This bill directs Nebraska's Legislature to appropriate $7,046,697 (including $3.1 million in state funds and $3.9 million in federal funds) for fiscal year 2026-27 specifically to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for assisted-living facilities. It mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services raise the daily rate for all facilities under Nebraska's aged and disabled home and community-based Medicaid waiver program (Program No. 348) to $78.45 per day, applying equally to both rural and urban facilities. The funding is intended to directly affect Medicaid-certified assisted-living facilities serving eligible older adults and disabled individuals in Nebraska.
This bill appropriates $XXX from Nebraska's General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to the Department of Economic Development. The funds are designated for Program 601 (Community and Rural Development) to provide state aid to development districts established under Nebraska law (sections 13-1901 to 13-1907). It directly affects development districts that support community and rural economic projects, such as infrastructure or business development initiatives. The bill creates no new policy but allocates existing state funds for this specific purpose.
LB 1175 amends Nebraska's Parental Rights in Social Media Act to allow parents or minors harmed by social media companies to sue under product liability law instead of general civil actions. It reclassifies social media platforms as "products" for legal purposes, enabling lawsuits claiming harm from platform design or features (like addiction or exploitation) as if they were defective products. This directly affects parents of minors or minors themselves who believe social media companies violated the act by retaining their data or causing harm. The bill changes the legal mechanism for seeking damages but does not alter the types of harms (e.g., self-harm, addiction) that qualify for compensation under the law.
LB 1151 creates a new "regional craft brewery license" for Nebraska breweries producing 20,000 to 200,000 barrels of beer annually. This license allows these breweries to operate up to eight physical locations, sell beer to wholesalers for distribution, and obtain retail licenses at their sites - replacing the need for separate manufacturing and retail licenses. The bill also adds provisions for off-site storage of tax-paid beer with commission approval and updates licensing rules to include this new category. It directly affects mid-sized craft breweries seeking expanded operations under Nebraska's Liquor Control Act.
Nebraska's LB 1227 modifies how counties, cities, and villages can adopt local energy and electrical codes. It requires local energy codes to be cost-efficient and conform to state standards, ensuring they don’t increase energy consumption beyond the Nebraska Energy Code. The bill clarifies that local codes must align with state building codes (e.g., by referencing specific 2018 International Code sections) and mandates notification if local codes modify certain sections of those standards. It also prohibits local electrical codes from differing from state standards, except for inspector certification requirements.
LB 844 amends Nebraska's Site and Building Development Fund to allocate $500,000 for a study identifying large industrial sites (500-1,000 acres for "super sites," over 1,000 acres for "mega sites") across the state. The study must assess infrastructure needs (transportation, utilities), workforce availability within 50 miles, and required state investments to attract major employers in sectors like manufacturing, agribusiness, and clean energy. At least one site must be located west of the 100th meridian. The bill also allocates $100,000 for a grant under related provisions to support site development projects in future fiscal years.
Nebraska's LB 1120 authorizes licensed organizations to conduct lotteries and raffles with progressive jackpots - where prize pools grow until won - under the existing Nebraska Lottery and Raffle Act and Nebraska Small Lottery and Raffle Act. The bill requires organizers to register these games with the Department of Revenue, post clear rules publicly, and use at least 50% of gross proceeds for prizes (down from the standard 65% for regular games). It also permits selling tickets via vending machines and online through a licensed organization's website, while maintaining requirements for ticket transparency and equal odds. This bill directly affects nonprofit and community groups operating licensed lotteries or raffles in Nebraska.
This bill directs Nebraska's Legislature to reduce General Funds by $5.2 million for the Department of Correctional Services' Operations (Program 200) at the McCook Detention Facility for fiscal year 2026-27. It simultaneously requires the Department to use $5 million of General Funds for reentry and reintegration programs, covering tuition, fees, and direct costs for committed offenders. The bill directly affects the Department of Correctional Services' budget allocation and committed offenders participating in these programs. It mandates a specific reallocation of funds from facility operations to offender reentry services without creating new programs or altering eligibility.
LB 839 amends Nebraska's Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Act to update reporting requirements for cities. It requires cities to submit biennial reports to the Urban Affairs Committee detailing efforts related to affordable housing, including whether they have adopted or implemented an affordable housing action plan (new requirement added at subsection (m)). This directly affects all Nebraska cities with residential zoning, as they must now report on their progress toward housing affordability goals. The bill streamlines reporting by modifying Section 19-5504, repealing the original section while adding specific new data points for transparency.
Nebraska's LB 1005 allows all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility-type vehicles (UTVs) to operate between sunset and sunrise in incorporated cities or villages under specific safety conditions. The bill requires vehicles to have properly functioning white headlights (illuminating 100 feet ahead) and red taillights visible from 500 feet behind, along with liability insurance, a valid operator license, and a speed limit of 30 mph. It specifically permits nighttime operation for snow removal within city limits or for other authorized purposes, while maintaining existing daytime operation rules. This change directly affects ATV/UTV operators in Nebraska cities and villages who previously could only operate these vehicles during daylight hours.
Nebraska's LB 828 redefines "gift enterprise" in state law to clarify rules for business promotions involving chance and prizes, such as raffles tied to product purchases. It explicitly excludes bingo, keno, slot machines, and pickle cards while requiring promotional tickets to display the operator's name, avoid cost-per-play markings, and not resemble approved pickle cards. The bill restricts operators (businesses running these promotions) from rigging games, unfairly disqualifying winners, or charging entry fees beyond normal product costs, and mandates full disclosure of terms to participants. These rules apply to businesses, financial institutions, and credit unions conducting such promotions within Nebraska, with enforcement handled by the Department of Revenue.
LB 893 changes Nebraska's substitute teacher certification requirements by replacing the existing human relations training mandate with a new interpersonal relations training course. Substitute teachers seeking certification would complete an online course and test developed by the State Department of Education instead of the current human relations training. The bill requires the Department to create this course and test, covering similar content to the previous requirement, and allows the Department to charge a fee covering service costs. This directly affects substitute teachers applying for certification in Nebraska who would now have this alternative pathway.
