This bill (LB 1007) changes Nebraska's landlord-tenant law to protect renters. It requires landlords to return security deposits if a signed rental agreement is never finalized, and bans rental agreements from containing clauses that prevent tenants from sharing the agreement's terms with others. Landlords who violate these rules could face lawsuits where tenants recover the deposit, legal fees, and additional damages. The law directly affects renters (by preventing unfair financial losses) and landlords (by restricting certain contract terms).
Nebraska's LB 809 prohibits cities and counties from passing local laws that would stop landlords from refusing to rent to tenants who receive housing assistance (like Section 8 vouchers) or impose rent control on private properties. The bill specifically bans local ordinances that restrict landlords based on tenants' income sources or set rent limits, except for two exceptions: programs designed to increase affordable housing supply through land-use rules or voluntary landlord agreements that limit rent increases. This law overrides any conflicting local home rule charters and declares any violating local ordinance invalid. It directly affects landlords, tenants using housing assistance, and local governments seeking to regulate rental markets.
LB 267 allows tenants facing domestic violence to have the person who committed the violence removed from their rental agreement, whether that person is a roommate or not. To do this, tenants must provide landlords with a court order or certification of domestic violence, plus written notice with the perpetrator's name and a requested termination date. Landlords must then follow specific steps: change locks within 24 hours for non-roommates (or install new locks after removal for roommates), notify the tenant about access, and may recover court costs from the perpetrator. This law directly affects tenants experiencing domestic violence, landlords who must act promptly, and the perpetrators facing eviction.
LB 92, the Residential Tenant Clean Slate Act, allows tenants to have certain eviction records sealed from public view under specific conditions. It directly affects tenants who were evicted for reasons like nonpayment during the 2020-2021 pandemic emergency, wrongful eviction, or if their case was dismissed or reversed. Key provisions require courts to automatically seal records upon dismissal of an eviction case, and allow tenants to petition for sealing if they meet criteria like a reversed judgment or a minor defendant. Once sealed, landlords cannot consider the eviction in housing applications, and tenants can deny the incident occurred in job or housing screenings. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to all eviction cases regardless of when they occurred.
LB 101 amends Nebraska's landlord-tenant law to guarantee tenants the right to a jury trial in eviction cases. It prohibits landlords from including rental agreement clauses that waive tenants' legal rights (including jury trial rights) or require tenants to pay landlord attorney fees. The bill requires courts to inform defendants of their jury trial option at first appearance and mandates that eviction cases seeking possession be scheduled for trial within 10-14 days if tried without a jury. This directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords initiating eviction proceedings under Nebraska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
Nebraska bill LB 223 amends the state's Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's lawful source of income. It specifically protects tenants and buyers who receive government assistance like Social Security, child support, housing vouchers (e.g., Section 8), or public housing benefits. The bill adds "lawful source of income" to existing protected categories (such as race or disability) under Section 20-318, making it illegal for landlords to refuse housing or impose different terms solely because of these income sources. This change directly affects housing providers and renters relying on public assistance programs.
LB 469 requires Nebraska landlords to include a standardized form in all residential eviction notices starting February 1, 2026. The form, developed by the State Court Administrator and posted online, must provide tenants with clear information about legal assistance, financial resources, and how to report housing discrimination. This bill directly affects landlords who serve eviction notices and tenants facing eviction proceedings. It mandates a specific, accessible resource tool to help tenants navigate housing disputes under Nebraska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
LB 587 amends Nebraska's landlord-tenant law to strengthen tenant rights when landlords fail to maintain essential services or repair habitable conditions. It shortens the required notice period for landlords to fix issues from 14 to 7 days before a tenant can terminate the lease, and expands remedies for failures in heat, water, mold, or pests. Tenants can now deduct reasonable costs for essential services or repairs from rent, obtain substitute housing without paying rent during the landlord's noncompliance, and recover attorney fees for willful violations. The bill directly affects residential tenants and landlords in Nebraska by providing clearer, faster pathways to address unsafe or uninhabitable living conditions.
This bill changes Nebraska's eviction process under the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. It requires eviction trials to occur exactly 14 days after the summons is issued (previously a 10-14 day window), and mandates that writs of restitution (ordering tenants to leave) must be executed at least 10 days after issuance, unless a safety threat exists or both parties agree to an earlier date. These changes directly affect landlords initiating evictions and tenants facing removal. The bill also ensures landlords follow specific procedures for handling tenant property during eviction. (Summary based on amended Section 76-1446 text.)
LB 107 creates a new refundable income tax credit for Nebraska renters with lower incomes. It directly affects renters earning $29,000 or less annually, providing a credit equal to 100% of a federal tax credit for those earning under $22,000, with the percentage decreasing by 10% for each $1,000 over $22,000. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible renters would receive the full credit amount even if it exceeds their state tax liability. The bill also modifies existing property tax credit provisions, though specific changes to those are not detailed in the provided text.
