This bill requires Nebraska juvenile courts to appoint an attorney for juveniles in specific court cases. It mandates appointment when a petition alleges jurisdiction under certain sections of juvenile law, particularly for juveniles in counties under 150,000 population and for all cases in larger counties. The court must inform juveniles and their parents/guardians about their right to counsel, determine financial ability to pay for an attorney, and appoint one at county expense if they cannot afford one. This applies to all proceedings before the juvenile court, ensuring juveniles have legal representation during legal hearings.
LB 1111 requires data centers (especially large ones over 20 megawatts) and cryptocurrency mining operations (1-20 megawatts) to submit annual reports to Nebraska's Power Review Board detailing their electricity needs, infrastructure costs, and decommissioning plans. Public power suppliers must ensure these facilities pay the full cost of necessary infrastructure upgrades and avoid shifting costs to other customers. The bill mandates that large data centers provide security bonds for decommissioning costs and submit community benefit agreements to address local impacts. It directly affects data center operators, cryptocurrency miners, and public utilities managing electricity services in Nebraska.
LB 887 updates Nebraska pharmacy regulations by changing pharmacist licensure requirements, modifying supervision rules for pharmacy technicians and interns, and revising how prescriptions can be transferred between pharmacies. It allows pharmacists to supervise up to four pharmacy technicians or interns (with at least one certified), clarifies prescription transfer rules for both controlled and non-controlled drugs (requiring specific record-keeping), and eliminates a reporting requirement under the Parkinson's Disease Registry Act. The bill directly affects pharmacists, pharmacies, and patients needing prescription refills. Key changes include streamlined prescription transfers between pharmacies and updated supervision standards, while removing outdated reporting obligations.
LB 895 amends Nebraska's Grain Warehouse Act to update license requirements and annual fees for grain warehouses. It creates a streamlined process for warehouses already licensed under the U.S. Warehouse Act, reducing their application and oversight needs. The bill also changes fee structures to align with 2025/2026 USDA Agricultural Marketing Service rates, establishing specific fees based on warehouse capacity (e.g., $45 for facilities holding 0-10,000 bushels). These changes directly affect Nebraska grain warehouse operators who must pay updated annual fees based on their storage capacity.
Nebraska's LB 865 exempts sales tax on qualifying child care supplies, clothing, and school supplies during a specific two-day window (the last Friday of July through Sunday of the same weekend). The exemption applies to items priced at $100 or less per item, including baby monitors, diapers, backpacks, notebooks, and basic school materials, but excludes electronics, clothing accessories, and business purchases. Retailers must report these tax-free sales to the Tax Commissioner on their regular returns. This policy directly benefits parents and guardians purchasing essential items for children during that annual sales tax holiday.
LB 817 increases penalties for certain drug offenses involving fentanyl by amending Nebraska's controlled substances laws. It enhances penalties for individuals convicted of distributing or possessing fentanyl, raising the felony classification for these offenses beyond standard penalties. This directly affects people convicted of fentanyl-related drug crimes in Nebraska, particularly those involving distribution near schools or to minors. The bill harmonizes existing penalties and specifically targets fentanyl offenses by applying stricter sentencing under sections 28-416, 28-1354, and 28-1701. The key change is a mandatory penalty enhancement when fentanyl is the controlled substance involved in the offense.
LB 1028 requires large livestock operations (defined by federal standards as of January 1, 2026) to register and annually update nutrient management plans with Nebraska's department, making these plans publicly accessible online. The bill mandates planting cover crops after applying livestock waste or litter (unless perennial cover exists), with costs covered by the operation, and encourages regenerative practices like reduced tillage. It also requires a 30-foot perennial grass buffer along waterways where waste is applied, with the operation paying for buffer establishment/maintenance and annually compensating landowners for lost crop production on those buffered acres. This directly affects large livestock facilities handling waste applications.
Nebraska bill LB 804 creates confidential peer support counseling for law enforcement officers, emergency services personnel (including firefighters and EMTs), and Nebraska National Guard members. It protects communications during these sessions from being disclosed in court, to the public, or used in legal proceedings, while defining "peer support specialists" as trained colleagues who lead sessions after traumatic incidents. The confidentiality does not apply to threats of suicide, criminal acts, or required abuse reports. This bill makes existing peer support programs legally protected without creating new funding or services.
LB 736 adopts the Athletic Trainer Compact, allowing licensed athletic trainers from other participating states to practice in Nebraska without obtaining a separate Nebraska license. This mutual recognition system expands access to athletic training services for Nebraskans and reduces administrative burdens for trainers seeking to work across state lines. Key provisions include streamlined interstate practice, telehealth service authorization, and shared disciplinary information among member states to maintain public safety. Nebraska's adoption aligns it with other states that have joined this interstate agreement to harmonize athletic trainer licensing requirements.
LB 735 adopts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing Nebraska-licensed respiratory therapists to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. The bill requires criminal background checks for initial licensure and aligns Nebraska's respiratory therapy regulations with the compact's standards. This policy directly affects respiratory therapists seeking to work across state lines, particularly benefiting military families relocating between states and addressing workforce shortages. The compact aims to improve public access to respiratory therapy services by reducing administrative barriers for therapists and states.
Nebraska's LB 848 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for specific items during a three-day window each August (beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight Sunday). It exempts clothing under $100, school supplies under $50 per purchase, computer software under $350, graphing calculators under $150, and personal computers/peripherals under $1,500. The exemption applies only to items purchased for personal use during this period, excluding items like jewelry, sporting equipment, or furniture. This policy directly affects Nebraska residents buying these items for personal or educational use during the designated annual sales tax holiday.
Nebraska Legislative Bill LB 757 creates a sales and use tax exemption for businesses purchasing aircraft to lease between related companies (such as parent-subsidiary or sister companies). It directly affects corporations that lease aircraft internally, exempting the initial purchase from tax if two conditions are met: lease income must equal at least 7.5% of the aircraft's net acquisition price, and sales tax must be collected on lease payments. The exemption applies to the purchase transaction only, not the lease payments themselves. The bill becomes effective October 1, 2026, and repeals the previous tax provision it amends.
