Nebraska's LB 411 amends the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act to change how teachers qualify for retention grants. It establishes tiered annual grants: $2,500 for first through sixth years of teaching, $3,000 for seventh through fifteenth years, and $4,000 for 16+ years. Teachers with endorsements in special education, math, science, technology, or dual-credit may also qualify for a one-time $5,000 high-need retention grant if they sign a future teaching contract in those subjects. The bill eliminates school-based prioritization for grants, requiring automatic distribution to school districts that then pass funds directly to eligible teachers. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, with specific transition rules for existing applications.
LB 711 amends Nebraska's school funding rules to adjust how districts calculate "new schools school adjustments" for state aid. It requires districts seeking this adjustment (for new buildings expanding student capacity) to submit evidence of planned student growth and building use by October 15 annually. The bill sets limits: adjustments cannot drop below 100% or exceed 112% of the prior year's calculation for most districts, stabilizing funding changes. These changes directly affect Nebraska school districts applying for new building-related state aid under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act.
LB 524 expands Nebraska's Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act to include paraeducators - school staff providing instructional support without teaching certification - by creating new retention grants. Paraeducators working 28+ hours weekly qualify for a $1,000 grant, while part-time staff receive proportional payments based on hours worked. The bill also amends the Education Future Fund to prioritize funding for teacher and paraeducator retention programs (Section 79-1021(e)), ensuring these grants are funded through state education resources. This directly affects Nebraska public school districts and paraeducators employed in classrooms statewide.
LB 599 requires Nebraska's State Board of Education to create a comprehensive cybersecurity policy for all public, private, denominational, and parochial schools and educational service units. The policy must include a step-by-step cybersecurity guide for schools, a statewide cybersecurity team to assist schools and address threats, expanded digital safety education for students and staff, a career pipeline to recruit rural students into tech fields, and funding mechanisms to help schools purchase cybersecurity tools. This bill directly affects all Nebraska schools by mandating specific security measures and resources to protect student data and infrastructure.
LB 523, the Student Teacher Compensation Act, provides a $4,000 financial stipend per semester to student teachers in Nebraska completing a teaching practicum at participating schools. It directly affects student teachers enrolled in accredited Nebraska teacher education programs who demonstrate financial need and are placed in public or private schools for their practicum. The bill requires the State Department of Education to administer the stipend program, verify eligibility, and publish annual reports on participation and program effectiveness. It does not create new funding but declares legislative intent for annual appropriations to support the program.
LB 14, the Hunger-Free Schools Act, requires all Nebraska public and nonprofit private schools participating in federal meal programs to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student during the school day. It replaces previous reimbursement systems by having the State Department of Education reimburse schools for meals that would otherwise cost students (like reduced-price or full-price meals), based on differences between federal free-meal rates and standard rates. Schools with high poverty rates (62.5% or more students eligible for free meals) must use the federal "community eligibility" program to maximize funding. This directly affects school districts and participating private schools, ensuring all students receive free meals while aligning state funding with federal nutrition program rules.
LB 440, the Education Leave and Support Act, creates a state fund to help school districts cover costs when teachers take federal medical leave (FMLA). It requires school districts to collect a 0.35% payroll fee from certificated teachers' wages (with employers matching this amount), which funds the State Education Leave Fund. This fund reimburses school districts for hiring substitutes during the first six weeks of a teacher's FMLA leave, ensuring teachers don’t need to use personal or sick leave during that period. Any surplus funds over 20% of annual needs will transfer to an Education Retention Fund to address teacher shortages and support professional development. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, with reimbursements starting July 1, 2026.
LB 296A is a funding bill that allocates $0 from the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support Legislative Bill 296. It specifies that total expenditures for salaries and per diems from these funds cannot exceed $160,197 for 2025-26 or $165,403 for 2026-27. The bill directly affects the State Department of Education by providing a procedural funding mechanism for another legislative act. This is a technical appropriations measure with no actual monetary allocation, solely establishing budgetary parameters for a related bill.
LB 552 prohibits Nebraska's public universities and colleges (including the University of Nebraska, state colleges, and community colleges) from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or requiring participation in DEI programs. The bill bans activities such as mandatory training on topics like systemic racism or microaggressions, preferential hiring based on race or gender, and using public funds for DEI initiatives. Exceptions allow harassment training, legal compliance offices, data collection for accreditation, and student organization activities. The law applies broadly to all public postsecondary institutions in Nebraska and takes effect if passed.
Nebraska bill LB 149 removes a legal prohibition that previously prevented schools from suspending students in prekindergarten through second grade. The bill amends sections 79-263, 79-265, and 79-267 of Nebraska law to eliminate this restriction, allowing schools to apply existing discipline policies - including short-term suspensions up to five days - to students in these early grades. It specifically repeals the prior restriction (section 79-265.01) and harmonizes related statutes. The change directly affects pre-K through second-grade students and their schools, enabling consistent application of discipline procedures across all grade levels.
