This bill amends Nebraska statutes to increase penalties for domestic assault and assault by strangulation or suffocation. Specifically, it upgrades domestic assault in the third degree (causing bodily injury to an intimate partner) to a Class IIIA felony upon a second conviction (Section 28-323(14)), and changes strangulation assault to a Class IIA felony if the offender has a prior conviction for a similar offense (Section 28-310.01(4)). These changes directly affect individuals convicted of these crimes who have prior similar offenses, raising the severity of penalties for repeat violations. The bill focuses on adjusting criminal sentencing classifications without altering definitions or introducing new programs.
LB 834 updates Nebraska's property tax laws by revising the roles and requirements for county assessors and the Property Tax Administrator. It allows county assessors to appoint deputies (with written documentation) and mandates certification exams for assessors, while adjusting deadlines for property assessments and tax reporting. The bill also modifies rules for delinquent taxes, sales tax remissions, and mobile home tax applications, eliminating an application fee for mobile homes. These changes directly affect county tax officials and taxpayers who pay property taxes or mobile home taxes.
LB 792 repeals Section 68-2306 of the Family Home Visitation Act, which was a provision defining when the law applied. This change removes a specific requirement about the act's scope, eliminating a rule that governed its applicability. The repeal directly affects the legal structure of the Family Home Visitation Act by removing this provision from the statute. The bill does not alter the core provisions of the act but simplifies its application by eliminating this specific rule.
This Nebraska bill (LB 789) amends evidence rules to allow certain witness statements in court when a party (like a defendant) wrongfully caused the witness to become unavailable. Specifically, it adds an exception to the hearsay rule: if a party intentionally made a witness unavailable (e.g., through threats or harm) to prevent testimony, statements made by that witness can now be used against them. This affects legal cases where witness unavailability was caused by the opposing party’s misconduct. The change streamlines courtroom procedures by permitting such statements as evidence without requiring the usual hearsay exceptions.
Nebraska's LB 1114 amends eligibility rules for expedited review of redevelopment plans under the Community Development Law. It requires projects to be located in blighted areas within cities of under 100,000 population, involve repair/rehabilitation of existing structures (at least 25 or 60 years old) or vacant lots (at least 25 or 60 years platted), and meet specific property value limits ($350,000 for single-family, $1.5M for multi-family/commercial, $10M for historic properties). The bill streamlines the process by mandating a standardized application form, requiring city approval within 30 days, and allowing a single fund for multiple projects. This primarily affects small-city redevelopment projects in designated blighted areas seeking faster permitting without full environmental or zoning reviews.
LB 1113 amends Nebraska's Community Development Law to update how property tax notices are handled for redevelopment projects. It requires redevelopment authorities to send annual tax division notices to county assessors by July 1, failing which taxes remain undivided. The bill changes tax allocation: part goes to public bodies based on standard tax collection, part funds redevelopment bonds (paid into a special authority fund), and interest penalties follow standard tax distribution. This directly affects property owners in redevelopment zones, county assessors, and cities managing redevelopment projects, ensuring clearer tax division procedures and timely notice requirements.
LB 1008 amends Nebraska's School District Property Tax Relief Act to revise the minimum annual funding levels for property tax relief. It sets specific minimum relief amounts for tax years 2024 through 2030 (e.g., $750 million for 2024, $902 million for 2030) and establishes a formula for future years: prior year's minimum plus the percentage increase in statewide property values (as determined by the Department of Revenue) plus $75 million. The bill also adds a provision requiring funds transferred to the relief fund under Section 77-4602 to be included in the annual relief calculation. This amendment replaces the original funding structure in Section 77-7305 of the Revised Statutes.
LB 1033 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to provide crisis assistance payments under the state's low-income home energy assistance program. It sets a maximum payment of $800 per program year for households facing urgent energy needs, while allowing higher amounts for "extenuating circumstances." The bill updates eligibility rules by replacing the existing provision in Section 68-1215 of Nebraska law. This directly affects low-income households in Nebraska who qualify for energy assistance and face immediate utility payment crises.
LB 996 prohibits the use of shackles (like handcuffs, leg irons, or waist chains) on juveniles during transportation or detention, except in limited circumstances. It allows shackling only if a juvenile poses a substantial immediate risk of harm, no less restrictive alternative exists, and the restraint is used for the shortest time necessary. The bill also requires written documentation for any exception and mandates that transportation policies for juveniles (including those handled by private contractors) must follow these restrictions. This directly affects juveniles in Nebraska's justice system, law enforcement, and transportation staff who must now comply with these updated safety protocols.
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 900 amends Nebraska law governing how county sheriffs are paid when collecting taxes through distress warrants. It changes the fee structure for issuing warrants ($22 per warrant), levy fees ($1), and mileage reimbursement for sheriffs' travel (based on existing rates in Section 33-117). The bill also updates commission rates for taxes collected: 10 cents per dollar on amounts up to $500, and 8 cents per dollar on amounts over $500. These changes directly affect county sheriffs who enforce tax collections and taxpayers who pay these fees as part of their tax burden. The bill repeals the original section 77-1720 to implement these updated provisions.
