LB 159 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Provide for sentencing consideration of a defendant's status as a victim of abuse or trafficking

LB 159 amends Nebraska's sentencing law (section 29-2260) to require courts to consider two specific factors when deciding whether to impose prison time for certain offenses. It adds that courts must weigh whether the offender was a victim of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological by a family member, household member, partner, or trafficker) or a trafficking victim as defined by law. This applies to defendants convicted of crimes where mandatory prison time isn't required, directly affecting individuals who are both offenders and victims of abuse or trafficking. The bill does not mandate leniency but ensures these circumstances receive formal consideration during sentencing decisions.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Jun 6, 2025
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB159 amended into LB78 by AM737
legislature
Jun 2, 2025
Committee
Indefinitely postponed
legislature
Mar 20, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File
legislature
Jan 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
legislature
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors