Nebraska Bills

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 579: Prohibit charging a fee for public records requests by members of the Legislature

LB 579 prohibits Nebraska state agencies from charging fees for public records requests submitted by members of the Nebraska Legislature. The bill specifically amends public records law to state that "no fee shall be charged" for such requests, directly affecting legislators seeking official documents. It also requires agencies to provide a cost estimate and respond within four business days of receiving a written request. This change modifies existing fee structures under Nebraska law to ensure legislative members can access public records without financial barriers. The bill does not affect fee policies for general public requests.

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 573: Adopt the Meat and Poultry Workers and Contractors Protection Act

LB 573 adopts the Meat and Poultry Workers and Contractors Protection Act to enhance safety for workers in Nebraska's meat and poultry processing facilities. It requires large facilities (with over 250 employees) to create and submit disaster mitigation plans to the Labor Commissioner, covering risks like pandemics, extreme weather, or supply chain disruptions. During disasters, these facilities must provide full workers' compensation for job-related injuries, offer 12 weeks of severance pay (at average weekly earnings) to terminated workers within 60 days, and cover contractors and contract growers. The bill directly affects workers, contractors, and contract growers at covered facilities, aiming to address high injury rates, pandemic risks, and inadequate safety enforcement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 482: Change provisions relating to attorney’s fees in insurance cases

LB 482 modifies Nebraska's law on attorney fees in insurance lawsuits. It allows plaintiffs to recover reasonable attorney fees when winning most insurance disputes (excluding workers' compensation), but removes this right for property damage claims where rights were assigned after the loss occurred. This directly affects insurance policyholders suing companies and the insurance companies themselves in civil cases. The bill clarifies existing fee rules by excluding post-loss assignment cases from the fee recovery provision.

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 549: Allow a school board to employ a chaplain, including in a volunteer capacity, at a school

Nebraska's LB 549 allows school boards to hire chaplains - licensed by their religious organization - to provide student support services like emotional or behavioral health assistance, without requiring a teaching certificate. Chaplains may serve as paid or volunteer staff, but must pass a criminal background check and comply with school policies developed by the board. The bill explicitly states this employment does not endorse any religion and exempts chaplains from standard teacher certification rules under Nebraska law. It affects all Nebraska public school districts and directly impacts students receiving non-academic support services.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 691: Require school districts and private, denominational, and parochial schools to display the Ten Commandments in school buildings

LB 691 requires public school districts and private, denominational, or parochial schools receiving state funds to display the full text of the Ten Commandments in all elementary classrooms and in every middle or high school building. The display must be at least 11x14 inches, use an easy-to-read font, and include the exact wording specified in the bill. Schools may use existing displays or accept donations to cover costs but are not required to spend new funds. The bill is currently under review by Nebraska's Education Committee, with a hearing scheduled for February 24, 2025.

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 252: Prohibit disadvantaging insurance and Medicaid coverage for nonopioid drugs

Nebraska's LB 252 prohibits Medicaid and commercial insurers from disadvantaging nonopioid pain medications approved by the FDA. It requires that such drugs receive equal coverage terms compared to opioid alternatives, banning higher cost-sharing tiers, stricter prior authorization, or step therapy requirements for nonopioid drugs. The law applies immediately upon FDA approval for pain treatment and mandates exceptions for providers who confirm nonopioid drugs are appropriate for a patient. This directly affects insurers (including Medicaid managed care organizations), healthcare providers, and patients seeking pain management options. The bill aims to ensure equal access to nonopioid treatments without restricting prescribers' choices.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 338: Prohibit the use of genetic information for life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance

LB 338 prohibits Nebraska life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, charging higher premiums, or limiting benefits based on genetic information collected during medical treatment. It does not stop insurers from using clinical diagnoses from medical records or asking about family health history during underwriting. The bill aims to remove barriers to genetic testing by ensuring such information cannot impact insurance eligibility. Exceptions allow insurers to review standard medical records and consider diagnosed conditions, but not genetic data gathered for health care purposes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 594: Change and eliminate provisions relating to the use of handheld wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle

LB 594 proposes to prohibit drivers from holding or manually using handheld wireless devices (like cell phones) while operating a moving vehicle, except for specific exceptions. It exempts emergency personnel (police, firefighters), utility workers responding to emergencies, and drivers communicating with emergency services. The bill allows hands-free use (e.g., voice commands without touching the device) and requires law enforcement to enforce this only after citing drivers for other traffic violations. Violations would result in fines ($200 for first offense) and points on a driver’s license, with the law repealing the current section it amends. This bill, currently pending in Nebraska’s Transportation Committee, directly affects all drivers operating motor vehicles in the state.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 688: Prohibit advertising of electronic nicotine delivery systems

LB 688 prohibits advertising e-cigarettes and similar electronic nicotine delivery systems within Nebraska. It directly affects businesses and advertisers selling these products by making it unlawful to promote them in the state. The bill does not ban the sale or use of e-cigarettes, only their advertising. This is a clear policy change requiring advertisers to remove e-cigarette promotions from all Nebraska-based marketing channels.

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 64: Change eligibility requirements for medicare supplement policies

LB 64 changes Nebraska's rules for Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies. It requires insurers to offer these policies to people under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to disability (not just those 65+), and establishes an annual 30-day open enrollment period starting January 1, 2026, based on the applicant's birthday. During this period, insurers cannot deny coverage, charge more based on health status, or exclude preexisting conditions. Premiums for under-65 disability enrollees can be up to 150% of the standard rate for those 65+, but must be actuarially sound and not unfairly discriminatory.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 624: Appropriate funds to the State Treasurer for education scholarships

LB 624 allocates $10 million annually from Nebraska's General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the State Treasurer for education scholarships. The funds must be used exclusively to provide scholarships to low-income and at-risk elementary and secondary students to attend approved private, denominational, or parochial schools. The bill specifies these scholarships aim to increase educational access and opportunities, with the legislature intending to continue this annual appropriation. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, directly affecting eligible students and participating schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 542: Change and eliminate payment provisions for road construction costs relating to utility facilities

This bill amends Nebraska law to change how costs are paid when utility lines (like gas, water, or broadband) must be moved during road construction. It eliminates the state's obligation to cover relocation costs for utility facilities on highways that were once part of the interstate system but were later removed, ending state payments for such moves after July 1, 1993. The bill also removes outdated provisions about these payments and clarifies that state funding won't cover relocation costs for these specific highway cases. This directly affects utility companies and state transportation projects involving older highway corridors.

Topics ✗ Transportation

Bill results