Allow claims involving death, child abuse, or sexual assault of a child under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and State Tort Claims Act and change provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act relating to civil penalties

This bill modifies Nebraska's tort and consumer protection laws to allow victims of death, child abuse, or sexual assault of a child to file claims against government entities and to adjust civil penalties under consumer protection statutes. It establishes specific definitions for terms like gross negligence and malice, and it creates a tiered system for awarding punitive damages based on the severity of the defendant's misconduct. Under the new rules, juries can order defendants to pay additional fines to punish egregious behavior, with caps ranging from one million to five million dollars depending on the category of wrongdoing, unless the case involves conduct threatening human life. Any punitive damages awarded under these provisions must be used exclusively to support public schools in the county where the penalty was imposed.