LB 224 requires Nebraska state employers to provide paid maternity leave to eligible employees who give birth and assume parental responsibility. Full-time state employees receive 12 weeks of paid leave, while part-time employees get proportional leave based on their regular hours. The bill prohibits retaliation against employees who take leave, mandates return to equivalent positions after leave, and ensures continued benefits during leave - while running concurrently with federal Family and Medical Leave Act protections. It also prohibits using this leave against other accrued leave types like vacation or sick time.
LB 367 prohibits licensed medical and mental health professionals (including doctors, psychologists, nurses, and pharmacists) from providing conversion therapy, gender identity conversion therapy, or sexual orientation conversion therapy to individuals under 19 years old. The bill amends Nebraska’s Uniform Credentialing Act to add "providing conversion therapy" as a specific ground for disciplinary action, including license suspension or revocation. It also bans the use of state funds for conversion therapy and defines the prohibited practice as any effort to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The law directly affects practitioners in the Medicine and Surgery, Mental Health, Nurse, Pharmacy, and Psychology practice acts.
LB 527A is an appropriation bill that allocates specific state and federal funds to two health programs (344 and 348) under Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to support implementation of Legislative Bill 527. It provides $18.05 million for Program 344 and $162.40 million for Program 348 in fiscal year 2025-26, with increased amounts for 2026-27, sourced from the Medicaid Access and Quality Fund and federal Medicaid funds. The bill restricts these funds to the purposes of Legislative Bill 527 and prohibits their use for state employee salaries. Approved by the governor on April 7, 2025, it takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration.
LB 41A is an appropriation bill that allocates specific state and federal funds to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for two Medicaid-related programs (344 and 348) to support implementation of Legislative Bill 41. It provides $28,021 (state and federal combined) for Program 344 and $155,579 for Program 348 in fiscal year 2025-26, with similar amounts for 2026-27. The funds must be used exclusively for their designated program purposes and cannot cover state employee salaries. This bill directly affects the Department of Health and Human Services and the Medicaid programs it administers.
LB 22A is an appropriation bill that allocates specific funds to support Legislative Bill 22. It provides $380,628 from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund and $694,972 in federal funds for fiscal year 2025-26, and $774,002 plus $1,377,198 for 2026-27, all to the Department of Health and Human Services' Program 348. These funds are designated exclusively to carry out the provisions of LB 22, with no use permitted for state employee salaries or per diems. The bill directly affects the state's Medicaid program administration by providing targeted financial resources for its implementation.
Nebraska bill LB 676 changes regulations for certified nurse midwives by eliminating required "practice agreements" between midwives and collaborating physicians. It updates definitions and scope of practice provisions (amending sections 38-206, 38-601, 38-603, 38-604, 38-606, 38-607, 38-608, 38-610, 38-611, and 44-2803) and makes the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act apply to midwives. The bill removes outdated sections (38-609, 38-613, and 38-614) while keeping midwives' core services - like prenatal care, childbirth support, and gynecological care - unchanged. This affects certified nurse midwives, their collaborative relationships with physicians, and their medical liability coverage under state law.
LB 119 establishes the Rural Health Opportunity Program to encourage Nebraska students from rural areas to pursue healthcare careers. It requires the University of Nebraska and Nebraska State Colleges to create a joint agreement for selecting eligible students and provides a 100% tuition and fee waiver for up to four years at state colleges while completing coursework needed to transfer to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. To qualify, students must be Nebraska high school graduates or equivalent residents of designated rural areas. The bill states legislative intent to fund the program annually but was indefinitely postponed on May 30, 2025.
LB 22 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to adopt evidence-based nurse home-visitation programs for families with children under five or pregnant individuals. These programs must be delivered by nurses or trained professionals and focus on improving maternal/child health, parenting skills, and school readiness. The bill mandates that only programs meeting strict evidence-based standards - like national certification and culturally competent staff - receive state funding, and requires the department to report annually on program locations, outcomes, and funding use. It specifically excludes one-time visits and ensures families can decline services at any time. The law also directs the department to file a state plan amendment with federal authorities to secure Medicaid coverage for these services.
LB 386 creates a pilot program to expand mental health services for individuals in crisis who are temporarily detained by law enforcement. It allows counties to add mental health beds in jails and encourages regional cooperation between law enforcement agencies, with the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement administering the program. Key provisions include permitting videoconferencing for mental health hearings and evaluations under existing commitment acts, and defining terms like "videoconferencing" to streamline processes. The bill specifically states it does not criminalize mental health issues and aims to reduce burdens on rural law enforcement and improve access to care.
This bill sets specific funding amounts to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for assisted-living facilities in Nebraska. It directs $7,926,576 (FY2025-26) and $8,243,639 (FY2026-27) to the Department of Health and Human Services to raise daily rates for these facilities under Nebraska's Medicaid waiver program. The funds will increase the daily rate to $88.24 for 2025-26 and $91.78 for 2026-27, applying equally to both rural and urban facilities participating in the program.
