Nebraska bill LB 676 changes regulations for certified nurse midwives by eliminating required "practice agreements" between midwives and collaborating physicians. It updates definitions and scope of practice provisions (amending sections 38-206, 38-601, 38-603, 38-604, 38-606, 38-607, 38-608, 38-610, 38-611, and 44-2803) and makes the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act apply to midwives. The bill removes outdated sections (38-609, 38-613, and 38-614) while keeping midwives' core services - like prenatal care, childbirth support, and gynecological care - unchanged. This affects certified nurse midwives, their collaborative relationships with physicians, and their medical liability coverage under state law.
This bill (LB 538A) allocates $138,227 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $137,431 for 2026-27 from Nebraska’s General Fund to the State Department of Education’s Program 25. It provides funding specifically to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 538 (the parent bill), which is not described in this text. The bill sets limits on salary and per diem expenses ($66,197 for 2025-26 and $68,348 for 2026-27). As a funding measure, it does not create new policy but enables the execution of another bill’s provisions.
This bill (LB 13A) is a procedural funding measure that allocates $0 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1 for fiscal year 2026-27 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services' Program 347. It directly provides the minimal necessary funds to implement Legislative Bill 13 (the parent bill), which is not detailed in this text. The appropriation specifically prohibits using these funds for state employee salaries or per diems. As a funding bill for another measure, it has no substantive policy changes beyond formalizing the allocation.
This bill would eliminate Nebraska's sales tax exemption for candy and soft drinks, requiring these items to be taxed starting October 1, 2025. Currently, candy (defined as sugar-based products without flour or refrigeration needs) and soft drinks (nonalcoholic sweetened beverages excluding milk-based or juice-heavy drinks) are exempt under state tax law, but this bill would remove them from the list of exempt items. The change would directly affect consumers purchasing these products and retailers selling them, as they would now pay the standard sales tax. This policy shift aligns with efforts to broaden the tax base for non-essential items.
Nebraska LB 677 updates the state's medical cannabis framework by clarifying key definitions (like "cannabis products" and "caregivers"), establishing new licensing rules for cultivators and dispensaries, and imposing a special sales tax on medical cannabis sales. It prohibits open cannabis containers in vehicles, removes medical cannabis from existing marijuana tax categories, and directs tax revenue to specific state funds. The bill directly affects qualified patients, registered caregivers, cannabis businesses, and the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which now oversees regulation. It also repeals outdated provisions and harmonizes existing laws, though it remains pending in committee as of March 2025.
Nebraska's LB 400 expands the state's Workers' Compensation Act to cover specific cancers diagnosed in firefighters as occupational diseases. It directly affects professional and volunteer firefighters with five or more years of service, creating a rebuttable presumption that certain cancers (like lung, leukemia, or bladder cancer) are work-related if linked to exposure to listed carcinogens - such as diesel exhaust, formaldehyde, or asbestos - during firefighting duties. The bill specifies 25 cancer types and their associated carcinogens, and establishes a presumption for active firefighters diagnosed during employment, plus a 60-month window post-retirement for retired firefighters. This eliminates the need for complex proof of causation in covered cases, streamlining compensation claims for affected firefighters.
This bill (LB 316A) appropriates $441,686 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $84,798 for 2026-27 from the state General Fund to the Department of Revenue. These funds are specifically designated to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 316 (which is not detailed in this text) under Program 102. The bill also sets annual limits on salary and per diem expenses using these funds, capping them at $41,300 for 2025-26 and $42,700 for 2026-27. It directly affects the Department of Revenue’s budget for carrying out LB 316’s provisions.
Nebraska's LB 314 amends the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act to clarify eligibility for state funding and specify how funds can be used. It defines six applicant scenarios (including bond approvals and building permits) and restricts state assistance to specific purposes: paying bond costs for publicly owned facilities, nearby parking for private concert venues, or public infrastructure/events for private sports complexes. The bill also sets time limits - capping arts/event promotion at 10 years and sports complex funding at 5 years in smaller cities - and creates temporary approvals requiring voter or construction milestones within 24 months. This applies to applicants seeking state aid for sports arena projects, ensuring funds align with defined facility types and usage rules.
Nebraska's LB 109 prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from imposing restrictions that limit patient access to clinician-administered drugs - such as those given in a doctor's office or clinic rather than a pharmacy. It bans insurers from charging extra fees, requiring specific pharmacy use, or denying coverage when drugs are administered by healthcare providers. The bill also requires PBMs to allow pharmacists to discuss treatment options, costs, and alternatives with patients and prohibits penalizing pharmacies for sharing information about their practices. These changes directly affect insurers, health plans, and PBMs in how they handle drug coverage and patient communications.
LB 348 proposed allocating $3 million from the Health and Human Services Cash Fund for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $3 million for 2026-27 to fund domestic violence services through Program 354 under Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services. The bill aimed to directly support domestic violence service providers by providing dedicated state funding for their operations. It declared an emergency to expedite implementation upon approval. However, the bill's provisions were later amended into other legislation (LB264 and LB261) on June 6, 2025, meaning it did not become law as originally introduced.
LB 4 adopts the Telecommunications Exchange Deregulation Act to remove state regulatory oversight for specific telecommunications services. It directly affects older local exchange carriers (those with certificates issued before February 8, 1996, or acquired with such certificates) by allowing them to opt out of state regulation for services like voice over internet protocol (VoIP), mobile radio, and interexchange services. The bill amends Nebraska law to explicitly state that the Public Service Commission cannot regulate these services (per Section 86-124(1)), while maintaining the commission's authority over other areas like universal service funds and consumer protection. The bill was amended into LB 311 on June 6, 2025, and did not become law.
This bill (LB 154) amends Nebraska's regulations for hearing instrument specialists, directly affecting professionals who fit, sell, and service hearing devices. It updates definitions (like "hearing instrument" and "hearing instrument specialist"), clarifies the scope of practice (including activities such as taking ear impressions, fitting devices, and providing post-fitting care), and harmonizes related statutes. The changes aim to modernize licensing and practice rules while maintaining clear boundaries for these specialists' authorized activities. The bill does not alter fees, funding, or create new requirements beyond refining existing professional standards.
