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 138 changes how pharmacies are paid for dispensing prescriptions under Medicaid. Starting July 1, 2026, independent pharmacies (owning six or fewer locations) and pharmacies as the only option within 30 miles will receive $10.38 per prescription. Other pharmacies will receive tiered fees based on annual prescription volume: $10.38 for under 30,000 prescriptions, $9.51 for 30,000-70,000, and $8.30 for 70,000+ prescriptions. The bill requires the state to conduct cost surveys every two years and adjust fees annually to ensure fair reimbursement for all participating pharmacies.
LB 199 shortens Nebraska's statute of limitations for personal injury claims to two years, applying only to cases filed after the law takes effect. It expands the Nonrecourse Civil Litigation Act to cover administrative proceedings and requires consumers using litigation funding to disclose funding contracts to all parties, courts, and insurers upfront. The bill also establishes a registration system for litigation funding companies with the Secretary of State, mandating annual reporting on funding terms and outcomes, and allows disciplinary action for violations. These changes directly affect Nebraska residents with personal injury claims, consumers using litigation funding, and the companies providing such funding. The law creates new disclosure obligations and oversight for funding agreements but does not alter existing civil procedure rules.
LB 46 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Restaurant Meals Program under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This would allow eligible SNAP participants (low-income residents meeting federal criteria) to use their benefits to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants, rather than only groceries. The bill amends state law to mandate the department apply for and implement this federal option, which is currently unavailable in Nebraska. It does not change SNAP eligibility rules or funding but enables a new benefit delivery method for qualifying recipients.
LB 304 removes the expiration date (sunset) for Nebraska's participation in the federal Child Care Subsidy program, making the program permanent beyond its current September 30, 2026, deadline. It directly affects low-income families with children who qualify for child care assistance based on income thresholds (up to 185% of the federal poverty level before October 1, 2026, or 130% after). The bill maintains existing eligibility rules, including transitional assistance for families exceeding income limits, and ensures funding comes from federal Child Care Development Block Grant funds rather than state general funds. It does not change income levels or subsidy structures but extends the program's duration indefinitely.
LB 339 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to annually report on federal child care subsidy payments to licensed providers. The department must submit, by February 1 each year, a summary detailing reimbursed claims from the previous calendar year - including the number of child care days paid monthly for each provider. This bill does not alter eligibility rules, funding, or program operations; it solely adds a reporting requirement. The report will help track how the federal subsidy program is utilized, with data provided to the legislature and health committee.
Nebraska's LB 642, the Artificial Intelligence Consumer Protection Act, requires developers of high-risk AI systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination in key consumer decisions. It directly affects businesses developing or deploying AI systems that make consequential decisions - such as in employment, housing, lending, healthcare, or criminal justice - without human review. The law mandates "reasonable care" to protect consumers from known discrimination risks starting February 2026, with compliance creating a rebuttable presumption of adherence to the standard. It excludes narrow tools like spell-checkers or antifraud systems from regulation, focusing only on AI systems with significant real-world impact on consumers.
Nebraska bill LB 369 changes the age at which certain health decisions can be made without parental consent. It allows individuals aged 18 or older to make their own medical and mental health care decisions, removing the need for parental or guardian approval. The bill also specifically permits youth under 19 who are committed to the Department of Correctional Services to consent to their own medical and mental health care during their incarceration, without parental consent (except as required by other law). This amendment modifies Section 43-2101 of Nebraska law to update these consent provisions.
LB 368 establishes the Nebraska Youth in Care Bill of Rights, directly affecting children in foster care or residential child-care institutions. The bill defines specific rights, including safety from exploitation, access to age-appropriate medical and educational services, freedom from discrimination, the right to participate in court proceedings, and protection of their assets. Key mechanisms require the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure these rights through actions like facilitating sibling placements, providing timely court notices, and supporting transitions to independent living. The law mandates that all youth in care receive clear, developmentally appropriate information about their rights and services, while respecting biological parents' rights where applicable.
