LB 1216 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Provide for educational services for prisoners

This bill requires Nebraska correctional facilities to provide educational services to prisoners under 21 years old who have not earned a high school diploma or equivalent. The services must include a minimum curriculum of language arts, social science, science, and mathematics, and may also cover vocational training, computer education, or other subjects. The Director of Correctional Services must ensure these programs meet standards set by the State Department of Education, and the State Board of Education can establish rules to enforce these requirements. The bill repeals the previous law governing educational programming in correctional facilities.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Legislature Passage

Apr 2026

Legislature Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Signed Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrollment and Review ER173 → Final Reading · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from an Enrollment and Review draft to its Final Reading version, incorporating substantive policy changes to expand educational opportunities for incarcerated youth. The text now explicitly grants the Director of Correctional Services powers and duties to provide educational services, aligning the language with the bill's primary goal of preparing prisoners to be useful citizens. A key addition mandates that these services be substantially similar to minimum state standards, covering core subjects like language arts, science, and mathematics, while also allowing for vocational and arts education.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include 'educational programming' alongside 'educational services' and to apply to individuals under twenty-one who have not earned a high school diploma or equivalency.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit authority and duties for the Director of Correctional Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Board of Education to provide educational services and programming.

Mandated that educational services be substantially similar to minimum standards determined by the State Department of Education, including a specific curriculum of language arts, social science, science, mathematics, and optional vocational or arts education.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that services apply to persons under twenty-one who have not previously earned a high school diploma or diploma of high school equivalency.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'E and R Amendments' header and replaced it with the official 'Final Reading' designation, indicating the bill has passed committee review and is ready for final legislative action.

Floor votes · Legislature Mar 30, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 49

Mar 30, 2026

N Nonpartisan49

35 Yea 14

71% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor on April 14, 2026

executive

Apr 10, 2026

Legislature · Passed

President/Speaker signed

legislature

Apr 9, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Passed on Final Reading 49-0-0

legislature

Apr 2, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Enrollment and Review ER173 adopted

legislature

Mar 30, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Education AM2440 adopted

legislature

Mar 12, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Placed on General File with AM2440

legislature

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education Committee

legislature

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Date of introduction

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors