Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

LB 229 amends Nebraska's Employment Security Law to exclude "marketplace network contractors" (such as delivery drivers or ride-share workers for platforms like Uber) from the law's definition of "employment." This means these workers would no longer qualify for unemployment benefits under Nebraska's system. The bill achieves this by adding a specific exclusion to the law's definition of "employment," clarifying that services performed for marketplace network platforms are not covered. The change directly affects independent contractors working through digital platforms, not the platforms themselves or traditional employees.

LB 544 would have amended Nebraska's Employment Security Law to disqualify unemployed individuals from receiving benefits if they fail to respond to a job offer within two business days or skip a scheduled interview without notifying the employer. This rule would directly affect job seekers who do not engage with available employment opportunities as required. The bill also required the unemployment department to create a reporting system (website portal, email, hotline) for employers to report such cases and mandated verification of employer claims before denying benefits. The proposed changes aimed to align with existing unemployment rules but were amended into another bill (LB 532) before becoming law.