Nebraska Bills

LB 651 updates Nebraska's medical cannabis laws by increasing the allowable cannabis amount for patients from 2.5 ounces to 5 ounces per month and clarifying definitions for terms like "cannabis," "cannabis product," and "caregiver." It imposes a special sales tax on medical cannabis sales, directs tax revenue distribution, and prohibits open cannabis containers in vehicles. The bill also removes medical cannabis from the marijuana and controlled substances tax, updates regulations for the Liquor Control Commission, and aligns provisions with recent voter initiatives. These changes directly affect medical cannabis patients, caregivers, dispensaries, and state regulatory agencies.

This bill amends funding provisions for two Nebraska museums: the Chief Standing Bear Museum and the Fort Robinson State Park museum. It specifies exact annual funding amounts from the Museum Construction and Maintenance Fund - $7.15 million for the Chief Standing Bear Museum's construction in fiscal year 2025-26, $750,000 for exhibits in 2024-25, and $7 million for the Fort Robinson museum in 2025-26. The bill directly affects the Game and Parks Commission, which will manage these funds, and the federally recognized tribes partnering on the Chief Standing Bear project. It updates prior funding language to clarify intended allocations without changing the overall purpose or scope of the museum projects.

LB 705 updates Nebraska's medical cannabis laws by expanding patient access, regulating the industry, and addressing past convictions. It allows qualified patients to possess up to five ounces of cannabis, defines key terms (like "caregiver" and "cannabis product"), and imposes a special sales tax on medical cannabis sales - revenue from which will fund specific programs. The bill also prohibits open cannabis containers in vehicles, removes medical cannabis from marijuana tax categories, and adopts the Cannabis Conviction Clean Slate Act to expunge eligible past cannabis convictions. These changes directly affect medical cannabis patients, caregivers, dispensaries, and individuals with prior cannabis-related criminal records.

Nebraska bill LB 444 requires specific motor carriers to maintain minimum insurance coverage for bodily injury or death resulting from accidents. It directly affects intrastate motor carriers, companies transporting household goods under certain licenses, and carriers moving railroad employees. The bill mandates at least $1 million in uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage per occupant, replacing previous requirements under Section 75-307. It excludes transportation network companies (like ride-sharing services) and does not require cargo insurance for non-household goods carriers. The bill repeals the original Section 75-307 and amends the statute to enforce this new coverage standard.

Nebraska's LB 483 limits medical cannabis to pills or liquid tinctures only, restricting what forms qualified patients can legally use. It redefines "permissible cannabis product" to exclude edibles, smokable forms, and other preparations, while capping possession at 300mg THC or 5 ounces. The bill also removes medical cannabis from the marijuana tax and repeals outdated provisions about other cannabis forms. This directly affects patients with medical cannabis recommendations and their caregivers under Nebraska's medical cannabis program.

LB 142 amends Nebraska's Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act by redefining key terms used in calculating state education funding. It clarifies technical definitions like "Adjusted general fund operating expenditures" and "Adjusted valuation" that determine how school districts receive state aid. The bill does not change funding amounts or create new policies - it only updates terminology to ensure consistent application of existing funding formulas. This affects all Nebraska school districts that rely on state education funding calculations.

LB 537 establishes the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund to support job training grants in Nebraska. It requires the Department of Labor to award grants evenly across the state’s three congressional districts, with funds used for job skills, money management, and job placement services. Applicants must provide private matching funds equal to the grant amount, and recipients must report on job placements and progress toward self-sufficiency for participants. The bill specifies $1.5 million in funding from the General Fund for fiscal year 2025-26 to support these grants.

LB 572 allows Nebraska school districts to exceed their annual budget limits for stipends paid to student teachers or interns completing teaching practicums. This change adds stipends to the list of allowable budget exceptions under the School District Property Tax Limitation Act, meaning districts can cover these costs without triggering tax limitation penalties. The bill directly affects school districts managing teacher training programs and student teachers in public or private Nebraska schools. It makes no changes to other budget restrictions or tax policies.

LB 158 requires Nebraska health insurance plans and pharmacy benefit managers to count all payments made by patients (or others on their behalf) toward their annual out-of-pocket maximum. This includes copays, deductibles, and costs for services like prescriptions, ensuring all such payments reduce the yearly limit patients must pay before full coverage kicks in. The law applies to new or renewed health plans after January 1, 2026, with a limited exception for health savings accounts that must first meet a minimum deductible before counting toward the maximum (though preventive care always counts). It directly affects health plan enrollees by clarifying how their out-of-pocket costs are calculated.

LB 528 creates a new grant program for STEM-focused learning platforms (for middle and high school science, technology, engineering, and math) managed by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, replacing the previous State Board of Education-administered program. It requires approved platforms to align with state academic standards, meet data security standards, and provide free access to all Nebraska school districts. The bill shifts grant administration from the State Board of Education to the Department of Economic Development, eliminates outdated provisions, and mandates annual reports on program effectiveness. This directly affects developers of qualifying STEM platforms and all Nebraska public school districts.

Nebraska bill LB 423 eliminates the Intern Nebraska Cash Fund program, which provided grants for business internships and job training. The bill repeals sections 81-1210.01 to 81-1210.03 and transfers remaining funds from the internship program to the General Fund by June 30, 2026. This directly affects small businesses (25 or fewer employees) in rural or high-poverty areas that previously received internship training grants. The bill modifies the Job Training Cash Fund to remove its internship component while keeping other job training provisions intact, effective July 1, 2025.

This bill adds specific requirements for "clinician-administered drugs" (outpatient drugs that cannot be self-administered and must be given in clinics, hospitals, or similar settings by a healthcare provider) under Nebraska's Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulations. It requires specialty pharmacies shipping these drugs to provide 24/7 pharmacist/nurse access, allow refill requests through PBMs/health plans, and comply with federal drug tracking rules. The bill also mandates that PBMs or health plans must establish a clear appeal process for providers if drugs aren't delivered on time or if urgent care is needed to prevent immediate harm. These changes directly affect specialty pharmacies, PBMs, and healthcare providers administering these drugs, effective January 2026.