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 1187 adjusts fees for physical and electronic inspections under Nebraska's Livestock Brand Act, directly affecting livestock owners, inspectors, and entities like banks or dairies that request inspections. It sets a physical inspection fee of $0.85 per head until June 30, 2023, then increases to a maximum of $1.10 per head starting July 1, 2023. Similarly, electronic inspections will cost $0.85 per head until June 30, 2023, then up to $1.10 per head. The bill eliminates a separate mileage charge and replaces it with a $30 surcharge to cover inspector travel costs, while removing outdated provisions.
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.
LB 986 amends Nebraska's campaign finance law to explicitly allow political committees and candidate campaigns to use campaign funds for security services and systems. This directly affects political committees and candidates running for office in Nebraska. The bill adds a specific provision (section 49-1446.03(10)) permitting expenditures on security personnel, equipment, installation, maintenance, and physical security measures. This change clarifies that security costs, previously excluded or ambiguous under the law, are now a permissible campaign expense.
LB 1236 updates Nebraska's rules for publishing, printing, and distributing legislative journals, session laws, and statutes. It allows for electronic or print formats (replacing outdated requirements), sets county-specific copy limits based on population class (e.g., Class 1 counties get up to 3 sets), and clarifies distribution to state agencies, courts, libraries, and universities. The bill harmonizes existing statutes by removing outdated provisions and ensures copies reach all required recipients, including county officials, state departments, and the University of Nebraska College of Law. This streamlines access to legislative records while modernizing distribution methods.
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.
LB 1131 creates a new tax credit program to support domestic violence and human trafficking service providers, distributing $5.7 million annually starting in 2027. This includes $480,000 for tribal programs, $300,000 for a statewide coalition, and $5.22 million based on population or service area size. The bill also eliminates existing tax exemptions for data centers, removing their personal property tax and sales tax exemptions. These changes directly affect nonprofit service providers and data center operators in Nebraska, with credits being refundable and transferable to other taxpayers.
