This bill amends Nebraska's Site and Building Development Fund to update eligible activities for financial assistance. It adds new provisions allowing grants for infrastructure upgrades at military installations (like nuclear command facilities), $2 million grants to specific cities for revitalizing former university properties to support foster youth, and matching funds for inland port authorities. The bill also expands eligibility to include golf facility construction in metropolitan cities and clarifies requirements for entities receiving assistance. These changes directly affect cities, counties, military partners, and economic development organizations seeking funding for industrial sites, infrastructure, and community projects.
LB 1214 creates a Nebraska pilot program funding up to five neighborhood data collaboratives through the Department of Health and Human Services. These collaboratives must include at least three neighborhood associations, one nonprofit, and one regional planning organization, and focus on resident-led data projects addressing community priorities. The $250,000 allocated will cover technology, resident training, staffing, and evaluation - not planning - while requiring annual reports to the Legislature on outcomes and scalability. The program directly affects local neighborhood groups, nonprofits, and regional planning bodies by providing resources to build data-driven community initiatives.
LB 806 creates a specific $2 million grant from Nebraska's Site and Building Development Fund for a city of the first class located in the third congressional district. This grant is only available if the property previously housed a defunct university and is being revitalized to support youth exiting foster care or juvenile court supervision. The funds must be used to improve buildings or infrastructure for housing, employment, and program needs related to these youth. The bill amends existing law to add this targeted grant provision under the Site and Building Development Act.
LB 1160 updates Nebraska's estate and inheritance laws to modernize rules for decedents' estates, trusts, and inheritance taxes. It increases homestead allowances for surviving spouses (to $25,000 for deaths after 2027) and adjusts exempt property allowances for household items (to $17,500). The bill also allows a "certification of trust" to establish homestead ownership and clarifies that specific property devises in wills don't cover homestead/exempt claims. These changes directly affect surviving spouses, minor/dependent children, and estate administrators handling probate matters under Nebraska law.
LB 918 amends Nebraska's Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act to clarify how state funds can be used for privately owned venues. It specifies that for privately owned concert venues, state assistance may only cover nearby parking infrastructure or public arts/cultural events. For privately owned sports complexes, funds can now support public infrastructure projects, government leases at fair market value, public sporting events, or debt repayment for the facility. The bill also limits promotional funding (arts or sports events) to a maximum of ten years per project and removes a prior cap on funding for large stadiums approved after July 2024. These changes directly affect applicants seeking state assistance for privately operated sports venues.
LB 1205 requires Nebraska's Department of Economic Development to award grants under the Small Business Investment Program to support small businesses. The bill directs funding to microloan organizations, technical assistance groups, and innovation hubs that provide loans and business support to small businesses, with a focus on job creation and helping low-income communities. Key requirements include a $3 million annual funding limit, a 35% nonstate matching fund requirement for recipients, and mandating that at least 50% of funds support business technical assistance. This bill directly affects small business support organizations and microenterprises across Nebraska, particularly in rural and economically distressed areas.
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This bill requires Nebraska state employers to provide paid maternity leave to employees who give birth or adopt a child. Full-time state employees would receive six weeks of paid leave, while part-time employees would receive leave proportional to their regular work schedule. The leave must be taken within six months of the child's birth or adoption, and employees must return to their original position or an equivalent role after leave. The bill also prohibits retaliation against employees who use this leave and ensures continued benefits during the leave period.
This bill (LB 850) amends Nebraska's Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act to explicitly allow cities of metropolitan class (over 50,000 residents) and primary class (20,000-50,000 residents) to use existing economic development funds for housing construction or rehabilitation. It specifically authorizes these funds for housing projects targeting low/moderate-income residents, workforce housing plans, or affordable housing action plans (as defined in Section 19-5505). The bill updates definitions to include housing construction/rehabilitation as a qualifying business activity for these cities. This change expands current allowable uses of economic development programs without creating new funding. The bill focuses on streamlining how cities can address housing needs through existing local economic development tools.
Nebraska's LB 1196 prohibits using any state or local funds - such as student aid, school operating money, grants, or facility funding - for postsecondary education programs identified as "low-earning outcome" under federal law (20 U.S.C. 1087d). The bill directly affects public colleges and universities receiving state funding by blocking support for programs that don’t lead to strong earnings. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education must annually review federal program rankings, enforce the funding ban, and report on its impact and costs to the Legislature. This law aims to redirect public education resources toward programs with better economic outcomes for students.
This bill would allow Nebraska to cover supportive housing services through Medicaid by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval. It establishes a "Housing First" approach - providing permanent housing without conditions (like sobriety requirements) paired with voluntary support services such as housing transition, tenancy stabilization, and care coordination. The bill creates a dedicated fund to cover both Medicaid-eligible services and non-Medicaid housing costs (e.g., short-term rental assistance). It directly affects Nebraskans experiencing or at risk of homelessness by expanding access to stable housing with integrated support.
