LB 437 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Change provisions relating to the Nebraska Health Care Certificate of Need Act

LB 437 would repeal Nebraska's Health Care Certificate of Need (CON) Act, removing a requirement that hospitals and healthcare facilities must obtain state approval before expanding services, building new facilities, or making major capital investments. This change directly affects hospitals, healthcare providers, and potentially patients by eliminating a state review process for facility expansions and capital projects. The bill repeals all provisions of the CON Act (sections 71-5801 through 71-5870) and modifies related sections in the Nonprofit Hospital Sale Act to remove overlapping approval requirements. It does not create new regulations but eliminates existing state oversight for healthcare facility expansions. The bill aims to reduce regulatory barriers for healthcare providers in Nebraska.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Legislature Passage
Feb 2026
Legislature Passage
Jan 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Feb 18, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrollment and Review ER101 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly amended to change its focus from eliminating the Nebraska Health Care Certificate of Need Act to instead amending and repealing specific sections related to certificate of need validity periods. The original intent to repeal the entire Certificate of Need Act was replaced with more targeted amendments to existing sections.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from a broad repeal of the Certificate of Need Act to specific amendments of section 71-5848.01 regarding certificate validity periods and repeal of the original section.
REQUIREMENT

The original intent to eliminate the Nebraska Health Care Certificate of Need Act was replaced with amendments to section 71-5848.01 instead.

TIMELINE

Certificate of need validity was changed from three years to one year, with renewal options for up to one year if the holder is meeting or making good faith efforts to meet timetables.

DEFINITION

The original bill's detailed definitions for Nonprofit Hospital Sale Act terms were removed and replaced with different content.

ENFORCEMENT

Department decision timelines were modified to require written notice within thirty days, with decisions considered final if not appealed.

Floor votes · Legislature Jan 26, 2026

How they voted

420
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 49
Jan 26, 2026
N Nonpartisan49
42 Yea 7
85% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
7
Committee
2
Feb 18, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on February 17, 2026
executive
Feb 12, 2026
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Feb 12, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 47-0-2
legislature
Feb 5, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Enrollment and Review ER101 adopted
legislature
Jan 26, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Health and Human Services AM659 adopted
legislature
Jan 26, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Riepe AM1732 adopted
legislature
Mar 18, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM659
legislature
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
legislature
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Merv Riepe
Merv Riepe
NNonpartisan
NE
12