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LB 261 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Appropriate funds for the expenses of Nebraska State Government for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, and appropriate Federal Funds allocated to the State of Nebraska pursuant to the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

LB 261 is Nebraska's state budget bill for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, allocating funds for government operations, education, capital projects, and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. It reappropriates unspent balances from previous years and specifies how federal recovery funds must be used, including restrictions on salary spending. The bill requires agencies to submit detailed budget reports and limits total salary/wage expenditures unless federal funds cover the excess. This directly affects all state agencies, universities, and programs receiving state or federal funds during the 2025-2027 budget period.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state/federal funds for government operations, education, and capital projects while enforcing fiscal responsibility through salary spending limits.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state and federal funds for education, including American Rescue Plan Act recovery funds. Restrictions on salary spending apply only to federal funds, but overall funding for education is explicitly provided.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly limits total salary/wage expenditures unless federal funds cover excess, restricting state funding for wages and workplace compensation.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Legislature Passage
May 2025
Legislature Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Signed May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Final Reading · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to correct the legislative session designation from the One Hundred Eighth Legislature to the One Hundred Seventh Legislature, and significantly revised the gifts and bequests section to align with the State Acceptance of Gifts Act, replacing previous detailed gift acceptance rules with a reference to existing state law.
Scope change
The bill's applicability was corrected to reflect the proper legislative session, and the gifts section was narrowed in scope by deferring to existing state legislation rather than containing standalone gift acceptance provisions.
TECHNICAL

Corrected the legislative session designation from One Hundred Eighth Legislature to One Hundred Seventh Legislature, Second Session.

DEFINITION

Replaced detailed gift acceptance rules with a reference to the State Acceptance of Gifts Act, adopting its definitions instead of creating new ones.

REQUIREMENT

Removed specific gift acceptance thresholds and procedures, including Governor approval requirements for gifts over $10,000 and real property acquisition rules.

Added requirement that gifts be accepted in accordance with the State Acceptance of Gifts Act, which governs how gifts are formally accepted by the state.

Floor votes · Legislature May 6, 2025

How they voted

38–5
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 49
May 6, 2025
N Nonpartisan49
38 Yea 5 Nay 6
77% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
70
Key actions
13
Committee
2
Amendments
11
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB627 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB621 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB581 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB580 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB505 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB452 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB348 amended into LB261 by AM1386
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB284 amended into LB261 by AM1264
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB173 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB57 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB55 amended into LB261 by AM832
legislature
May 27, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on May 21, 2025
executive
May 15, 2025
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
May 15, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 37-11-1
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Clements AM1320 adopted
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Bosn AM1386 adopted
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Murman AM1429 adopted
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Dover AM1384 adopted
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
DeBoer AM1410 adopted
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Clements AM1407 adopted
legislature
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Holdcroft AM1379 adopted
legislature
May 6, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Appropriations AM832 adopted
legislature
May 6, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Guereca AM1264 adopted
legislature
Apr 29, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM832
legislature
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations Committee
legislature
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of John Arch
John Arch
NNonpartisan
NE
14