Rep. Brian Hardin

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 912, which was passed in the 2026 legislative session. The appropriation includes $187,151 from the General Fund and $40,000 from the Professional and Occupational Credentialing Cash Fund for the 2026-27 fiscal year, plus an additional $338,010 from the General Fund for 2027-28. These funds are designated for permanent and temporary employee salaries and per diems, with spending limits set at $115,740 for the first year and $162,035 for the second year. The legislation declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes allocating $0 from the General Fund for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 to the Department of Health and Human Services to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 867. The legislation includes a spending cap on salaries and per diems, though no specific dollar amounts are currently designated. This bill is procedural in nature, serving only to provide funding authorization for another piece of legislation rather than establishing new policy on its own. The bill has been indefinitely postponed and its appropriations are intended to be included in a separate bill, LB1209.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 909 creates a specific criminal offense for "sexual abuse by a law enforcement officer," directly affecting law enforcement officers who commit such acts and minors (ages 16-19) who are protected under the new definition. The bill amends multiple laws to add this offense to the list of sexual assault crimes, requiring offenders to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act. It updates victim protections and notification rules to include this specific abuse type, ensuring victims receive the same safeguards as those abused by others. The law harmonizes existing statutes to explicitly address police-perpetrated sexual abuse while maintaining consistent legal definitions.

Maddy summaryLB 746 eliminates outdated language from Nebraska's Population Health Information Act, which governs the state's health information exchange for sharing clinical data. The bill does not change existing requirements for health care facilities (like hospitals or clinics) or health insurance plans to participate in data sharing, including deadlines such as September 30, 2021, for facility participation. It streamlines the law by removing redundant or obsolete provisions, making the statute clearer without altering operational rules. This update affects only the legal text of the Act and does not impose new costs or obligations on health care providers or insurers.

Maddy summaryLB 910 requires defendants convicted of sexual offenses against children to pay a $100 fee for each electronic device (like phones or computers) seized during their prosecution. The fee funds forensic analysis of these devices by the Nebraska State Patrol, covering costs related to examining digital evidence. This applies only to cases involving victims under 18, and courts must waive the fee if a defendant is found indigent. The law directly affects convicted offenders in these specific cases, not general criminal defendants.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 938 creates a state tax-advantaged savings program to help first-time homebuyers. It allows individuals to contribute up to $5,000 annually (or $10,000 for joint filers) to designated savings accounts, reducing their state taxable income. Contributions can be used for eligible home purchase costs like down payments, closing fees, or construction financing for a primary residence in Nebraska. The program limits lifetime contributions to $25,000 per individual ($50,000 for joint filers) and requires account holders to designate a qualified beneficiary (the homebuyer) by April 15 each year. This directly affects first-time homebuyers who meet the definition: individuals without prior primary residence ownership or those divorced and not on title for 3+ years.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 868 creates an inheritance tax exemption for property transferred from a person who was a homicide victim. This directly affects individuals inheriting assets from someone killed in a homicide, as they may qualify for the exemption by filing an application with the Department of Revenue. The bill changes the tax payment deadline: if an exemption application is filed within 12 months of the death, the tax becomes due 12 months after the exemption determination (not the death date). The exemption applies to deaths on or after June 1, 2026, and requires either a homicide conviction or a court determination that the decedent was a victim.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 1217 allows public, private, denominational, and parochial schools to keep epinephrine (approved by the FDA) on hand for emergency use. The bill authorizes schools to administer epinephrine to students experiencing allergic reactions, directly affecting school staff and students with severe allergies. Schools must obtain authorization from the State Department of Education to maintain epinephrine in emergency first aid situations. This policy change simplifies access to life-saving treatment during allergic emergencies without requiring individual prescriptions for each student.

Maddy summaryLB 1053 removes a legal prohibition that previously prevented schools from suspending students in prekindergarten through second grade. The bill amends Nebraska statutes (sections 79-263, 79-265, and 79-267) to eliminate this restriction, allowing schools to suspend young students for disciplinary reasons under existing student conduct rules. It specifically repeals section 79-265.01, which had created the ban on suspending early-grade students. This change directly affects pre-K through second-grade students and school disciplinary policies. The bill does not alter the types of conduct that may lead to suspension, only removes the age-based restriction on applying those policies.

Maddy summaryLB 914 repeals a Nebraska law (Section 38-2053) that previously held physicians personally liable for negligence by physician assistants they supervise. The bill directly affects physicians and physician groups who oversee physician assistants, removing their legal responsibility for the assistants' mistakes. This change eliminates a specific requirement in the Medicine and Surgery Practice Act, shifting liability focus solely to the physician assistant for their own negligent actions. The bill makes no other policy changes beyond this repeal of the liability provision.