpayers to subtract contributions made to these educational savings accounts from their federal adjusted gross income for state tax purposes. The bill directly affects Nebraska residents who contribute to these specific savings programs. The provisions are procedural tax adjustments, not new funding or direct homebuyer assistance. (Note: The bill title references homebuyers, but the text provided focuses on educational savings; no homebuyer-specific provisions appear in the truncated text.)

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Nebraska's eviction process under the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. It requires eviction trials to occur exactly 14 days after the summons is issued (previously a 10-14 day window), and mandates that writs of restitution (ordering tenants to leave) must be executed at least 10 days after issuance, unless a safety threat exists or both parties agree to an earlier date. These changes directly affect landlords initiating evictions and tenants facing removal. The bill also ensures landlords follow specific procedures for handling tenant property during eviction. (Summary based on amended Section 76-1446 text.)