LB 8 amends Nebraska's Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Act to make the credit refundable (allowing businesses to receive cash payments even if they owe no tax) and removes annual and multi-year limits on claiming the credit. This change directly affects sustainable aviation fuel producers and businesses in Nebraska that qualify for the tax credit under the existing act. The bill also adjusts the effective date for the credit and harmonizes related provisions across tax code sections. These modifications aim to increase accessibility and predictability for businesses investing in sustainable aviation fuel.
Nebraska's LB 71 updates how the state reimburses child care providers under the federal Child Care Subsidy program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust reimbursement rates every odd year based on market rates, ensuring rates are at least the 75th percentile of local costs. Quality-rated child care programs (Step Up to Quality Act) and nationally accredited providers may receive higher reimbursement rates. The bill also changes income eligibility thresholds for child care assistance, raising the limit to 185% of the federal poverty level before October 2026 and lowering it to 130% after that date.
Nebraska's LB 5 provides legal immunity for administering naloxone, an FDA-approved drug that reverses opioid overdoses. It protects health professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists), family/friends, school staff, emergency responders, and police officers who act in good faith to help someone experiencing or likely to experience an opioid overdose. The law shields them from lawsuits, criminal charges, or professional penalties when reasonably using naloxone under specific circumstances. It specifically covers naloxone hydrochloride and other FDA-approved overdose reversal drugs, requiring only good-faith action without willful negligence.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to ban the death penalty in Nebraska entirely. It would prohibit the death penalty for all offenses and automatically commute all existing death sentences to life imprisonment. The amendment must be approved by Nebraska voters in the November 2026 general election to take effect. If passed, it would change Nebraska's constitutional law as outlined in Article I, Sections 9(3) and 23.
Nebraska's LB 65 exempts individuals under 19 from paying court fees, costs, and probation fees in juvenile court proceedings and for certain criminal offenses committed as minors. The bill directly affects minors (under 19) and their parents/guardians, who will no longer be liable for these costs in juvenile cases. Key provisions include presuming minors indigent for discovery costs, banning fines in juvenile proceedings, and prohibiting recovery of fees from juveniles or their families. The bill also updates juvenile code provisions related to diversion programs, appointed counsel, and DNA testing costs.
LB 27 amends Nebraska's Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act to update loan repayment programs for healthcare professionals working in rural shortage areas. It specifically adds a dental loan repayment program for dentists providing Medicaid services, with up to $60,000 annually (capping at $300,000 total), while adjusting caps for other providers (e.g., $90,000 max for physicians). The bill clarifies eligibility requirements, including licensing, practice location in designated shortage areas, and excludes current residency program participants. These changes harmonize existing provisions and specify how Medicaid excess profit funds may support these programs.
This bill requires Nebraska school districts to collect and report detailed student achievement and discipline data to the state. School districts must track incidents like suspensions, expulsions, and law enforcement involvement, then report individual data (while keeping students anonymous) aggregated by factors such as race, poverty level, disability status, and English proficiency. The state will create a public database showing this de-identified data, searchable by school, discipline type, and demographic group. The goal is to help identify patterns in achievement and discipline outcomes, particularly for students in poverty, with disabilities, or who are limited English proficient. Failure to comply may lead to accreditation consequences for school districts.
Nebraska's LB 308, the Health Care Staffing Agency Registration Act, requires health care staffing agencies (including technology platforms that match workers with facilities) to register annually with the Department of Labor for $1,500. The bill prohibits agencies from enforcing noncompete clauses that restrict temporary staff workers' employment options and mandates that agencies verify staff workers' qualifications, maintain professional liability insurance ($1 million per incident), and document compliance. Agencies must also submit quarterly reports to the state detailing average charges to health care facilities and payments to staff by licensing category. This bill directly affects staffing agencies and health care facilities that contract with them, establishing new registration, transparency, and insurance requirements.
This bill creates a state grant program administered by Nebraska's Department of Economic Development to fund nonprofit organizations operating bike-sharing systems. Nonprofits must apply for grants, report on fund usage, and return unused funds. The bill specifically intends to allocate $250,000 from the General Fund to establish this program, directly affecting community bike-sharing initiatives and their nonprofit operators.
LB 145 requires Nebraska's Director of Agriculture to administer a new grant program using funds from the Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Species Assistance Fund. The grants will support local weed control authorities, natural resources districts, and other entities for activities like research, innovative control methods, responding to invasive plant infestations threatening cropland or wildlife habitats, and monitoring invasive species. The bill also establishes a new annual funding requirement of three million dollars specifically for vegetation management along natural stream banks to improve streamflow, with priority given to river basins covered by interstate agreements. This directly affects local governments, land managers, and conservation groups working on noxious weed control across Nebraska.
This bill creates a new "military impact funding" mechanism for Nebraska school districts serving children of active-duty military members. Districts receive state funds calculated by comparing per-pupil federal impact aid (from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) to per-pupil local tax levies, with the difference paid for each enrolled military-connected child. This funding is added to the state's school finance formula starting in the 2025-26 school year. It directly affects districts that received federal impact aid in the prior year and provide free education to military-connected students.
This Nebraska constitutional amendment (LR 6CA) would change the state constitution to recognize marriage for all couples regardless of gender or race, removing the current language limiting marriage to "a man and a woman." It directly affects all Nebraska residents seeking marriage licenses by eliminating the existing constitutional barrier to same-sex marriage and removing race-based restrictions. The key provision amends Article I, Section 29 to state that "the State of Nebraska and its political subdivisions shall recognize marriage and issue marriage licenses to couples regardless of gender and race." The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 general election.
