This bill appropriates $1 million from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund for each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are specifically designated for Program 33 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 48 (which establishes Medicaid managed care reforms). The appropriation includes a $60,000 annual cap on salary and per diem expenses for the program. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, and directly affects Medicaid program administration.
LB 382 redirects $2 million annually from Nebraska's Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund to reimburse the state's eight Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for eligible activities and services defined under existing law. The bill specifically appropriates these funds for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, with an equal share distributed to each AAA. This ensures AAAs receive reimbursement for costs related to services supporting older Nebraskans, such as transportation, meals, and home care, as outlined in section 81-2222. The bill amends existing funding mechanisms to prioritize these reimbursements while maintaining current eligibility criteria.
LB 382A appropriates $2 million from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are designated for Program 571 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 382. The bill specifies that the money must be used solely for state aid and cannot cover salaries or per diems for state employees.
Nebraska's LB 641 amends Medicaid estate recovery rules to protect certain family members' homes from being seized to repay medical assistance costs after a recipient's death. The bill specifically exempts homes from recovery if a sibling lived there continuously for one year before the recipient's institutionalization or if an adult child provided care while living in the home for two years prior to institutionalization. To qualify for these exemptions, a physician's written attestation must verify the care provided that delayed institutionalization. The changes clarify which family members retain home ownership protections and require specific documentation to avoid estate recovery claims.
LB 319 adjusts Nebraska's eligibility rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by temporarily increasing the gross income threshold to 165% of the federal poverty guidelines (from the prior level) for qualifying residents. This change, effective until October 1, 2025, aims to expand access to SNAP benefits while maintaining work incentives - ensuring participants can keep benefits while seeking higher-paying jobs. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a state outreach plan (partnering with nonprofits if needed), submit annual reports to the Legislature on program effectiveness, and evaluate administrative costs. It directly affects Nebraska residents seeking SNAP benefits, particularly those with incomes just above the previous threshold.
Nebraska's LB 414 establishes a suicide mortality review team within the Department of Veterans' Affairs to address veteran suicides. The team, made up of VA staff, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and veteran advocates, will collect data on all veteran suicide deaths in Nebraska, analyze causes, and develop prevention protocols for agencies like hospitals and law enforcement. It requires an annual report by April 1st starting in 2026, detailing each reviewed case (including age, location, and contributing factors) and recommendations to reduce preventable suicides. The bill directly affects veterans who died by suicide and aims to improve data-driven prevention strategies through coordinated reviews.
LB 457 requires Nebraska school districts and licensed child care facilities to adopt written policies for managing anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) by July 1, 2026. These policies must include emergency protocols, individualized care plans for children with allergies, and strategies to reduce allergen exposure, based on model guidelines developed by the Health and Human Services Department. The bill also limits out-of-pocket insurance costs for epinephrine injectors to $50 annually for covered individuals, effective January 1, 2026. It directly affects schools, child care programs, and insured individuals needing emergency allergy treatment.
LB 574, introduced in Nebraska in 2025, would have established specific rights for certified firefighters and emergency personnel, including paramedics and EMTs. The bill required formal investigations into complaints against firefighters to follow strict procedures: providing written summaries before interviews, recording all interviews, allowing legal or union representation, and maintaining confidentiality of all records. It also guaranteed firefighters access to mental health services, safe working conditions, and the right to challenge disciplinary actions through grievance processes. The bill further prohibited mandatory polygraph exams and protected firefighters' personal information, while allowing off-duty political activity and access to personnel records. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on February 7, 2025, and did not become law.)
