Nebraska Bills

LB 278 requires insurance companies in Nebraska to provide clear, easy-to-understand information about coverage, costs, and prior authorization rules to consumers before they buy a policy. It mandates that insurers make customer satisfaction survey results available upon request and establish committees with provider input to review medical policies and quality standards. The bill also standardizes how insurers credential healthcare providers (allowing annual applications) and creates formal appeal processes for providers who are denied contracts or excluded from networks. Additionally, it prohibits excluding providers who treat patients with complex medical conditions or hold specific permits, unless they fail to meet established quality or access criteria.

LB 412 amends Nebraska law to clarify how biological fathers can intervene in paternity cases when juvenile court already has jurisdiction over a child. It allows a person claiming to be the biological father to file a complaint with an affidavit (no filing fee required) to seek paternity establishment, after which the court may order genetic testing at the court's discretion. The bill redefines "child" as any person under 18, regardless of birth status, and specifies factors courts must consider when evaluating such interventions, such as the child's age and potential benefits or harm. This directly affects biological fathers seeking to establish paternity and juvenile courts handling child-related cases. The bill repeals prior sections to harmonize these provisions.

LB 159 amends Nebraska's sentencing law (section 29-2260) to require courts to consider two specific factors when deciding whether to impose prison time for certain offenses. It adds that courts must weigh whether the offender was a victim of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological by a family member, household member, partner, or trafficker) or a trafficking victim as defined by law. This applies to defendants convicted of crimes where mandatory prison time isn't required, directly affecting individuals who are both offenders and victims of abuse or trafficking. The bill does not mandate leniency but ensures these circumstances receive formal consideration during sentencing decisions.

LB 150 creates a pilot program where mental health professionals assist police during mental health emergencies, directly affecting law enforcement agencies and individuals in crisis. It eliminates the Division of Parole Supervision and its director position, transferring those responsibilities to the Department of Correctional Services. The bill also updates legal definitions (like changing "school employee" to "school worker" for sexual abuse offenses), removes minimum post-release supervision for certain felonies, and modifies debt collection rules. It makes numerous other technical changes across Nebraska law, including updating veterans' justice program provisions and mental health commitment act procedures.

Nebraska's LB 264 moves specific state funds into the General Fund to support broader state operations. The bill requires transferring $8.25 million from the State Insurance Fund, $25.5 million from the Military Installation Fund, and over $32 million from the Water Recreation Fund, among other specified amounts, by mid-2025 or 2026. These transfers affect state financial accounts, redirecting money from specialized funds like recreation, economic development, and medical spending programs. The bill also eliminates several programs and outdated provisions, but its primary action is reallocating existing state funds.

LB 521 amends election rules for cities of metropolitan and primary class in Nebraska. It changes election dates (moving primary elections to April and general elections to May), modifies how city council members are elected (requiring seven members per city), revises ballot formats to remove party designations, and updates candidate filing requirements. The bill also eliminates outdated provisions about voter registration delegates and political party delegates, while adjusting notice requirements for city council meetings under the Open Meetings Act. These changes affect local election administration in larger Nebraska cities and their voters.

LB 650 updates Nebraska's tax and development laws by amending multiple statutes related to revenue, property tax, and tax credits. It sets a sunset date for sports complex and stadium applications under the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act, eliminates sales tax exemptions for internet towers, net wrap, and twine, and adjusts sales tax collection fees. The bill also modifies tax credit programs under acts like the Nebraska Advantage Rural Development Act and the Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit Act, while repealing outdated provisions including the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Act. These changes primarily affect businesses, local governments, and developers utilizing tax incentives for community development projects.

LB 645 adjusts retirement contributions for Nebraska's Class V school districts and the State Patrol Retirement System. Starting July 1, 2025, employees will contribute 8.75% to 9.75% of their salary based on the retirement system's funding level, and the state will add a 2% annual contribution of employee compensation to the retirement fund. The bill clarifies that the state's 2% contribution does not shift the district's responsibility for funding the retirement system. It also updates death benefits for State Patrol officers and aligns retirement provisions across systems.

LB 303 creates the School Financing Review Commission, a 18-member group including education officials, school district representatives, and community members. The commission will evaluate Nebraska's school funding formula under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act, review resource and student need factors, and recommend changes to help prevent property tax increases. It will also analyze how school funding impacts student outcomes like attendance, literacy, and graduation rates. The bill additionally modifies budget rules to allow school districts to exceed general fund budget limits under the act.

LB 608 expands Nebraska's First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act to include correctional officers, youth detention officers, certain disabled former first responders, and their children. The bill modifies insurance protections so employers cannot cancel health coverage for line-of-duty injuries or deaths affecting these new categories, mirroring existing rules for firefighters. It also requires the state to partially reimburse public colleges for tuition waivers provided to eligible dependents of qualifying first responders. These changes apply to state and local employers covered under the act, with specific definitions added for "eligible disabled person" and "qualifying child." The law amends multiple sections of Nebraska statutes to implement these updates.

LB 613A is an appropriation bill that allocates $90,200 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $88,000 for 2026-27 from Nebraska's General Fund to the Department of Revenue's Program 102. It directly funds the implementation of Legislative Bill 613 (the main bill it supports) by covering salaries and per diems for staff. The bill includes specific spending limits: $64,100 for 2025-26 and $66,200 for 2026-27 for permanent and temporary staff costs. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and it became law after approval by the governor on June 4, 2025.

LB 647 creates two new tax programs and modifies multiple tax codes. It establishes a property tax exemption for landowners who grant permanent public access rights for recreational trails (like walking or biking paths), provided the easement connects to existing trails and is held by eligible entities like cities or accredited nonprofits. It also creates a 10% refundable state tax credit for Nebraska taxpayers who qualify for the federal adoption credit, effective for 2026 tax years. The bill further updates property tax calculation rules, municipal tax provisions, school district relief funding, and education savings plan eligibility without creating new major programs.