LB 14, the Hunger-Free Schools Act, requires all Nebraska public and nonprofit private schools participating in federal meal programs to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student during the school day. It replaces previous reimbursement systems by having the State Department of Education reimburse schools for meals that would otherwise cost students (like reduced-price or full-price meals), based on differences between federal free-meal rates and standard rates. Schools with high poverty rates (62.5% or more students eligible for free meals) must use the federal "community eligibility" program to maximize funding. This directly affects school districts and participating private schools, ensuring all students receive free meals while aligning state funding with federal nutrition program rules.
LB 440, the Education Leave and Support Act, creates a state fund to help school districts cover costs when teachers take federal medical leave (FMLA). It requires school districts to collect a 0.35% payroll fee from certificated teachers' wages (with employers matching this amount), which funds the State Education Leave Fund. This fund reimburses school districts for hiring substitutes during the first six weeks of a teacher's FMLA leave, ensuring teachers don’t need to use personal or sick leave during that period. Any surplus funds over 20% of annual needs will transfer to an Education Retention Fund to address teacher shortages and support professional development. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, with reimbursements starting July 1, 2026.
Nebraska's LB 193 creates a new "Committee on Pacific Conflict" to prepare for potential regional or global conflicts centered on the Pacific theater. The committee, consisting of seven voting members (including state officials like the Homeland Security Director and infrastructure representatives) and four non-voting legislative members, will assess threats to supply chains, critical infrastructure, and security - particularly disruptions involving China or other Pacific nations. It mandates quarterly meetings (with security exemptions from public records), requires an annual state threat assessment from the Governor, and allows for confidential reports on security vulnerabilities. The bill directly affects state officials, critical infrastructure operators, and emergency planning efforts within Nebraska.
LB 508 requires that the Nebraska National Guard can only be deployed for active combat in U.S. military service if the U.S. Congress has declared war or authorized such deployment under the Constitution. The Governor must review all current federal orders deploying the Guard to verify compliance with this rule and immediately return Guard members to Nebraska if an order is found non-compliant. The Governor must then submit a report to the Legislature within 30 days summarizing the review and any actions taken. This law directly affects the Nebraska National Guard's deployment decisions and the Governor's oversight of federal military orders.
This bill changes how Nebraska handles unanticipated revenue in the state's General Fund. It requires the Tax Commissioner to calculate two specific amounts each year: the difference between actual and estimated revenue, and a more complex calculation based on historical growth trends. If actual revenue exceeds estimates, the excess must be transferred to the Cash Reserve Fund - unless revenue exceeds last year's by over 3%, in which case part of the excess goes to the School District Property Tax Relief Credit Fund instead. The bill also limits the Cash Reserve Fund balance to 16% of total General Fund spending, with exceptions for emergencies or capital projects. This directly affects state budget management and school funding through the property tax relief mechanism.
LB 511 redefines "solicitation of prostitution" as "commercial sexual exploitation" and adds new penalties for this offense. It requires individuals convicted of this crime, human trafficking, and related offenses to register under Nebraska's Sex Offender Registration Act. The bill creates a grant program to fund law enforcement efforts targeting these crimes and mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to run public education campaigns about healthy families, pornography, and prostitution. This directly affects convicted individuals, law enforcement agencies, and the public through new registration requirements and awareness initiatives.
LB 578 requires city and county jails and Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to pay incarcerated individuals the state minimum wage for work performed in correctional facilities. It mandates that administrators establish bank accounts for inmates to receive their wages, replaces outdated wage distribution rules, and ensures inmate labor complies with federal workplace safety standards. The bill also clarifies that inmates' wages cannot displace existing workers or violate local pay standards for similar work. These changes apply to all inmates working in jails or state correctional facilities, directly affecting their compensation and financial management.
Nebraska's LR 24CA proposes a constitutional amendment to change how the state selects presidential electors. If approved by voters in 2026, it would require Nebraska's electors to support the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who receive the most statewide votes in the general election, replacing the current system. The amendment would take effect for the 2026 presidential election and be submitted to voters with clear ballot language stating the change. This directly affects Nebraska voters and presidential candidates competing in the state. The bill is currently under review by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
LB 152 creates a homestead exemption in Nebraska, effective January 1, 2026, that exempts the first $100,000 of a primary residence's actual value from property taxes. It directly affects Nebraska homeowners who occupy their property as their primary residence, as defined by the bill. Key provisions include setting the exemption amount, allowing transfers of the exemption when moving to a new homestead, and requiring state reimbursement for the tax loss. The bill harmonizes existing homestead exemption rules and amends multiple tax statutes to implement this change.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Nebraska's state government to fully reimburse local governments (such as cities and counties) for costs associated with new state-mandated programs or increased service levels implemented after 2026. The amendment would add a specific provision to the state constitution stating that the Legislature cannot impose such financial obligations on political subdivisions without providing a dedicated state appropriation or revenue increase to cover the full cost. It directly affects local governments by ensuring they won't bear unexpected expenses from state-mandated initiatives after 2026. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.
Nebraska's LB 546 amends emergency proclamation rules to allow cities, counties, or utility providers (like those supplying electricity, gas, water, or sewer services) to directly request multi-county emergency proclamations from the Governor, without needing prior approval from county governments. This change streamlines the process for declaring emergencies in areas affected by utility disruptions. The bill does not alter the Governor's emergency powers but modifies how requests for state of emergency declarations are initiated. It specifically targets requests made by political subdivisions that provide essential utility services. The amendment replaces the previous requirement for county-level approval in such cases.
LB 147 eliminates the mandatory requirement for certain water providers in Nebraska to add fluoride to drinking water. It allows public or private water entities not currently required to add fluoride to do so voluntarily, following rules set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill repeals the existing requirement (Section 71-3305) and the previous version of the regulation (Section 71-3306). This change directly affects water suppliers serving communities where fluoride addition was previously mandated.
