Rep. Wendy DeBoer

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 597 modifies how public school districts receive state education funding under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act. Starting with the 2025-26 school year, foundation aid will be calculated as the greater of $1,500 per formula student or 7.5% of each district's basic funding. It also reduces the percentage of foundation aid counted toward formula resources from 100% to 60% for future years and adjusts local effort rate calculations (reducing the deduction from property tax levies from 5 cents to 10 cents). These changes directly affect all Nebraska public school districts receiving state aid.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 500 creates a 21-member School Financing Review Commission to examine and recommend improvements to public school funding. The commission includes education officials, legislators, school board members, teachers, and diverse community representatives from across the state. It will review alternatives to property tax reliance (like income or sales tax components), funding for pre-K, career programs, and student needs (including poverty and limited English proficiency), and infrastructure costs. The commission must submit a preliminary report by November 2025 and a final report with recommendations by December 2025, followed by annual reports on funding adequacy starting in 2028. This bill directly affects all Nebraska public elementary and secondary schools and their students.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LB 598) provides funding to Nebraska school districts to cover unexpected, significant increases in costs for students learning English (limited English proficiency programs). Districts with annual LEP expenditures exceeding $50,000 or 0.5% of their budget can apply for payments from the Education Future Fund, calculated as the difference between current-year costs and 107% of the prior year's costs. It also updates how elementary school sites qualify for funding, adjusts special education reimbursement rules, and expands eligible uses of the Education Future Fund to include costs for students with 504 plans. These changes aim to address specific financial pressures on school districts while modifying administrative processes under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act.

Maddy summaryLB 601 clarifies Nebraska's existing law on motions for new trials in criminal cases by correcting obvious typographical errors in Section 29-2101. It removes duplicated words like "misconduct misconduct" and "accident accident" from the list of grounds that could justify a new trial, such as procedural errors, jury misconduct, or newly discovered evidence. The bill does not change the legal standards or create new rights; it simply makes the current statute grammatically clear. This affects defendants who seek new trials based on the seven specified grounds outlined in the corrected statute. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on textual accuracy without altering substantive legal procedures.

Maddy summaryLB 599 requires Nebraska's State Board of Education to create a comprehensive cybersecurity policy for all public, private, denominational, and parochial schools and educational service units. The policy must include a step-by-step cybersecurity guide for schools, a statewide cybersecurity team to assist schools and address threats, expanded digital safety education for students and staff, a career pipeline to recruit rural students into tech fields, and funding mechanisms to help schools purchase cybersecurity tools. This bill directly affects all Nebraska schools by mandating specific security measures and resources to protect student data and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryLB 336 creates a task force to study barriers and employment opportunities for Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The task force will review existing reports, identify workforce gaps, and develop actionable recommendations to improve job access while addressing how work hours affect benefits. It must submit a final report with specific solutions to the Legislature and Governor by July 2027. This bill directly affects individuals with disabilities seeking competitive employment and aims to inform future policy changes through structured analysis.

Maddy summaryLB 66 proposes adopting Nebraska's version of the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act. This bill would establish a standardized legal framework for advance healthcare planning, allowing adults to appoint agents to make medical decisions if they become unable to do so themselves (via "advance directives" or "power of attorney for health care"). It defines key terms like "agent," "default surrogate" (e.g., family members), and "cohabitant," clarifying who can make decisions and under what circumstances. The act directly affects Nebraskans planning ahead for healthcare, their families, and healthcare providers who must follow these procedures. (Note: The bill is currently pending before the Judiciary Committee as of January 2025.)

Maddy summaryLB 227 updates Nebraska's rules for motor carrier authorization, primarily affecting companies seeking permits to operate as common carriers, contract carriers, or providers of Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation. It shifts the burden of proof in applications: applicants must now prove they are qualified and that their service meets public demand, while opponents must show existing carriers already meet the need or that new service would harm existing operations. A key provision requires the state commission to consult with the Medicaid Director when reviewing applications for Medicaid transportation services, ensuring alignment with state health programs. The bill also removes outdated language and harmonizes related sections of Nebraska law governing carrier licensing.

Maddy summaryLB 600 amends Nebraska's traffic laws to update speed limits (e.g., 75 mph on most interstates, 65 mph in Douglas County), define "speed control enforcement systems" (like radar cameras), and require drivers to stop near stopped vehicles. It clarifies when police or the Department of Transportation can remove obstructing vehicles from highways without liability. The bill also adjusts rules for license plate reader use under privacy law and specifies penalties for hit-and-run incidents (up to Class I misdemeanor). This affects all drivers, law enforcement, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Note: As of June 6, 2025, provisions were amended into LB530.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 693 amends the state's deceptive trade practices law to prohibit receiving compensation for certain conduct related to veterans benefits assistance. Specifically, it makes it illegal for anyone to charge fees for helping veterans navigate benefits applications or referrals if that conduct misleads or deceives veterans. The bill defines terms and adds this prohibition to the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, directly affecting third-party assistance providers who charge fees for veterans benefits support. This change aims to prevent deceptive practices by requiring transparency in veterans benefits assistance services.