LB 12 eliminates time limits for civil lawsuits against the direct perpetrator of child sexual assault (for cases occurring on or after August 24, 2017, or earlier cases not previously time-barred). For lawsuits against non-direct abusers (such as institutions), victims can file within 12 years after turning 21. The law applies specifically to violations of Nebraska’s child sexual assault statutes (sections 28-319.01 and 28-320.01). Criminal prosecutions are not required to pursue civil claims under this bill.
LB 156 modifies Nebraska's State Tort Claims Act and Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act to allow civil lawsuits for sexual assaults of children occurring in specific school-related settings. The bill removes the standard immunity that previously barred claims against schools (as political subdivisions) for such incidents, specifically covering cases on school grounds, in school-owned vehicles used for school purposes, in vehicles driven by school employees for school purposes, or at school-sponsored events. This change directly affects children who experience sexual assault in these settings and school districts that would now face potential liability for negligence in preventing such assaults. The policy shift enables victims to pursue civil remedies where the previous law blocked such claims.
Nebraska's LB 236 amends the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act to allow lawsuits against cities, counties, or schools for child abuse or sexual assault of a child when the harm resulted from the subdivision's failure to exercise reasonable care. Specifically, it removes immunity for claims where a political subdivision (like a school or child welfare agency) did not properly control a person under its charge or protect a child in its custody from non-employee abusers. The bill targets cases where the subdivision's negligence directly caused the harm, such as failing to prevent abuse by a staff member or another person in their care. This change directly affects children and families seeking legal recourse against government entities for such incidents.
Nebraska's LB 648 changes the state's sales tax rate structure, setting a uniform 5.5% rate for most transactions from July 2024 through June 2026, with a reduced 2.75% rate in designated "good life districts" for certain sales. The bill also updates how sales tax revenue is distributed, directing proceeds from vehicle, boat, and aircraft sales to specific funds like Game and Parks, Highway Trust, and Aeronautics Capital Improvement. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, and repeals prior tax rate sections, though the exact rate after 2026 is listed as "XX percent" pending further action. This bill directly affects all Nebraska consumers and businesses selling taxable goods or services, including those in designated districts.
LB 224 requires Nebraska state employers to provide paid maternity leave to eligible employees who give birth and assume parental responsibility. Full-time state employees receive 12 weeks of paid leave, while part-time employees get proportional leave based on their regular hours. The bill prohibits retaliation against employees who take leave, mandates return to equivalent positions after leave, and ensures continued benefits during leave - while running concurrently with federal Family and Medical Leave Act protections. It also prohibits using this leave against other accrued leave types like vacation or sick time.
LB 700 protects the privacy of minors in court by requiring all criminal cases involving people under 18 to keep identities confidential throughout proceedings. It extends Nebraska's juvenile court jurisdiction to cover individuals up to age 26 and changes sentencing for those convicted of crimes committed before age 22, setting maximum sentences (e.g., 80 years for serious felonies). The bill also creates new rules for questioning minors during investigations, bars courts from using certain statements, and establishes state-funded reporting centers for juveniles. It prohibits sending minors out of state for court proceedings and updates confidentiality rules for agencies like child welfare and probation.
This bill (LB 244) restates the legislative findings supporting Nebraska's campaign finance disclosure requirements under the Political Accountability and Disclosure Act. It replaces the existing wording in Section 49-1402 with updated language emphasizing the public interest in election transparency, the need for full disclosure of campaign funding sources and spending, and the importance of preventing conflicts of interest for public officials. The bill does not change any existing disclosure rules or requirements; it only revises the stated rationale for these laws. The original findings section is repealed as part of this update.
This bill redefines "habitually truancy" for students aged 13-17 as 20+ unexcused absences in a school year plus documented learning loss. It adds a defense against juvenile court adjudication for these cases, shifting focus from automatic court referrals to restorative justice approaches like truancy mediation. The bill also updates compulsory school attendance rules to align with these new procedures. Currently pending before Nebraska's Judiciary Committee with a hearing scheduled for March 27, 2025.
LB 466 redefines specific terms in Nebraska's juvenile justice law to clarify existing procedures. It specifically revises the definition of "alternative to detention" to exclude physical restraints (like locked facilities), clarifying that electronic monitoring or community programs count, but hardware-based restrictions do not. The bill also adds detailed definitions for "staff secure juvenile facility" to distinguish it from secure detention. This purely definitional bill affects juvenile courts, detention facilities, and legal professionals who apply these terms in cases involving youth. It does not create new programs or change penalties.
LB 367 prohibits licensed medical and mental health professionals (including doctors, psychologists, nurses, and pharmacists) from providing conversion therapy, gender identity conversion therapy, or sexual orientation conversion therapy to individuals under 19 years old. The bill amends Nebraska’s Uniform Credentialing Act to add "providing conversion therapy" as a specific ground for disciplinary action, including license suspension or revocation. It also bans the use of state funds for conversion therapy and defines the prohibited practice as any effort to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The law directly affects practitioners in the Medicine and Surgery, Mental Health, Nurse, Pharmacy, and Psychology practice acts.
LB 351 changes the priority order for admitting patients to Nebraska's state hospitals for the mentally ill. It establishes five priority categories: (1) patients needed for public safety, (2) defendants in jail deemed incompetent, (3) patients committed under mental health laws, (4) those most likely to benefit from treatment, and (5) indigent patients when other categories are equal. The bill also requires state hospitals to allocate specific bed percentages to each category (e.g., 30% for committed patients) and reserve 30% of beds for flexible allocation to reduce waitlists. Additionally, it mandates weekly public reporting on facility capacity and wait times by the Department of Health and Human Services. This bill directly affects patients seeking mental health hospitalization and state facilities managing admissions.
This bill (LB 689) clarifies rules for school employees in Nebraska's retirement systems when they temporarily return to work after separation. It redefines when a return to work as a temporary, substitute, or volunteer employee counts as a "termination" for retirement benefits, and specifies when employees can restart retirement contributions and accrue service credit. The bill also updates procedures for members who withdraw retirement contributions (taking a refund) and later return to work, allowing them to restore refunded amounts under specific conditions. These changes directly affect current and former school employees participating in Nebraska's School Employees Retirement Act or Class V Retirement Act.
