LB 843 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver allowing refugees and immigrants to access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This directly affects refugees and immigrants who are currently ineligible for SNAP under federal rules. The bill mandates the department to file this specific waiver with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand SNAP eligibility for these groups. It does not change existing SNAP rules but seeks federal permission to include these populations in the program. The bill focuses on administrative action by the state department, not on new funding or benefit amounts.
Nebraska's LB 884 amends election laws to require the Secretary of State to verify voter citizenship using federal data (like the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program), with cooperation from the Attorney General and DMV, directly affecting voter registration. It bans political party markings on ballot envelopes, mandates white ballots for most elections (with limited exceptions), and requires direct transport of sealed ballot boxes to central counting locations. The bill also updates poll watcher rules, requiring unobstructed viewing of ballot counting via video and restricting observers to non-partisan, non-candidate affiliated individuals. These changes apply to all voters and election officials statewide during general and local elections.
LB 963 prohibits Nebraska state agencies from entering into any agreements related to immigration enforcement - such as detaining or arresting individuals for immigration purposes - without prior approval from the Nebraska Legislature. This applies to all state agencies and officials, making unapproved agreements void and unenforceable, with a specific exception for agreements related to human trafficking enforcement. The bill also defines "immigration enforcement agreement" broadly to include contracts, memorandums, or leases with public entities, while excluding human trafficking-related cooperation. It does not change current prison detention policies but modifies definitions in the Nebraska Treatment and Corrections Act to align with these new requirements.
This bill expands Nebraska's Young Adult Bridge to Independence program to include young adults not lawfully present in the U.S., removing immigration status as an eligibility barrier. It amends eligibility rules (effective January 2026) to allow these individuals - primarily youth aged 16-24 transitioning from foster care - to access medical care (including Medicaid options), housing support, and case management services. Key provisions require the Department of Health and Human Services to update state plans and ensure services like emergency medical care and foster care maintenance payments are provided regardless of immigration status. The bill directly affects vulnerable young adults in Nebraska's foster care system who would otherwise be excluded from this support.
LB 301 allows eligible immigrants authorized for U.S. employment (as defined by federal regulations) to receive law enforcement officer training, certification, and employment in Nebraska. It directly affects non-citizen immigrants working or training as law enforcement officers and their dependents. Key provisions include granting access to public benefits tied to this employment - such as retirement programs (e.g., Nebraska State Patrol Retirement Act), health coverage, and education assistance - on the same terms as U.S. citizens. The bill amends existing laws to remove barriers for these individuals and ensures dependents qualify for benefits without regard to their immigration status. This is a concrete policy change, not a prediction of outcomes.
Nebraska's LB 299 allows eligible immigrants authorized for employment (under federal rules as of January 1, 2025) and their dependents to access public benefits tied to employment. The bill expands eligibility for benefits like retirement programs (including state employee and school employee plans), unemployment assistance, education financial aid, and health-related support. It requires verification of employment authorization using standard documents (such as work permits or resident cards) but does not change existing definitions of public benefits or limit current eligibility. Dependents of eligible immigrant workers gain access to benefits without regard to their own immigration status. The bill amends multiple Nebraska statutes to implement these changes, effective upon passage.
LB 295 requires all Nebraska state and local government employees participating in retirement systems (including county, school, state, and judicial employees) to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the United States. It mandates that employers and employees maintain specific documents like driver's licenses, birth certificates, passports, or U.S. immigration cards (e.g., I-551) to verify eligibility, which must be presented upon request by the retirement board. The bill also updates technical provisions across retirement acts, such as mortality tables for benefit calculations, lump sum payment rules, and board meeting procedures. These changes apply to multiple retirement systems, including the State Employees Retirement Act and School Employees Retirement Act.
Nebraska's LB 532 requires private employers with 25+ employees to use E-Verify to confirm new hires' work authorization within federal timeframes. It prohibits knowingly hiring unauthorized immigrants and imposes penalties, including license probation (1 year) or suspension (10-30 days for first violations) for noncompliance, with longer suspensions for repeat offenses. The bill excludes government agencies, political subdivisions, and bona fide independent contractors from these requirements. Violations trigger license discipline by the issuing agency, with reinstatement requiring termination of unauthorized workers and payment of fees.
