LB 282 allows K-12 teachers in Nebraska public, private, denominational, or parochial schools to seek up to $300 in reimbursement for school supplies they personally purchased. Teachers must submit receipts to the State Department of Education, which will administer the program based on policies developed by the State Board of Education. The bill requires the State Board to specify eligible supplies and establish application procedures, effective starting the 2025-26 school year. This directly affects teachers who cover out-of-pocket supply costs, providing a structured reimbursement process.
LB 413 amends Nebraska law governing how public power, irrigation, and combined power/irrigation districts set rates for electricity and water services. It requires districts to establish fair, reasonable rates that distribute operational benefits equitably among users. Key changes include limiting negotiated rates for large commercial/industrial customers (over 500 kW) to five years and mandating that such rates cover the actual cost of producing the electricity if tied to qualifying economic development projects. This directly affects power districts and their commercial/industrial customers with significant electrical loads.
Nebraska's LB 129 prohibits local governments (counties, cities, villages) from restricting the use of specific energy sources like natural gas, propane, renewable diesel, hydrogen, or electricity for electric vehicles. It directly affects energy providers - including natural gas utilities, propane retailers, and other energy marketers - by preventing local ordinances from blocking their services to authorized customers. The bill defines "energy source" broadly to include alternatives like renewable fuels and hydrogen, while exempting city-owned natural gas utilities and existing propane regulations. This law ensures local governments cannot interfere with how these providers deliver energy services, focusing on removing barriers to diverse energy options.
LB 315 sets a specific end date (January 1, 2026) for Nebraska's requirement that domestic and foreign corporations file biennial reports and pay occupation taxes. It affects corporations registered in Nebraska, requiring them to submit reports and pay taxes every even-numbered year before 2026, with deadlines on March 1 and penalties for late filing by April 15. The bill harmonizes existing tax and reporting rules across multiple statutes and repeals the original sections once the sunset date passes. This is a procedural change to clarify the duration of these corporate obligations, not a policy shift in tax rates or requirements.
LB 163 creates a new Office of Climate Action within Nebraska's Department of Environment and Energy. The office will develop a statewide climate action plan by July 2026, focusing on reducing climate change causes and managing climate risks. It must report annually on state climate-related legislation, federal funding secured, technical assistance provided, and collaborations with local governments and climate groups. The office serves as a central resource to support climate initiatives across the state, providing education, technical help, and policy guidance to communities and organizations. This bill directly affects state agencies, local governments, and climate-focused organizations by establishing a dedicated state-level coordination point for climate action efforts.
LB 358 requires Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to allow inmates to access their personal individual files upon written request to the facility director. The files include admission summaries, presentence reports, disciplinary records, parole plans, and other relevant case information. However, the bill specifically permits the department to withhold medical and mental health records at its discretion. This applies to all inmates in Nebraska state correctional facilities and amends Section 83-178 of Nebraska law.
LB 100 creates a new Office of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation within Nebraska's Department of Economic Development to support startups and small businesses. It requires state agencies to aim for 5% of contracts and workforce development funding to go to businesses under five years old, and encourages eliminating business license fees for new Nebraska-based businesses. The office must report annually on policy impacts and track progress toward these goals, with state agencies also required to report on their efforts. These provisions directly affect new businesses (under five years old) and state agencies managing contracts, workforce programs, and economic development funds.
Nebraska's LB 99 limits restrictive housing and solitary confinement in state correctional facilities. It prohibits holding any inmate in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days and bans placing vulnerable populations - including minors, pregnant people, and those with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries - in restrictive housing (Section 83-173.03). The bill defines restrictive housing as conditions with less than 10 hours of out-of-cell time daily and solitary confinement as 22+ hours in a cell with no visual/auditory contact or restricted activities (Section 83-4,114). It requires facilities to develop individualized transition plans for inmates moving from restricted housing back to general population. The law directly affects all incarcerated individuals in Nebraska's correctional system, with specific protections for medically vulnerable inmates.
LB 425 expands Nebraska's homestead tax exemption to include veterans with 80-99% service-connected disability (previously limited to 100% disabled veterans) and their eligible surviving spouses. It adds new qualifying categories under subsection (2)(g), allowing these veterans and surviving spouses (who remarried after age 57) to receive a tax exemption equal to their disability percentage (e.g., 85% disabled = 85% exemption). The bill also modifies application requirements: annual certification for most exemptions, but certification every five years for some categories. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and repeals the previous version of the exemption law. This directly affects disabled veterans with partial service-connected disabilities and their surviving spouses who meet specific criteria.
LB 82 adopts the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, allowing Nebraska to join a multi-state agreement that enables cosmetologists licensed in Nebraska to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. This directly affects licensed cosmetologists - especially military members and their spouses relocating across state lines - and Nebraska's State Licensing Authority, which will administer the compact. Key provisions include creating a "Multistate License" recognized by all participating states, requiring uniform licensure standards, and establishing a shared system for reporting disciplinary actions and safety concerns. The compact aims to improve public access to cosmetology services, reduce administrative burdens for workers, and enhance cross-state cooperation on licensing and safety.
LB 200 reinstates tax exemptions for specific properties under Nebraska's Personal Property Tax Relief Act, directly affecting state/local government entities, nonprofit organizations (educational, religious, charitable, cemetery), and Medicaid-serving healthcare facilities. The bill restores exemptions for government property used for public purposes, nonprofit properties used exclusively for their mission (not for profit or discrimination), and skilled nursing facilities serving Medicaid beneficiaries (with exemptions based on average occupancy). It also clarifies that student housing exemptions apply only to common areas of buildings owned by charities and made available to students. The bill amends multiple tax code sections to harmonize these provisions without creating new exemptions.
Nebraska's LB 602, the "Delete Act," establishes new data privacy rules specifically for data brokers - companies that collect and sell personal data without a direct relationship with consumers. The bill requires these brokers to post clear website notices identifying their business, implement comprehensive security programs to protect personal data, and follow strict protocols for employee training, breach response, and third-party vendor management. It directly affects data brokers operating in Nebraska by mandating specific transparency and security measures, while excluding certain entities like financial institutions and government bodies. The law focuses on limiting data collection and enhancing consumer control over personal information through concrete operational requirements.
