LB 274 amends Nebraska's Child Care Licensing Act to increase liability insurance requirements for child care providers from $100,000 to $200,000 per incident during operating hours. It mandates unannounced annual inspections for facilities caring for fewer than 30 children and biannual inspections for larger facilities, requiring verification of current insurance coverage during each inspection. Failure to provide proof within three business days results in license suspension until compliance is verified. The bill directly affects licensed child care providers, including centers and family homes, by strengthening insurance and inspection protocols under the Act.
LB 6 would increase penalties for individuals convicted of drug offenses that cause serious injury or death under Nebraska's controlled substances law. Currently, penalties depend on the drug type and quantity, but this bill adds a mandatory enhancement when a violation results in serious bodily injury or death. The change would apply to offenses involving distribution, possession, or other violations listed in the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This affects anyone convicted of a drug-related crime that directly causes harm to another person.
Nebraska bill LB 279 would change the state's vehicle registration law to allow most passenger vehicles to display only one license plate (instead of two) when operated on highways. Currently, most vehicles require plates on both front and rear, but this bill would require only a rear plate for standard passenger cars, with a $50 annual fee for those opting for the single-plate option (plus a windshield decal). It specifically amends sections of the Motor Vehicle Registration Act to replace the two-plate requirement with a single-plate standard for most vehicles, while maintaining existing exceptions for certain vehicle types like trailers and motorcycles. The bill does not affect current registration fees for vehicles already displaying two plates.
LB 114 increases the fee for driver record abstracts (copies of driving histories) from $3 to $21 per request. It also adjusts revenue distribution, directing 5.5% to the Department of Motor Vehicles fund, 11.5% to the General Fund, and 4% to the Operator's License Services Replacement Fund. The bill similarly raises vehicle record copy fees from $1 to $3.18 per copy and increases bulk vehicle record fees to $41.80 per thousand records. These changes affect anyone requesting DMV records, including individuals, employers, and law enforcement agencies.
LB 184 prohibits the sale of nitrous oxide at tobacco specialty stores and bans the sale of equipment used to consume nitrous oxide for recreational purposes. The bill directly affects tobacco specialty stores (defined as businesses earning 75%+ revenue from tobacco products) and sellers of nitrous oxide equipment. Key provisions include criminalizing these sales with penalties and harmonizing related statutes. The law targets recreational nitrous oxide use - commonly known as "whippits" - while exempting medical or non-recreational sales.
Nebraska bill LB 401 updates rules for sales and use tax filings and compliance for retailers. It changes filing frequencies based on annual tax liability: annual filings for businesses owing under $900 yearly, quarterly for $900-$3,000, and monthly for over $3,000. The bill also adds a reconciliation requirement where businesses must adjust payments if discrepancies exceed 10% of what was paid, with a 50% penalty on unpaid amounts. It clarifies rules for seasonal retailers and accounts receivable transfers, including surety bond requirements for subsidiaries handling unpaid taxes. This directly affects retailers and businesses collecting Nebraska sales tax.
LB 93 updates Nebraska's criminal discovery rules to require prosecutors to share digital evidence and expert witness details with defendants. It expands access to phone records, text messages, social media, and computer data when relevant to a case, and mandates disclosure of expert qualifications and opinions. The bill affects defendants facing felony charges or misdemeanor cases with possible jail time, ensuring they can review digital evidence and challenge expert testimony. Key changes include defining "digital information" broadly and adding a "continuing duty" for prosecutors to disclose new evidence during trials. These provisions aim to balance defendants' right to prepare a defense with practical trial management.
LB 344 updates Nebraska's groundwater allocation rules, primarily affecting municipalities and commercial/industrial users in areas designated as "fully appropriated" or "overappropriated." It sets a January 1, 2026 deadline for new controls: municipal water use above 25 million gallons annually will require mitigation reports detailing water use and return volumes, while existing municipal allocations (as of 2005) remain valid unless amended. The bill also establishes a per capita water allowance (200-250 gallons/person/day, varying by location) for municipalities without prior allocations and mandates conservation plans for larger cities to qualify for exemptions. These changes aim to harmonize groundwater management under integrated plans while addressing future water demand.
LB 378 requires all Nebraska public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities to submit quarterly reports to the Attorney General and Legislature detailing any funding over $50 received from foreign sources. The reports must include the amount, purpose, specific foreign source (including governments or entities), and related contracts. Colleges face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for failing to report, and the Attorney General must publicly post all reports online. The bill specifically excludes tuition payments from foreign students enrolled at these institutions.
LB 175 requires railroads or their successors in interest to maintain at least one safe crossing for landowners whose property borders both sides of a railroad right-of-way. If a landowner believes a crossing is unsafe, they can file a written complaint with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, which must investigate and order necessary repairs or upgrades. For crossings costing over $1,500 to fix, the landowner covers half the cost above that threshold. This bill directly affects landowners with dual-sided property and railroads/successors managing right-of-way crossings.
LB 104 adopts the Family Home Visitation Act to establish state-funded home visitation programs for families with children under five or pregnant individuals. The bill requires all state-funded programs to be evidence-based, delivered by trained professionals (like nurses or social workers), and focus on improving maternal/child health, parenting skills, and school readiness while reducing child maltreatment. Programs must meet specific quality standards, including cultural competency and continuous improvement, and the Department of Health and Human Services must report annually on program details, outcomes, and funding. This directly affects eligible families and service providers by setting clear guidelines for program implementation and accountability.
LB 124 changes penalties for drivers who cause the death of an unborn child while operating a vehicle in violation of specific traffic laws. It upgrades the offense from a Class I misdemeanor to a Class IIIA felony for deaths caused by speeding violations under sections 60-6,213 or 60-6,214, and to a Class IIA felony for repeat offenses involving sections 60-6,196 or 60-6,197.06. The bill mandates a court-ordered license revocation for 60 days to 15 years for these violations, separate from any jail sentence. This directly affects drivers convicted of traffic-related deaths of unborn children, particularly those with prior speeding convictions.
