LB 97 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Change provisions relating to deferred judgments, the State Boat Act, the Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Act, the Motor Vehicle Registration Act, the Motor Vehicle Operator’s License Act, the Nebraska Rules of the Road, the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund, the Uniform Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act, the Motor Carrier Services Division Distributive Fund, and the State Treasurer

Nebraska's LB 97 changes vehicle license plate requirements, phasing from two plates to one plate per vehicle by 2029. Starting January 1, 2029, all registered vehicles will receive a single rear-mounted plate (except commercial trucks, which will display it front). Vehicle owners can request a single plate with a $50 annual fee plus decal cost, applicable to cars without front plate brackets. The bill also updates display rules, allows mail delivery of plates, and requires decals for single-plate vehicles.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Legislature Passage
Apr 2025
Legislature Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed Apr 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrollment and Review ER26 · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill was substantially rewritten to clarify and modernize deferred judgment procedures for criminal convictions in Nebraska. The changes add specific restrictions on when courts can defer judgment, including new prohibitions for intimate partner violence and commercial vehicle violations. The bill also updates related statutes governing boat registration, title replacement, and amphibious vehicle definitions.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from general motor vehicle and boat law updates to include specific criminal justice reforms regarding deferred judgments, probation supervision, and new eligibility restrictions.
ELIGIBILITY

Added restrictions preventing deferred judgments for offenses involving intimate partner violence and violations of commercial driver license regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that courts must consider specific factors from existing probation statutes when deciding on deferred judgments.

Added provision allowing defendants to withdraw pleas and dismiss charges after successfully completing probation conditions.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for amphibious vehicles as vehicles that can operate on land and water.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of July 1, 2020 for certain provisions, with grandfathering for offenses with elements occurring before that date.

EXEMPTIONS

Added exemption for amphibious vehicles that have valid motor vehicle registration.

Floor votes · Legislature Mar 13, 2025

How they voted

380
Passed · 11 other
Total votes 49
Mar 13, 2025
N Nonpartisan49
38 Yea 11
77% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
8
Committee
2
Amendments
3
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB543 amended into LB97 by AM292
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB279 amended into LB97 by AM507
legislature
Jun 6, 2025
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB225 amended into LB97 by AM292
legislature
Apr 14, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on April 14, 2025
executive
Apr 10, 2025
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Apr 10, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 46-0-3
legislature
Mar 28, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Enrollment and Review ER26 adopted
legislature
Mar 13, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Transportation and Telecommunications AM292 adopted
legislature
Mar 13, 2025
Legislature · Passed
von Gillern AM507 adopted
legislature
Mar 13, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Dover FA33 adopted
legislature
Feb 19, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM292
legislature
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation and Telecommunications Committee
legislature
Jan 10, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of John Fredrickson
John Fredrickson
NNonpartisan
NE
20