LB 1068 amends Nebraska's Election Act to update requirements for petition circulators and sponsors. The bill mandates that all petitions include a warning about criminal penalties for fraud (like false signatures or accepting payment for signatures) above the signature lines, a circulator's affidavit verifying each signature and the circulator's qualifications (including no felony convictions for fraud), and a clear red statement indicating if the circulator is paid or volunteer. It also requires petition signers to be registered voters at the time of signing (with exceptions for certain petitions like presidential candidates) and circulators to be at least 18, U.S. citizens, and free of relevant felony convictions. These changes aim to prevent fraud by adding verification steps and transparency to the petition process.
LB 1145 amends Nebraska's Open Meetings Act to update how public bodies must provide notice of meetings. It requires most public bodies to give advance notice through newspaper publication (in a general-circulation newspaper within their jurisdiction) plus posting on a statewide website repository. Smaller municipalities (cities of the second class, villages, and fire districts) may instead post notices in three public locations within their area. The bill clarifies that failing to follow these notice rules does not invalidate meeting decisions, and ensures notices include sufficient agenda details for public awareness. These changes apply to all Nebraska public bodies holding regular meetings.
Nebraska's LB 1220 amends rules governing how the Game and Parks Commission creates hunting, fur-harvesting, and fishing regulations. It requires the commission to hold at least one public hearing (with 30 days' notice) for all proposed rules or changes, and mandates that rules become effective 15 days after being posted online. The bill also adds a limited emergency provision allowing immediate season closures/reopenings (with a 24-hour delay) only for urgent threats to wildlife populations or public safety. This affects hunters, anglers, fur harvesters, and the commission itself by changing the process for developing and implementing these regulations.
LB 964 requires local governments in Nebraska (like cities, counties, and school districts) to hold public hearings before buying, selling, or leasing public property. It mandates that these hearings allow community members to comment, and requires a 10-day notice in a local newspaper detailing the property location, value, price, and involved parties. If a transaction isn't completed within two months after the hearing, a new hearing must be held. The bill aims to increase transparency in public property decisions by ensuring public input and clear advance notice.
LR 300 creates the Nebraska Economic Development Task Force to coordinate state efforts on economic development. The task force, composed of legislative committee chairs and members, will gather input from state departments (like Economic Development and Labor) and develop policy recommendations by December 2026. This resolution establishes a process for future policy development but does not enact new laws or directly affect residents or businesses.
This bill requires all Nebraska state legislators to complete a civics assessment within 90 days of taking office. The assessment consists of 20 randomly selected questions based on the U.S. Naturalization Test, with scores published publicly on the Legislature's website and each member's official biography. Completion is mandatory but passing is not required; scores do not affect a member's ability to hold office. Legislators who do not pass may be offered a voluntary civic literacy seminar, but results remain confidential for individual questions. The Clerk of the Legislature administers the test and certifies scores.
LB 1229 creates a dedicated "Rural Health Transformation Fund" to hold federal funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Rural Health Transformation Program, authorized under federal law. The bill requires all applications for and expenditures of these federal funds to be electronically reported to the Legislature and posted publicly, including details on beneficiaries, outcomes, and metrics. It also prohibits using the fund to replace existing state rural health spending and mandates that applicants submit a sustainability plan before receiving funds. The bill strictly limits the fund's use to federal program-approved purposes only.
LB 1258 renames Nebraska's Livestock Brand Act to the Livestock Protection Act, eliminates the Nebraska Brand Committee, and transfers brand registration and inspection duties to the Department of Agriculture. It makes brand inspections voluntary statewide (previously mandatory in certain areas), removes requirements for mandatory branding in specific zones, and deletes outdated rules about registered feedlots and open markets. The bill also creates a new Division of Brand Registration, Brand Inspection, and Livestock Theft Investigation within the Agriculture Department. These changes primarily affect livestock producers who register brands and choose inspections, while shifting administrative responsibilities from the eliminated committee to state agencies.
LB 1065 updates Nebraska's process for maintaining and distributing the state Constitution. It requires the Revisor of Statutes to compile an updated Constitution after constitutional amendments are adopted or after each legislative session, including notes on amendments and court rulings that declare sections unconstitutional. The updated version must be certified by the Secretary of State and then made available online, included in official publications, and printed as pamphlets for public request. Certified copies become the official Constitution and can be cited as legal evidence in court, while allowing skips for years with no changes if the Revisor notifies relevant officials.
Nebraska's LB 1034 prohibits school staff, contractors, and agents from allowing federal immigration enforcement officers access to school grounds or students for immigration enforcement purposes without a valid judicial warrant. The bill defines a "valid judicial warrant" as one issued by a judge or magistrate specifically authorizing the requested access, excluding immigration detainers or administrative documents. It explicitly allows schools to comply with valid judicial warrants, court orders, or respond to immediate threats to health or safety. This law directly affects all public K-12 schools in Nebraska and their employees by requiring federal immigration officers to obtain a court-issued warrant before entering school facilities for enforcement actions.
Nebraska's LB 1238 increases the cigarette tax to 64 cents per package (for up to 20 cigarettes) and changes how the revenue is distributed. The tax applies to wholesale cigarette distributors, and the collected funds will be allocated as follows: 50% to the General Fund, 2% to Outdoor Recreation, 10% to Health Services, 26% to Building Renewal, 5% to Public Safety Communications, 6% to Health Care, and 1% to Capital Construction. These funding allocations take effect July 1, 2026, with specific minimums tied to historical fiscal years. The bill also harmonizes tax provisions under the Tobacco Products Tax Act and repeals prior sections.
Nebraska's LB 1186 adopts the "Affordable American Energy and Jobs Act" to streamline development of wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and battery storage projects. It requires private energy developers to sign long-term power purchase agreements with public entities (like municipal utilities or power districts) for all energy generated, while prohibiting eminent domain over these projects. The bill mandates the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment to create non-binding "best practices" guidelines for siting projects, covering wildlife protection, agricultural land preservation, community benefits, and job creation for Nebraskans. Counties that adopt these guidelines become eligible for additional revenue from the nameplate capacity tax. The law focuses on balancing project development with community and environmental considerations through standardized planning criteria.
