LB 1046 requires Nebraska schools to create policies allowing high school athletes (called "student-participants") to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL) while maintaining athletic eligibility. The bill mandates that schools prohibit NIL activities using school property, during school hours, or promoting alcohol, gambling, or illegal content, and requires students to disclose NIL agreements to school officials for review. Schools must also provide education on financial and tax implications of NIL deals. These policies must be adopted by the 2027-28 school year, with schools unable to penalize students for compliant NIL activities. The bill directly affects high school athletes participating in interscholastic sports or activities.
LB 1184, the Nebraska Tribal College Investment Act, creates a state fund to provide matching grants to Nebraska tribal colleges (specifically 1994 Institutions located in Nebraska) for high-demand educational programs. The bill requires tribal colleges to secure new private funding commitments before applying for grants, with the state matching those private funds up to the same amount. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education will administer the fund and disburse grants by January 1 each year. This act directly affects tribal colleges by enabling them to expand accessible, in-demand education programs through public-private partnerships. The fund is financed by legislative transfers and private contributions, with unused funds invested per state investment rules.
LB 1093 redefines "excavation" under Nebraska's One-Call Notification System Act to clarify which activities require utility notification before digging. The bill explicitly includes activities like trenching, drilling, and pipe plowing while excluding specific scenarios: normal road maintenance (without grade changes), agricultural tilling, grave digging, railroad track maintenance (without grade changes), and small hand digging (up to 18 inches) by telecom providers for customer connections. This change directly affects construction companies, utility contractors, farmers, railroad operators, and telecommunications service providers. The redefinition aims to reduce unnecessary notifications for routine tasks while maintaining safety protocols for most digging activities.
Nebraska's LB 1086 changes eligibility requirements for community college gap assistance, directly affecting students seeking financial support to cover costs not covered by other funding. The bill replaces existing rules with a new standard requiring applicants to demonstrate capacity to: complete an eligible program, earn a credential, secure full-time employment, and maintain that employment. It also explicitly excludes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training benefits from eligibility calculations. This policy change aims to ensure gap assistance fills true financial gaps after other public or private funding sources are exhausted.
LB 1180 creates a new licensing system for companies providing intrastate Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation services in Nebraska. It directly affects transportation providers serving Medicaid patients by exempting their rates from regulation by the Public Service Commission. Key provisions include redefining "common carrier" to exclude Medicaid transportation providers and establishing license requirements under Section 75-311. The bill removes the need for rate approval by the Public Service Commission for these services when rates are set through agreements with state agencies.
This bill requires Nebraska public and private (including denominational and parochial) high schools to create policies allowing seventh and eighth graders to participate in high school sports under specific conditions. Students must have coach-approved skill levels (with extra safety checks for contact sports), a medical evaluation (with extra checks for contact sports), and parental written consent. Once a student participates in high school sports under this policy, they lose eligibility for middle school sports in that sport. The requirement applies to all schools and takes effect for the 2026-27 school year.
LB 1112 requires Nebraska schools to adopt a uniform statewide grading system for all credit-bearing courses in grades 3-12, applying equally to resident students and enrollment option students. It mandates a single statewide grading scale, consistent rules for calculating grades (including late assignments and rounding), and alignment with state academic standards. Schools must implement this system starting in the 2027-2028 school year, publish the grading scale in student handbooks and on websites, and report grades to the State Department of Education in a standardized format. The bill aims to reduce inequities for students transferring between districts or applying for scholarships by ensuring consistent academic measurement across all public, private, parochial, and denominational schools.
Nebraska's LB 1262 prohibits all public and private postsecondary institutions in the state from accepting any funding, gifts, research sponsorships, or partnerships from designated "foreign adversaries," including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Qatar, and entities like the Muslim Brotherhood. The bill defines prohibited entities and requires institutions to return any funds received in violation. It also mandates written certification for cultural exchanges to ensure they do not restrict free speech, control curriculum, or threaten state safety. This directly affects all Nebraska colleges and universities, their research centers, and affiliated organizations. The law aligns with similar measures recently enacted in Florida and Texas.
LB 1235 updates Nebraska's medical cannabis laws by amending the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act and Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act. It establishes a patient and caregiver registry, creates a directory of healthcare practitioners who can recommend cannabis, and sets licensing requirements for practitioners and cannabis businesses. The bill introduces sales tax on medical cannabis (separate from marijuana taxes), outlines commission powers for regulation and enforcement, and defines key terms like "qualified patient" and "allowable amount." These changes directly affect medical cannabis patients, their caregivers, healthcare providers, and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission.
This bill requires motor carriers (including ride-sharing services) that transport railroad employees within Nebraska for work to obtain a $250 annual license from the state commission. It applies specifically to companies moving railroad workers between their homes and workplaces inside Nebraska, not to general passenger transport. Licensees must comply with existing safety rules on driver qualifications, vehicle standards, and recordkeeping but cannot have their transportation rates regulated by the commission. The bill repeals the previous licensing requirement for this service and adds new application procedures.
LB 772 eliminates specific provisions that allow certain state funds to transfer money to Nebraska's General Fund. The bill targets multiple funds, including the Certified Public Accountants Fund, Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund, and Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund, by removing language permitting such transfers. It does not create new funding mechanisms but removes existing authority for these transfers. The bill directly affects how these specific funds can be managed, preventing future transfers to the General Fund without new legislative action. This is a procedural change to fund management rules, not a new policy affecting public services or programs.
LB 1044 amends Nebraska's Business Innovation Act to update two state-funded programs supporting small businesses and individuals. It changes the matching requirements for prototype development funding (25% nonstate funds for businesses in economic redevelopment areas, 50% otherwise) and sets a $150,000 project cap, while requiring a business plan with proof-of-concept. For commercialization, the bill mandates feasibility studies with sales projections, includes specific support services like market assessments and mentorship, and sets a $500,000 project cap with a $4 million annual minimum funding level. The department must also develop an annual qualified action plan by January 1 of even-numbered years, outlining selection criteria focused on job growth, private investment, and repayment.
