Criminal Justice

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LR 15CA: Constitutional amendment to prohibit the death penalty

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to ban the death penalty in Nebraska entirely. It would prohibit the death penalty for all offenses and automatically commute all existing death sentences to life imprisonment. The amendment must be approved by Nebraska voters in the November 2026 general election to take effect. If passed, it would change Nebraska's constitutional law as outlined in Article I, Sections 9(3) and 23.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans death penalty (a harsh sentencing practice), advancing reform by eliminating capital punishment and protecting civil rights per criminal justice topic description.95% confidence

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 65: Exempt individuals under nineteen years of age from payment of certain court costs and fees and change provisions of the Nebraska Juvenile Code

Nebraska's LB 65 exempts individuals under 19 from paying court fees, costs, and probation fees in juvenile court proceedings and for certain criminal offenses committed as minors. The bill directly affects minors (under 19) and their parents/guardians, who will no longer be liable for these costs in juvenile cases. Key provisions include presuming minors indigent for discovery costs, banning fines in juvenile proceedings, and prohibiting recovery of fees from juveniles or their families. The bill also updates juvenile code provisions related to diversion programs, appointed counsel, and DNA testing costs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts minors from court fees/fines, bans juvenile fines, and presumes indigence - reducing financial barriers and promoting juvenile justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 165: Authorize syringe services programs in municipalities and counties and provide exceptions to penalties related to drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

Nebraska's LB 165 authorizes municipalities and counties to establish syringe services programs (SSPs) through local ordinances, allowing them to provide sterile syringes, safe disposal, overdose prevention resources, and referrals to health services for individuals aged 18+ who inject drugs. The bill requires SSPs to avoid locations within 500 feet of schools, childcare facilities, or public recreation centers and mandates specific services like naloxone access and substance use disorder referrals. It amends state law to exempt SSP staff and participants from drug paraphernalia penalties when handling syringes or needles as part of the program, while repealing prior sections of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This legislation directly affects public health programs, participants, and law enforcement by creating a legal framework for harm reduction services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes syringe services programs with exceptions to drug paraphernalia penalties, reducing criminalization of drug use and promoting public health over punishment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes syringe services programs providing sterile syringes, overdose prevention, and health referrals - directly advancing public health access for people who inject drugs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 358: Require the Department of Correctional Services to provide committed offenders with access to their individual files

LB 358 requires Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to allow inmates to access their personal individual files upon written request to the facility director. The files include admission summaries, presentence reports, disciplinary records, parole plans, and other relevant case information. However, the bill specifically permits the department to withhold medical and mental health records at its discretion. This applies to all inmates in Nebraska state correctional facilities and amends Section 83-178 of Nebraska law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates inmate access to correctional files (excluding medical records), promoting transparency and civil rights - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 99: Limit use of restrictive housing and solitary confinement

Nebraska's LB 99 limits restrictive housing and solitary confinement in state correctional facilities. It prohibits holding any inmate in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days and bans placing vulnerable populations - including minors, pregnant people, and those with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries - in restrictive housing (Section 83-173.03). The bill defines restrictive housing as conditions with less than 10 hours of out-of-cell time daily and solitary confinement as 22+ hours in a cell with no visual/auditory contact or restricted activities (Section 83-4,114). It requires facilities to develop individualized transition plans for inmates moving from restricted housing back to general population. The law directly affects all incarcerated individuals in Nebraska's correctional system, with specific protections for medically vulnerable inmates.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly limits solitary confinement and bans it for vulnerable populations, aligning with criminal justice reform to protect civil rights and improve correctional conditions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans solitary confinement for mentally ill inmates, protecting their mental health care access and rights within correctional facilities per Section 83-173.03.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 535: Prohibit assault on a frontline behavioral health provider or health care worker and clarify provisions relating to assault on officers, emergency responders, certain employees, and health care professionals

LB 535 increases penalties for assaulting specific healthcare and emergency personnel in Nebraska. It prohibits assault on frontline behavioral health providers (like direct support professionals) and healthcare workers (including licensed practitioners and facility employees) while they are on duty at their facilities. The bill amends assault statutes to add these groups to the list of protected individuals, requiring enhanced penalties for causing serious bodily injury to them during work hours. It also clarifies and streamlines existing assault provisions related to officers, emergency responders, and healthcare professionals. The law directly affects healthcare workers, behavioral health providers, and emergency responders by making assaults against them punishable as more serious offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by increasing penalties for assaults on healthcare workers, enhancing protections for frontline personnel through amended assault statutes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare workers and behavioral health providers from assault, strengthening safety for mental health services delivery and healthcare system operations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety for healthcare workers by increasing penalties for assault during work hours, directly protecting frontline employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 585: Change provisions relating to distribution of aid under the Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program

Nebraska's LB 585 amends how state funds are distributed through the Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program. It requires 10% of annual General Fund appropriations to be set aside: 5% for a centralized data collection system managed by the commission (to track program effectiveness and recidivism) and 5% for the University of Nebraska at Omaha to evaluate the program. Another 10% must be allocated to small community organizations ($1 million annual budget max) in designated census tracts that prevent juvenile crime before justice system involvement. The remaining funds are distributed based on county youth population statistics and prioritized for programs diverting juveniles from detention, reducing out-of-home placements, and supporting family services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates specific allocations from General Fund appropriations for program evaluation and data systems, promoting fiscal accountability within existing budget framework.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates 10% of funds for recidivism tracking and program evaluation to improve juvenile services effectiveness, directly aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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signed · Nebraska · Legislature Feb 26, 2025

LB 52: Provide additional offenses for which notification to crime victims is required

This bill expands Nebraska's victim notification law to include additional offenses where victims must be informed about offenders' status. It adds specific crimes like sexual assault of children, sex trafficking, domestic assault, stalking, and child enticement to the list of offenses triggering mandatory notification. Victims of these newly included offenses will receive updates about parole hearings, release dates, and other custody changes, following the same process already used for existing offenses. The law directly affects victims of these specific crimes by ensuring they receive notifications about the offender's progress through the correctional system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands mandatory victim notifications for serious crimes (e.g., sexual assault, trafficking), enhancing victim rights and transparency in offender status updates per criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 586: Provide assistance for voters who are unable to vote in person and who are residents of or housed in certain facilities

LB 586 requires Nebraska election officials to create plans ensuring voting access for eligible voters who cannot travel to in-person polling places due to residence in facilities like jails, nursing homes, or hospitals. It mandates that county clerks coordinate with facility staff to provide voter information, facilitate registration and ballot delivery, and establish clear processes for returning ballots (e.g., via two non-partisan voters). The bill specifies that plans must include voter ID details, registration verification options, and ballot curing procedures, with failure to comply resulting in civil penalties for the county. This directly affects election administrators, facility operators, and approximately 10,000+ Nebraskans living in such facilities who face voting barriers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables voting access for jail residents, supporting civil rights within corrections system, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Tags Elections

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 53: Provide criminal and civil immunity for pregnancy outcomes

Nebraska's LB 53 establishes legal immunity for people experiencing pregnancy outcomes that don't result in live births. The bill prohibits criminal charges, arrests, or prosecutions for outcomes like miscarriage, stillbirth, or intentional termination of pregnancy. It also grants civil immunity, blocking lawsuits based on these same pregnancy outcomes. This directly affects individuals who experience non-live-birth pregnancy outcomes by preventing both criminal and civil legal action against them. The law explicitly states it does not apply to outcomes resulting in live births.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents criminal prosecution for pregnancy outcomes, reducing unwarranted criminalization in medical contexts95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by preventing legal action for pregnancy outcomes, reducing barriers to healthcare access and aligning with 'protects patient rights' indicator.85% confidence

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