This bill (LB 598) provides funding to Nebraska school districts to cover unexpected, significant increases in costs for students learning English (limited English proficiency programs). Districts with annual LEP expenditures exceeding $50,000 or 0.5% of their budget can apply for payments from the Education Future Fund, calculated as the difference between current-year costs and 107% of the prior year's costs. It also updates how elementary school sites qualify for funding, adjusts special education reimbursement rules, and expands eligible uses of the Education Future Fund to include costs for students with 504 plans. These changes aim to address specific financial pressures on school districts while modifying administrative processes under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act.
This bill creates Nebraska's Special Education Teacher Forgivable Loan Program, targeting students pursuing special education teaching credentials at eligible Nebraska colleges. It provides loans covering remaining tuition costs after federal/state aid, which are forgiven if recipients teach special education in Nebraska public schools for five consecutive years. To qualify, students must be U.S. citizens or specific eligible noncitizens, enrolled in special education programs, and have applied for other financial aid. Failure to teach in Nebraska for the required period results in repayment with 5% annual interest.
Nebraska's LB 18 requires local authorities to verify specific safety and accessibility standards before approving new or modified utility poles for wireless providers under the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act. It mandates that pole installations must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, not obstruct public travel or safety, and not interfere with utility operations (Section 9). The bill also sets strict height limits: new poles cannot exceed 5 feet above the tallest existing pole within 500 feet or 50 feet above ground level (Section 5). This directly affects wireless companies installing poles in public right-of-way, ensuring standardized safety checks and height restrictions.
Nebraska bill LB 665 prohibits the use of electronic livestock identification tags manufactured by entities with ties to "foreign adversaries" as defined by federal regulations (15 C.F.R. 791.4). The law directly affects livestock owners, veterinarians, and the Department of Agriculture by banning these specific electronic tags and preventing the state from requiring them for animal tracking. Key provisions include banning foreign-made devices for livestock identification and ensuring state requirements align with federal traceability rules (9 C.F.R. part 86). The bill aims to protect Nebraska's livestock industry from potential security risks linked to foreign surveillance technology, without altering existing federal traceability standards.
LB 589 changes how Nebraska school districts receive reimbursement for special education programs and support services while requiring districts to provide special education staff with four days of annual professional leave. The bill adjusts reimbursement calculations for allowable costs, ensures funding from state education funds, and mandates that districts cover substitute staff costs during this leave. This directly affects all Nebraska public school districts offering special education services, as they must now allocate resources for both the new leave policy and updated reimbursement processes. The professional leave must be used onsite solely for completing essential documentation related to students' special education cases.
LB 507 amends Nebraska law to clarify how school districts reimburse parents or guardians for transporting children with disabilities. It specifies that payments must follow the state mileage rate (from section 81-1176) for actual miles traveled between home and school, and limits reimbursement for multiple children in one vehicle to the cost for a single child. The bill directly affects school districts (which must provide these payments) and parents/guardians (who receive reimbursement). It repeals the original section 79-1129 to replace vague language with clear, actionable rules.
This bill expands Nebraska's Young Adult Bridge to Independence program to include young adults not lawfully present in the U.S., removing immigration status as an eligibility barrier. It amends eligibility rules (effective January 2026) to allow these individuals - primarily youth aged 16-24 transitioning from foster care - to access medical care (including Medicaid options), housing support, and case management services. Key provisions require the Department of Health and Human Services to update state plans and ensure services like emergency medical care and foster care maintenance payments are provided regardless of immigration status. The bill directly affects vulnerable young adults in Nebraska's foster care system who would otherwise be excluded from this support.
LB 206 increases penalties for specific crimes committed in declared disaster areas during emergency periods. It applies to offenses like assault, robbery, arson, burglary, theft, and criminal trespass when they occur in areas under a Governor's emergency proclamation, local declaration, federal disaster declaration, or mandatory evacuation order. If convicted, offenders face the next higher penalty classification (e.g., a Class I misdemeanor becomes a Class IV felony). The bill requires prosecutors to prove the enhanced penalty in court, and the "emergency period" lasts until the declaration ends or 30 days after issuance.
LB 481 establishes the Foster Child Scholarships Act, providing financial aid (HOPE Scholarships) for children in foster care or their biological siblings to attend qualifying private schools in Nebraska. It directly affects eligible students (those in foster care or siblings of foster children) and their educational decisionmakers, allowing them to use scholarships at non-profit private schools meeting state safety, accreditation, and anti-discrimination standards. The program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services starting 2025-26, covers education costs and continues until graduation or age 21, regardless of foster care status. The bill requires annual reports to the legislature detailing scholarship recipients, funding amounts, and demographic data, while explicitly stating the state cannot control participating schools' governance.
LB 95 creates a three-year pilot program (2025-2028) to provide child care assistance specifically for Nebraska child care workers. It directly affects households where a member works in licensed child care (including self-employed providers, Head Start, or Early Head Start programs), with income at or below 85% of the state median. Eligible households receive 12 months of no-cost child care assistance if they maintain qualifying employment, and the program requires annual reports tracking participation, employment duration, and costs. The bill modifies existing child care subsidy rules to establish this targeted pilot while maintaining standard federal eligibility requirements.
LB 535 increases penalties for assaulting specific healthcare and emergency personnel in Nebraska. It prohibits assault on frontline behavioral health providers (like direct support professionals) and healthcare workers (including licensed practitioners and facility employees) while they are on duty at their facilities. The bill amends assault statutes to add these groups to the list of protected individuals, requiring enhanced penalties for causing serious bodily injury to them during work hours. It also clarifies and streamlines existing assault provisions related to officers, emergency responders, and healthcare professionals. The law directly affects healthcare workers, behavioral health providers, and emergency responders by making assaults against them punishable as more serious offenses.
This bill changes how Nebraska school districts calculate their annual property tax budget limits and manage unused tax authority. It revises the formula to determine a district's tax request authority each year, incorporating prior-year tax requests, non-property revenue, and growth adjustments. School districts can now carry forward unused tax authority to future years (excluding amounts from base growth increases), with the state department tracking and reporting these balances. These changes directly affect all Nebraska public school districts by altering their annual budgeting process for property taxes under the School District Property Tax Limitation Act.
