This bill sets new rules for lawsuits claiming injury from exposure to ethylene oxide, a chemical used in sterilizing medical equipment. It limits liability for health care businesses (like those manufacturing or sterilizing medical devices) unless plaintiffs prove by clear and convincing evidence that the business acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct, failed to comply with federal regulations, and that this directly caused the injury. Plaintiffs must also provide detailed specifics about their claims, damages, and the alleged misconduct in court filings. The law applies to all such cases filed before or after its effective date.
This bill raises the mandatory retirement age for Nebraska State Patrol officers from 60 to 65 years under the State Patrol Retirement Act. It directly affects current and future State Patrol officers who must retire upon reaching age 65 instead of 60. The bill also updates the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), allowing officers who meet eligibility requirements (25+ years of service and normal retirement age) to delay retirement payments for up to five years while continuing active duty. During this period, retirement benefits are held in a separate account and paid out upon final retirement. The changes aim to adjust retirement timing and benefit management for State Patrol members.
LB 1064, the "Large Load Customer Regulation Act," establishes rules for public power suppliers (like municipal utilities) to interconnect large electricity users exceeding 20 megawatts at a single site. It requires these customers to disclose if they’re pursuing similar service elsewhere (with confidentiality) and provide details about onsite backup power. Public power suppliers must charge a $100,000 flat fee for initial interconnection studies and can negotiate custom rates to cover infrastructure costs and mitigate risks to other customers. The bill also mandates procedures for demand response and emergency load curtailment during grid emergencies. This directly affects large commercial/industrial facilities and public power providers across Nebraska.
Nebraska's LB 1063 amends the Money Transmitters Act to prohibit money transmission by "foreign adversary persons" within the state. This directly affects money transmitters operating in Nebraska who are deemed "foreign adversary persons" under the bill's definition (including entities domiciled in, headquartered in, or organized under the laws of countries listed in 15 C.F.R. 791.4). Key provisions include defining "foreign adversary person" and requiring licensees to provide specific information to the Director of Banking and Finance. The bill also updates application processes and references federal law but focuses on the new prohibition as its central policy change. It does not alter existing requirements for domestic money transmitters.
LB 1121 establishes a new regulatory framework specifically for the recreational vehicle (RV) industry in Nebraska, replacing outdated provisions under the Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Act. It creates the "Recreational Vehicle Industry Regulation Act" to govern agreements between RV dealers and manufacturers, define key terms (like "bona fide consumer" and "area of sales responsibility"), and add three members to the Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board. The bill directly affects RV dealers, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers by setting rules for exclusive sales territories, warranty services, and preventing dealers from selling more than eight RVs annually to avoid "bona fide consumer" status. It takes effect on a specified operative date and aims to address industry-specific needs distinct from standard motor vehicle regulations.
LB 1104 clarifies Nebraska's motor vehicle registration rules to prevent residents from avoiding state taxes. It creates a rebuttable presumption that vehicles stored in Nebraska for over 30 days must be registered and taxed here, based on factors like ownership ties to Nebraska (e.g., residency, insurance, or business affiliation). The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles or Revenue to notify residents of this presumption and allows a 30-day appeal period. If unresolved, residents must pay back taxes, fees, and a 50% late penalty. This directly affects Nebraska residents who register vehicles in other states but keep them in Nebraska for extended periods.
LB 1062 amends Nebraska's Insurance Producers Licensing Act and Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act. It modifies reciprocal licensing rules between states, updates requirements for nonresident insurance producers (including verification processes and fees), and adds notification requirements for material changes under the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Act. The bill also adjusts fee structures for insurance producers and repeals original sections of the law. These changes directly affect insurance producers seeking licensure in Nebraska and pharmacy benefit managers operating within the state.
Nebraska's LB 1037 modifies how the state handles cigarette and tobacco tax refunds for sales on tribal lands. It replaces individual refund applications with a new process where tribes can negotiate a tax refund formula with the Governor, capping refunds at taxes actually paid by tribal businesses on tribal land. The bill directly affects federally recognized tribes selling tobacco products on their own land (where state tax is precluded by federal law) and the state tax office. Key provisions require the Governor to negotiate in good faith with tribes upon request, establish a 60-day negotiation timeline, and ensure negotiated formulas don't exceed actual tribal tax payments.
LB 1081 requires all Nebraska state agencies and local governments (including cities, counties, school districts, and public power districts) to purchase only U.S.-made flags for public use starting January 1, 2027. The bill mandates that flags of the U.S. or Nebraska must be 100% manufactured in the United States, with an exception for small hand-held flags under 8 inches wide by 6 inches tall. It amends existing statutes to enforce this requirement and repeals prior sections that did not include this provision. This policy directly affects how local and state entities procure flags for official use, aiming to prioritize domestically produced goods.
This bill (LB 994) requires Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to recalculate parole eligibility dates for all offenders incarcerated on or after July 1, 2011, by April 15, 2027. It clarifies that good-time credits - earned through behavior and programming - apply to both parole eligibility dates and tentative release dates, with specific formulas: 6 months per year of sentence and 3 additional days monthly for good conduct. The recalculation must occur in phases to avoid administrative strain, and individuals on parole as of the law's effective date may request reduced parole terms if their eligibility would have changed under the new rules. The bill directly affects incarcerated people and parolees in Nebraska who were sentenced after July 2011.
Nebraska's LB 902 establishes standardized medical care protocols for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities. It requires the Department of Correctional Services to develop clear protocols for managing chronic and acute health conditions, including timely assessments within 48 hours of health complaints (or immediately for urgent cases) and mandatory documentation of all care. The bill mandates that staff report suspected medical neglect to the Office of the Inspector General, which gains authority to investigate inmate deaths linked to care failures. These provisions directly affect inmates, correctional facilities, and the Department of Correctional Services by replacing vague "community standard" language with specific, enforceable medical care requirements.
LB 845 restructures advisory bodies within Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services. It eliminates the Nebraska Children's Commission's advisory committee on child welfare, renames the Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementia Advisory Council to the Aging, Alzheimer's, and Dementia Advisory Council, and creates the Aging, Alzheimer's, and Dementia Advisory Council Fund. The bill changes membership requirements, updates terminology, and modifies reporting procedures for these councils. These changes directly affect how advisory councils operate under the Department of Health and Human Services, focusing on aging, Alzheimer's, and dementia support.
