LB 1140 amends Nebraska's education budget to allocate $500,000 in General Funds for a pilot program targeting young adults in a metropolitan-class city. The program focuses on multi-trade preapprenticeship training to prepare participants for registered construction apprenticeships and entry-level jobs. This funding is added to the State Department of Education's existing budget line for FY2026-27, specifically designated for this initiative. The bill does not specify a particular city but requires the program to operate within a metropolitan-class municipality.
Nebraska's LB 1034 prohibits school staff, contractors, and agents from allowing federal immigration enforcement officers access to school grounds or students for immigration enforcement purposes without a valid judicial warrant. The bill defines a "valid judicial warrant" as one issued by a judge or magistrate specifically authorizing the requested access, excluding immigration detainers or administrative documents. It explicitly allows schools to comply with valid judicial warrants, court orders, or respond to immediate threats to health or safety. This law directly affects all public K-12 schools in Nebraska and their employees by requiring federal immigration officers to obtain a court-issued warrant before entering school facilities for enforcement actions.
LB 841 amends Nebraska's special education laws to clarify requirements for student identification, parental consent, and dispute resolution. It requires school districts to provide services only to students properly identified under existing law and mandates parental/legal guardian consent before changing an individualized education program (IEP), unless the district documents reasonable efforts to obtain consent (with no response in 10 days) or secures hearing approval. The bill shifts the burden of proof and burden of production to school districts during special education hearings, meaning schools must demonstrate their position rather than parents proving the school wrong. It also sets a 45-day deadline for hearing officers to issue final decisions. This directly affects students with disabilities, their families, and school districts across Nebraska.
Nebraska's LB 848 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for specific items during a three-day window each August (beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight Sunday). It exempts clothing under $100, school supplies under $50 per purchase, computer software under $350, graphing calculators under $150, and personal computers/peripherals under $1,500. The exemption applies only to items purchased for personal use during this period, excluding items like jewelry, sporting equipment, or furniture. This policy directly affects Nebraska residents buying these items for personal or educational use during the designated annual sales tax holiday.
LB 937 amends Nebraska education laws to clarify processes for option school enrollment, reading support, and dyslexia services. It requires school districts to provide written reasons for rejecting enrollment applications - including specific details about unmet disability-related accommodations for students with IEPs or diagnosed disabilities - and mandates annual reports on rejected applications to the state education department. The bill also updates teacher apprenticeship and recruitment programs, modifies the College Pathway Program, and removes outdated sections about solar/wind grants and evaluation models. These changes aim to standardize reporting and streamline administrative processes for school districts and families.
This bill amends Nebraska's Reading Improvement Act to clarify funding for evidence-based reading instruction. It specifies that $2 million annually from the Education Future Fund will be allocated for regional coaches and teacher training (for kindergarten through third grade) during fiscal year 2026-27, replacing prior language covering 2024-25 through 2029-30. The funding supports professional development for teachers in approved schools and early childhood programs. It directly affects schools, teachers, and the State Department of Education by mandating specific annual funding for literacy training programs. The change updates the appropriation timeline but does not alter the program's core requirements.
This bill reduces funding for Nebraska's Department of Economic Development by approximately $16 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. It eliminates $250,000 in cash funds for a prefabricated housing study (ending after FY2025) and removes $1 million in general funds for a specific grant program. However, it maintains $700,000 for rural development districts and $4.88 million for mentorship programs supporting elementary students' reading and professional growth. The changes redirect funds within the department's budget without altering core program allocations.
LB 1022 would eliminate the human relations training requirement for educators seeking teaching certificates, special services permits, or administrative credentials in Nebraska schools. Currently, applicants must complete training covering topics like recognizing biases, promoting inclusivity, and understanding diverse cultures. The bill amends state education laws (sections 79-807, 79-808, and others) to remove this requirement and the associated definition of "human relations training." This directly affects educators pursuing or renewing their certification under Nebraska's current system.
Nebraska's LB 990 renames the "School District Property Tax Relief Act" to the "Live Here Thrive Here Act" and changes the "School District Property Tax Relief Credit Fund" to the "Live Here Thrive Here Credit Fund." The bill modifies how property tax credits are distributed by adjusting the state's fiscal transfer process under Section 77-4602. Specifically, it directs funds to the new credit fund based on comparisons between actual and estimated state revenue, with the State Treasurer making transfers according to these calculations. This policy change directly affects property owners in Nebraska school districts who receive tax credits for real property taxes paid.
LB 1117 amends Nebraska's tuition waiver programs for dependents of veterans and first responders. It updates eligibility rules for veterans' dependents (e.g., requiring residency, exhausting VA benefits, and specifying qualifying service-related deaths/disabilities) and revises the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act to clarify waiver terms for their dependents. The bill's key new provision requires the state to reimburse public colleges 50% of waived tuition costs for veterans' dependents starting July 1, 2028, based on available funds, with prorated payments if appropriations are insufficient. This directly affects veterans' dependents, first responders' dependents, and public institutions receiving these waivers. The bill harmonizes existing rules but does not change the core waiver benefits themselves.
