LB 257 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Change licensure and scope of practice provisions regarding marriage and family therapy and occupational therapy and licensure requirements under the Child Care Licensing Act

This bill updates licensing rules for therapists and child care providers in Nebraska. It creates a new pathway for marriage and family therapists licensed in other states to obtain Nebraska licenses by meeting requirements (like passing a Nebraska jurisprudence exam), without needing to retake all exams. It also clarifies the scope of practice for occupational therapists by defining specific treatment modalities (like electrotherapeutic devices). Additionally, it changes liability insurance requirements for child care facility licensees and inspectors under the Child Care Licensing Act. These changes directly affect therapists seeking to practice in Nebraska and child care providers operating under state licensing rules.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Legislature Passage
May 2025
Legislature Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 21, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrollment and Review ER37 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Nebraska's licensing and certification requirements for mental health and occupational therapy professionals, primarily by modernizing reciprocity provisions and clarifying definitions. The changes allow for more streamlined licensing for out-of-state practitioners and update terminology for occupational therapy modalities.
Scope change
The bill expands eligibility for out-of-state mental health and occupational therapy professionals to obtain Nebraska licenses and certificates through reciprocity agreements and interstate compacts.
ELIGIBILITY

Updated mental health practitioner licensing requirements to include reciprocity provisions for out-of-state licensure and added military spouse temporary license options.

Revised marriage and family therapist certification requirements to align with updated reciprocity standards and added military spouse temporary certificate provisions.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for deep thermal agent modalities and electrotherapeutic agent modalities in occupational therapy practice.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized and clarified the structure of occupational therapy practice definitions and scope of practice provisions.

Floor votes · Legislature Mar 31, 2025

How they voted

430
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 49
Mar 31, 2025
N Nonpartisan49
43 Yea 6
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
8
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB630 amended into LB257 by AM866
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB274 amended into LB257 by AM947
legislature
May 21, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on May 20, 2025
executive
May 14, 2025
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
May 14, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 46-3-0
legislature
Apr 23, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Hunt AM947 adopted
legislature
Apr 23, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Enrollment and Review ER37 adopted
legislature
Mar 31, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Hansen AM866 adopted
legislature
Mar 31, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Quick AM850 adopted
legislature
Mar 18, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File
legislature
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
legislature
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dan Quick
Dan Quick
NNonpartisan
NE
35