Nebraska's LB 259 establishes rules for the state's delegation to a potential federal Article V convention, which could propose constitutional amendments. It requires the Legislature to elect delegates and alternates from legislative caucuses, mandate they take an oath to follow legislative instructions, and prohibit voting on amendments outside the scope approved by the Legislature. Delegates must adhere strictly to instructions adopted by the Legislature, and any vote deemed "unauthorized" (outside approved scope) would be invalid. This bill directly affects Nebraska legislators selected to serve as delegates or alternates at such a convention.
Nebraska's LB 603 amends laws governing care management units under the Community Aging Services Act. It establishes an income-based sliding scale for client contributions: individuals with family income below 300% of the federal poverty level pay 0-90% of service costs, while others pay the full fee. The bill also changes how care units are reimbursed, requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to cover unpaid costs based on actual casework time and expenses (like personnel and admin), with reimbursement rates updated every three years. Funding for this reimbursement must be separate from regular aging services appropriations. The bill repeals the original sections it amends.
Nebraska bill LB 81 amends the Property Tax Incentive Act to clarify definitions and adjust tax credit calculations for school district and community college taxes. It defines "community college taxes" and "school district taxes" to exclude bonded indebtedness, voter-approved overrides, and five-year delinquent taxes. The bill changes how the refundable tax credit percentage is set, requiring the Department of Revenue to cap total credits at specific dollar amounts for 2022-2023 and link 2024 credits to the state's assessed property value growth rate. This directly affects taxpayers (individuals and businesses) who pay eligible school district or community college taxes, allowing them to claim credits against state income or franchise tax. The changes repeal prior sections and take effect immediately upon passage.
Nebraska's LB 360 prevents homeowner associations from banning political signs on property during election periods. It prohibits HOAs from restricting signs advertising candidates or ballot measures for 90 days before and 10 days after an election. However, HOAs may still enforce reasonable rules requiring signs to be ground-mounted, limiting to one sign per candidate/measure, or restricting signs larger than 4x6 feet, containing offensive content, or attached to structures. This directly affects property owners in Nebraska HOAs during election seasons.
This bill requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to set a standard reimbursement rate for personal care service providers serving elderly and disabled Nebraskans under the "aged and disabled personal care services waiver" program. The rate must match the findings of a 2022 CBIZ Optumas study report and be adjusted at least every two years. It directly affects service providers who currently receive reimbursement through this waiver program, ensuring their payments align with the study's recommendations. The policy change aims to standardize payments without specifying new funding levels or eligibility changes.
LB 137 prohibits homeowners associations (HOAs) from banning or restricting the installation of solar energy systems, solar collectors, or pollinator gardens in residential properties. It voids any existing HOA rules that conflict with this prohibition and bans HOAs from charging fees for these installations. Homeowners can legally sue an HOA or similar group for violating this law. The bill specifically defines "pollinator gardens" as spaces supporting bees and butterflies with food/water and references existing solar energy definitions. This directly affects HOAs and homeowners in Nebraska who face restrictions on solar or pollinator garden projects.
LB 607 adopts three new acts: the Environmental Stewardship of Batteries Act (requiring proper battery recycling), the Extended Producer Responsibility Data Collection Act (mandating data on product take-back), and the Minimum Recycled Content Act (setting recycled material requirements for products). The bill redefines key terms like "manufacturing facility" (processing plastic waste into new materials via methods like pyrolysis or depolymerization) and "recycled plastic" (using mass balance tracking under third-party certification), clarifying that these processes count as recycling, not waste management. It directly affects manufacturers handling plastic waste, requiring them to meet new recycled content standards and report data, while updating Nebraska’s waste management laws to align with these changes. The bill aims to strengthen recycling infrastructure and accountability in the state’s solid waste system.
Nebraska's LB 424 limits how much property taxes can increase annually for homeowners. It caps yearly tax bill increases at the lesser of the inflation rate (based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index) or 3%, preventing rapid spikes. This directly affects property owners whose annual tax bills would otherwise rise faster than this limit, unless the increase results from home improvements. The bill applies to all real property tax bills issued in Nebraska.
Nebraska's LB 446 amends state law to update how health data and statistical research information from vital records (like births, deaths, and marriages) can be released. It maintains strict confidentiality rules, requiring that such data - designated as "for health data and statistical research" - only be shared with the U.S. Public Health Service, government health agencies, statewide quality initiatives, or approved researchers through a clear application process. The bill also requires the Nebraska Department of Health to publish annual anonymized analyses of this data for public health purposes, ensuring individual identities cannot be identified. This affects data handlers, researchers, and public health agencies that access these records for statistical or quality improvement purposes.
LB 416 amends Nebraska law to clarify how releases or settlements with one liable party affect other parties in civil cases involving joint and several liability. It specifies that a release with one party does not automatically release other liable parties unless explicitly stated, and the claim against remaining parties is reduced by the released party's share. This change directly affects claimants and defendants in lawsuits where multiple parties share responsibility for damages. The bill ensures joint liability remains enforceable against non-released parties while adjusting claims based on the released party's determined share.
Nebraska's LB 493 would adopt the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act to shield individuals and organizations from lawsuits targeting speech on public issues. It creates a special legal motion allowing defendants to quickly dismiss such cases if the speech occurred in a government proceeding, related to a matter of public concern, or involved protected rights like free speech or assembly. If successful, the motion would dismiss the case with prejudice and may award attorney fees to the defendant. The law specifically excludes government employees acting officially, lawsuits to protect public health/safety, and commercial speech about goods/services. This procedural change would directly affect citizens, journalists, and activists involved in civil lawsuits over public expression.
LB 636 creates a state reimbursement program for counties covering medical costs for jail inmates, effective July 1, 2025. Counties must submit quarterly claims for eligible medical expenses (like treatment or emergency care) to the Jail Standards Board, which will pay them up to $21 million annually. The bill updates sheriff fee rates but primarily shifts the financial burden from counties to the state for inmate medical care, requiring counties to document costs and comply with strict filing deadlines. It excludes costs resulting from county negligence and mandates biennial audits of county records.
