LB 530 amends penalties for several offenses, changing violations of specific sections to Class I misdemeanors. It directly affects individuals convicted of motor vehicle homicide (including cases involving unborn children), tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certain controlled substances violations, and improper passing of stopped vehicles or vulnerable road users. The bill modifies existing law by specifying that these offenses will now carry the penalty classification of a Class I misdemeanor, rather than a higher or unspecified level. This change affects sentencing outcomes for these specific violations, without altering the underlying prohibitions or creating new offenses.
This bill directs Nebraska's Legislature to appropriate $600,000 annually from the General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 specifically for interpreter services at the Supreme Court. It directly affects deaf, hard of hearing, and non-English-speaking individuals who need court interpreters. The bill mandates that these funds be used exclusively for increasing payments to interpreter service providers for these court-related needs. It does not create new rules but allocates existing state funds to support language access in the Supreme Court.
Nebraska's LB 539 would eliminate the requirement for most individuals to obtain a certificate before purchasing a handgun, removing a key provision from current law. The bill preserves exceptions for licensed dealers, antique firearms, law enforcement, family transfers, and permit holders, but removes the certificate mandate for all other handgun purchases. It also modifies background check procedures by restricting the information shared with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to only disqualifying factors, while keeping requirements for mental health and disability reporting. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee and has not yet become law.
This bill creates Nebraska's "Protection Orders Act," strengthening legal safeguards for domestic violence victims. It extends the duration of protection orders, allows victims to request immediate lock changes or lease modifications from landlords, and requires reporting child abuse/neglect involving military families to relevant military installations. Key provisions include court-ordered removal of abusers from shared homes, temporary custody of children, and specific protections for household pets during domestic violence cases. The law directly affects domestic violence victims, their children, military families, and landlords navigating tenant safety concerns.
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.
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.
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.
Nebraska's LB 431 would add kratom to the state's list of controlled substances under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This amendment would define kratom as a controlled substance in Section 28-401, prohibiting its possession, sale, or distribution within Nebraska. The bill directly affects residents who currently use or sell kratom, as it would make these activities illegal under state law. The key mechanism is amending the legal definition of "controlled substance" to explicitly include kratom, aligning it with other prohibited substances under Nebraska's drug regulations.
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.
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.
