Nebraska Bills

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.

Nebraska's LB 863 requires the Department of Correctional Services to build solid walls around specific correctional facilities located within 100 yards of residential properties. The bill applies to facilities classified as Maximum A, Maximum B, or Medium (as of January 1, 2026) or similar new facilities. These barriers must reduce noise and visual disturbance, improve neighborhood safety and privacy, and prevent unauthorized contact between inmates, visitors, and residents. The requirement covers both existing facilities and any new facilities built after the law takes effect.

LB 820 modifies Nebraska's public employee retirement system rules. It requires state employees participating in retirement systems to maintain specific approved identification documents (like driver's licenses, birth certificates, or immigration documents) proving U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, and to produce these upon request. The bill also renames "state transfers" as "state contributions," changes the title of the retirement systems' executive director, eliminates obsolete provisions from retirement laws, and adjusts rules for school district contributions and tax withholdings related to deferred compensation. These changes directly affect all Nebraska state employees enrolled in public retirement systems.

LB 763 exempts certain private meetings of the Nebraska Board of Parole from public disclosure under the Open Meetings Act. Specifically, it allows gatherings of three or more board members for strategic planning, process improvement, internal training, or administrative discussions - provided these meetings don’t involve decisions on specific parole cases. The bill requires the Board to maintain a public record of each exempt meeting, including the date, topics discussed, and participants, which must be shared upon request. All formal parole decisions (e.g., granting or denying parole for individuals) must still occur in public meetings compliant with the Open Meetings Act.

LB 1010 allows Nebraska electric districts to use eminent domain (government power to acquire property) for energy storage facilities, including batteries and other systems for storing electricity. It specifically prohibits consumer-owned electric cooperatives from using eminent domain to take privately developed renewable energy projects (like wind farms and their related infrastructure) that meet requirements under Section 70-1014.02. The bill updates rules for how utilities apply for permits, file notices, and handle violations related to energy storage resources. These changes aim to clarify legal authority for energy storage while protecting existing renewable energy investments.

Nebraska's LB 913 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to appoint a dementia services coordinator by a specified date. This coordinator will directly assist individuals with Alzheimer's or dementia and their caregivers by connecting them to resources, collecting data on dementia impacts, and evaluating service needs across the state. Key responsibilities include serving as a referral hub, recommending policy and funding changes, monitoring the state's dementia care plan, and organizing community solutions. The bill aims to improve coordinated care access for affected Nebraskans through these specific, actionable duties.

This bill changes how Nebraska handles parole violations related to substance abuse. It requires the Department of Corrections to create a "matrix" of graduated sanctions for parolees who violate conditions related to substance use or technical violations (like missing appointments or failing tests). Instead of immediately revoking parole, officers can first impose administrative sanctions (such as more testing, counseling, or curfews) or request up to 30 days in a correctional or contract facility. The bill directly affects parolees in Nebraska who face substance abuse or technical violations, shifting the response from automatic revocation toward more structured, tiered consequences.

This bill extends Nebraska's existing ban on including long-term care services in the Medicaid managed care program until July 1, 2030. It prohibits adding services like skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, assisted living, and home-based care to Medicaid managed care plans. The policy directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries seeking long-term care services and providers that would otherwise deliver these services through Medicaid managed care. The bill amends Section 68-994 of Nebraska law to update the end date and repeals the previous version of the section.

LB 867 amends multiple Nebraska statutes governing health and human services programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects individuals receiving state benefits, including those in medical assistance, child care, and the "Bridge to Independence" program for young adults. Key changes include eliminating spousal asset requirements for medical assistance, adjusting eligibility for the Bridge to Independence program, modifying child care grant funding, and removing obsolete provisions like the Maternal and Child Health Work Fund. The bill also repeals outdated rules, such as the Nurse Licensure Compact and certain fingerprint requirements under the Uniform Credentialing Act.

Nebraska Legislative Bill 764 (LB 764) redefines the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to include certain employees of the Department of Correctional Services who are designated as such by the department. This change directly affects correctional staff working in state prisons or facilities who receive formal designation from their department. The bill amends Section 81-1401 of Nebraska law to add these employees to the list of individuals classified as law enforcement officers under state statutes. This adjustment aligns their legal status with existing classifications like state patrol officers and sheriff's deputies, without altering their job duties.