Nebraska's LB 1241 requires school boards and private school authorities to verify employment histories for applicants in roles involving regular student contact. Schools must obtain written authorization from applicants to contact their past employers (over the last 20 years) and confirm whether applicants faced allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or related disciplinary actions. Applicants who provide false information or withhold required details face civil penalties up to $500 or denial of employment. The bill mandates schools to review these records before hiring and allows immediate termination if misconduct history emerges post-hiring, excluding grievance procedures. This directly affects all school applicants and school employers across Nebraska's public, private, denominational, and parochial schools.
Nebraska's LB 840 amends the Affordable Housing Act to require new multifamily housing projects seeking state funding through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to include accessible units. Specifically, projects must include at least 20% of units accessible for people with mobility disabilities and 10% accessible for people with hearing or vision disabilities. This applies to all projects with five or more dwelling units that receive state assistance under the Act. The requirements take effect upon the bill's passage and replace the previous accessibility standards.
This bill allows cities of the first, second, and village classifications in Nebraska to contract with private entities for the operation, maintenance, and management of public parking facilities (including on-street meters and public lots/garages). It permits these contracts to cover issuing citations, collecting fines, and operating payment systems, but requires cities to retain final authority over appeals, rates, and public interest oversight. Contracts are limited to 30 years for first-class cities or 10 years for second-class cities/villages, including renewals. The bill ensures municipalities maintain control over parking facility operations and pricing while enabling private management of day-to-day functions.
LB 1053 removes a legal prohibition that previously prevented schools from suspending students in prekindergarten through second grade. The bill amends Nebraska statutes (sections 79-263, 79-265, and 79-267) to eliminate this restriction, allowing schools to suspend young students for disciplinary reasons under existing student conduct rules. It specifically repeals section 79-265.01, which had created the ban on suspending early-grade students. This change directly affects pre-K through second-grade students and school disciplinary policies. The bill does not alter the types of conduct that may lead to suspension, only removes the age-based restriction on applying those policies.
This bill (LB 850) amends Nebraska's Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act to explicitly allow cities of metropolitan class (over 50,000 residents) and primary class (20,000-50,000 residents) to use existing economic development funds for housing construction or rehabilitation. It specifically authorizes these funds for housing projects targeting low/moderate-income residents, workforce housing plans, or affordable housing action plans (as defined in Section 19-5505). The bill updates definitions to include housing construction/rehabilitation as a qualifying business activity for these cities. This change expands current allowable uses of economic development programs without creating new funding. The bill focuses on streamlining how cities can address housing needs through existing local economic development tools.
Nebraska's LB 837 allows businesses to round cash transaction amounts to the nearest 5 cents. For cash payments ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents, businesses may round down; for amounts ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents, they may round up. Transactions totaling 1 or 2 cents must be rounded up to 5 cents. This rule applies only to cash payments and excludes credit cards, checks, or other non-cash methods.
Nebraska's LB 1224 prohibits children from transferring to schools that opt out of state accreditation during active child abuse or neglect investigations. It bans individuals convicted of sexual assault (including offenses against children) from monitoring or teaching at such "exempt schools" that choose not to meet standard accreditation requirements. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Education to provide notice and maintain confidentiality regarding these restrictions. These provisions apply directly to vulnerable children in investigations and to schools operating outside state accreditation standards.
Nebraska's LB 1242 allows the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and enforce child support obligations for an unborn child upon the mother's request. The bill enables retroactive support starting from the month of conception (as determined by a physician), which can be collected even if paternity is confirmed after birth. It prohibits paternity testing for an unborn child if it poses any risk to the child's health. The support amount is determined by a court considering the best interests of the mother and child, without requiring paternity verification without the mother's consent.
LB 1233, the Developmental Disabilities Provider Excessive Training and Cost Reduction Act, prohibits Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services from requiring unnecessarily costly or excessive training for employees of providers serving individuals with developmental disabilities. It specifically limits physical restraint training requirements to only those employees whose job duties reasonably require it, and ensures such training meets federal minimum standards. The bill mandates that if physical restraint training is required, the department must offer at least two cost-competitive training options, including the ability for providers to use in-house programs that meet federal safety standards. This applies to all current and future training requirements for providers, their employees (including part-time and contract staff), and the department.
LB 1157 requires health insurers, their contracted vendors, and care management organizations to accept payment methods other than credit cards for healthcare provider payments starting January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who receive payments from these entities, ensuring they are not forced to accept only credit card transactions. It prohibits payment systems from restricting providers to credit cards as the sole acceptable method for reimbursement. This change aims to provide more payment flexibility for healthcare providers while maintaining existing reimbursement standards.
LB 1152 creates a state grant program to help Nebraska cities, counties, tribes, and nonprofits recruit new households relocating from outside the state. Applicants must cover 20% of program costs and target households with annual incomes of at least $55,000. Grants fund relocation incentives and program administration, with payments tied to meeting half the household recruitment goal. Recipients must report semiannually on applications, approved households, and economic impact like tax revenue.
Nebraska's LB 1166 changes how school employees' retirement contributions are calculated under the School Employees Retirement Act. Instead of a fixed 9.78% contribution rate, it establishes variable rates based on the retirement fund's "funded ratio" (how well-funded the system is): 9.75% if under 96% funded, 8.75% at 96-98%, 8% at 98-100%, and 7.25% if 100% or more funded. These rates apply starting July 1, 2025, with adjustments calculated annually using the previous year's actuarial report. The bill directly affects all public school employees in Nebraska through their payroll deductions for retirement benefits.
