LB 635 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Authorize the regulation of professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, professional muay thai, amateur muay thai, and amateur kickboxing by the State Athletic Commissioner

Nebraska's LB 635 authorizes the State Athletic Commissioner to regulate specific combat sports, including professional bare-knuckle MMA, ice MMA, muay thai, and kickboxing (both professional and amateur). It directly affects promoters, venues, fighters, referees, and officials who host or participate in these events within the state. Key mechanisms include requiring annual licenses with fees ($10-$300 depending on role), mandatory bonding ($1,000-$5,000), and licensing for referees, physicians, and judges. The bill updates existing regulations to explicitly include these sports under the Commissioner's oversight, ensuring standardized safety and operational rules.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Legislature Passage
May 2025
Legislature Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrollment and Review ER63 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended during the Enrollment and Review process to remove references to amateur kickboxing and slap fighting while adding professional and amateur muay thai and amateur kickboxing to the regulated activities. This narrows the scope of regulated combat sports while expanding the inclusion of muay thai as a recognized discipline.
Scope change
The bill now includes professional and amateur muay thai and amateur kickboxing while removing amateur kickboxing and slap fighting from the list of regulated activities.
SCOPE

Removed 'amateur kickboxing, and slap fighting' from the list of regulated combat sports in the bill's introductory section.

Added 'professional muay thai, amateur muay thai, and amateur kickboxing' to the list of regulated activities, expanding the bill's coverage to include muay thai competitions.

ELIGIBILITY

Adjusted the list of regulated activities across multiple sections to reflect the removal of slap fighting and the addition of muay thai disciplines.

Floor votes · Legislature Apr 25, 2025

How they voted

370
Passed · 12 other
Total votes 49
Apr 25, 2025
N Nonpartisan49
37 Yea 12
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
6
Committee
2
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on May 13, 2025
executive
May 9, 2025
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
May 9, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 45-2*-2
legislature
May 1, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Enrollment and Review ER63 adopted
legislature
Apr 25, 2025
Legislature · Passed
General Affairs AM399 adopted
legislature
Feb 27, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM399
legislature
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to General Affairs Committee
legislature
Jan 22, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ben Hansen
Ben Hansen
NNonpartisan
NE
16