Nebraska Bills

LB 860 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to create a program by January 1, 2027, providing behavioral health services to individuals under 21 with complex needs. The program must include services like mobile response, intensive home-based treatment, inpatient care, substance use disorder treatment, and developmental disability care. It aims to support families in community settings and prevent institutionalization or out-of-home placements. Care coordination will occur through behavioral health regions or a statewide managed care plan to ensure access to a full continuum of services.

LB 1165 amends Nebraska's Key Employer and Jobs Retention Act to adjust the wage retention credit to 5% of wages paid to retained employees earning at least the state average wage, with annual and total spending caps. It creates a new Department of Labor grant program to help employers retain or attract workers after a change in ownership and control, particularly for businesses meeting key employer criteria. The bill also modifies credit percentages under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act and adds capital improvement grants for eligible employers under the Site and Building Development Act. These changes apply to key employers with at least 1,000 equivalent employees in Nebraska during a base year, including those facing ownership transitions.

Nebraska Legislative Bill 794 reorganizes the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's responsibilities by amending key statutes. It eliminates the Healthy Soils Task Force and outdated funding mechanisms related to the Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners Administrative Fund, while clarifying the Department's existing duties. The bill specifically repeals outdated sections (2-401 through 2-404) and streamlines provisions in Sections 2-406 and 81-201 of Nebraska law. These changes directly affect the Department of Agriculture, removing specific advisory structures and administrative requirements without creating new programs or funding. The bill focuses on administrative efficiency rather than new policy initiatives.

LB 1072 is a procedural bill that reorganizes Nebraska's state fund management. It transfers remaining balances from 20+ specialized funds (like Foster Care Review, Nursing Faculty Student Loans, and Capitol Commission funds) to the General Fund by June 2026. The bill also eliminates 30+ obsolete funds and programs (such as the Tractor Permit Cash Fund and Family Home Visitation Act) while creating a new fund for medical cannabis regulation fees. These changes streamline budget administration without introducing new policy initiatives.

LB 992 is an appropriations bill that allocates specific funds from Nebraska's General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to a program referred to as "Program XXX" in the bill text. It specifies that a portion of the funding must be used exclusively for state aid. The bill declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon approval. Note: The bill text contains placeholders (e.g., "$XXXX", "Program XXX"), so specific funding amounts and program details are not disclosed in the provided context.

LB 1182 establishes a $50,000 annual minimum base salary for all full-time certified teachers in Nebraska public schools starting in the 2027-28 school year, applying equally regardless of experience or education level. Beginning in 2029-30, this minimum salary will adjust annually based on changes in Nebraska’s state General Fund receipts (with a minimum 0% increase), and the salary cannot decrease from the previous year. The bill also directs the state to transition to a block grant funding system for public education, replacing the current foundation aid structure, with quarterly payments to school districts starting July 2027 based on enrollment and the new teacher salary minimum. This affects all Nebraska public school districts and their certified teaching staff through direct salary requirements and funding changes.

Nebraska LB 934 changes how members of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission are selected, shifting from appointment to election. Starting in 2028, members from public service commissioner districts 1, 3, and 5 will be elected every four years, while districts 2 and 4 will have elections in 2028 and 2030, then every four years thereafter. All commission members will be elected on a nonpartisan ballot during statewide general elections. This bill modifies existing statutes to establish this election process and harmonizes related provisions.

This bill amends Nebraska's Uniform Controlled Substances Act to add bromazolam to Schedule I (the most restrictive category) as a controlled substance. It also corrects the spelling of certain substances listed in the law. The primary effect is that bromazolam possession, distribution, or use without authorization becomes illegal under Nebraska law. This change directly affects individuals and businesses handling bromazolam within the state, aligning Nebraska's drug schedule with current regulatory needs.

LB 1029 requires Nebraska colleges and universities to report funding received from "foreign adversarial sources" (defined as foreign governments, entities created under their laws, citizens/nationals of such countries, or their agents) to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. Covered institutions must submit biannual reports detailing the amount, purpose, source details, and associated contracts of all "reportable funding" (including gifts, grants, or donations), excluding salaries or tuition payments from individuals. The bill redefines key terms like "foreign adversarial source" and "reportable funding" to align with federal standards as of January 1, 2025, and mandates public posting of reports online. This affects all public and private two- or four-year colleges in Nebraska with a Nebraska campus.

LB 861 requires local governments (cities, counties, or state agencies) to use only "authorized inspectors" (credentialed by the state, county, city, or a licensed third party) for building permit inspections. It mandates that inspection records - showing pass/fail results and reasons for failure - must be publicly accessible if the building still stands when a request is made. This applies to all inspections tied to building permits, structural projects, or warranty requirements. The bill aims to increase transparency in building safety checks while ensuring inspectors meet state standards.

LB 1105 allocates specific funding from Nebraska's General Fund for two fiscal years ($XXXX for 2025-26 and $XXXX for 2026-27) to a program designated as "XXX." It explicitly reserves portions of these funds ($XXX each year) solely for state aid, prohibiting their use for other purposes. The bill declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon passage, bypassing standard waiting periods. This is a procedural appropriations bill focused on funding allocation, not policy change, and does not specify which entities or programs are directly affected beyond the generic "Program XXX" reference.

Nebraska's LB 1173 establishes an annual $250 filing fee for employers with over $100,000 in annual payroll who submit quarterly wage reports under the state's Employment Security Law. The bill renames the "Contractor and Professional Employer Organization Registration Cash Fund" to "Contractor, Business, and Professional Employer Organization Registration Cash Fund" and specifies that fees collected will fund this renamed account. Employers with lower payrolls ($100,000 or less) and those qualifying for exemptions (e.g., self-employed contractors under $3,000 annual payroll) are not subject to this fee. The bill also modifies existing fee structures for contractor and professional employer organization registrations but does not change eligibility for unemployment benefits or employer tax obligations.