Rep. Terrell McKinney

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution congratulates the Omaha North High Magnet School girls basketball team on becoming the runner-up in the 2026 Nebraska Class A State Championship. The document formally recognizes the team's strong regular season performance and acknowledges the contributions of their coaches, staff, and community supporters. As a ceremonial measure, it directs that a copy of the resolution be sent to the school team to celebrate their athletic achievement.

Maddy summaryLB 960 requires Nebraska public school boards to include nonvoting student members equal in number to elected board members. These student members must be high school students in grades 10-12, selected through school-approved processes like elections or nominations, and serve one-year terms. They attend all public school board meetings, receive meeting materials, and can advocate for student concerns but cannot vote, access confidential information, or attend closed sessions. School boards must adopt implementation policies by January 1, 2027, to establish these student roles. The bill directly affects all Nebraska school districts with high schools and aims to enhance student voice in educational decision-making.

Maddy summaryLB 856 imposes a 5% excise tax on gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores selling alcohol, tobacco, or cigarettes for off-premises consumption operating in designated low-income census tracts (qualified census tracts). The tax, collected like sales tax starting January 2027, funds a Community Reinvestment Fund directing money to federally qualified health centers, homeless services, healthy food access, childcare, and community development programs. Covered businesses must annually report community investments (like local hiring or health center partnerships) and will receive public ratings based on their contributions, with "Outstanding" or "Satisfactory" ratings unlocking website recognition and grant eligibility. The bill targets businesses in areas facing health disparities and disinvestment, using revenue to support local services.

Maddy summaryLB 962 establishes the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act to support youth under 21 exiting juvenile detention, group homes, residential treatment programs, or probation supervision. The law requires state agencies to develop individualized transition plans within 60 days of custody, assign aftercare coordinators for up to 12 months post-release, and create individualized employment plans with career pathways. Key provisions include housing stabilization strategies, continuity of behavioral health and Medicaid services, credible messenger mentoring, and joint meetings between probation officers and coordinators. The program integrates existing state resources across the Department of Health and Human Services, Juvenile Services, Probation Administration, and the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to lower Nebraska's voting age from 18 to 16. It would allow residents who turn 16 on or before November's Election Day to vote in the calendar year they reach 16, provided they meet residency requirements. The amendment must be approved by Nebraska voters in the November 2026 general election. If passed, it would change Article VI, Section 1 of Nebraska's Constitution to reflect the new voting age. This is a procedural change requiring voter ratification, not an immediate law.

Maddy summaryLB 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.

Maddy summaryLB 993 creates a new legal pathway for people in Nebraska to sue law enforcement officers who violate their constitutional rights (like freedom from unreasonable searches or excessive force). It eliminates "qualified immunity" (a defense that previously shielded officers from lawsuits) and requires public employers (like cities or counties) to cover legal costs for officers unless they acted maliciously. The bill also waives government immunity for these cases and exempts them from standard tort claims processes, allowing victims to seek damages for injuries, emotional harm, or loss of liberty within three years of the violation. This directly affects law enforcement officers, their employers, and Nebraskans whose rights were allegedly violated by police or correctional staff.

Maddy summaryThis Nebraska legislative resolution (LR 299CA) proposes a constitutional amendment to create a new Nebraska Board of Commutation, transferring the power to reduce prison sentences (commutations) from the current Board of Pardons to this new board. The amendment specifies the Board of Commutation would consist of seven members appointed by the Governor (nonpartisan) and confirmed by the Legislature, requiring diverse expertise including mental health, restorative justice, criminal law, law enforcement, and lived experience with incarceration or victimization. It would not affect the existing powers of the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State regarding pardons, fines, or reprieves. This change requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LB 994) requires Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to recalculate parole eligibility dates for all offenders incarcerated on or after July 1, 2011, by April 15, 2027. It clarifies that good-time credits - earned through behavior and programming - apply to both parole eligibility dates and tentative release dates, with specific formulas: 6 months per year of sentence and 3 additional days monthly for good conduct. The recalculation must occur in phases to avoid administrative strain, and individuals on parole as of the law's effective date may request reduced parole terms if their eligibility would have changed under the new rules. The bill directly affects incarcerated people and parolees in Nebraska who were sentenced after July 2011.

Maddy summaryLB 961, the Collateral Sanction Relief Act, creates a process for individuals with completed criminal sentences to seek relief from employment barriers caused by past convictions. It directly affects people who face job disqualifications (like losing a professional license or being denied employment) due to a conviction but have finished all sentence requirements, including prison time, fines, and probation. The bill establishes a court petition process where applicants must submit personal details, employment history, references, and a statement explaining how the certificate would help them secure work; no filing fee is charged. Once approved, the certificate helps individuals overcome "collateral sanctions" like occupational license denials, allowing them to pursue employment opportunities they were previously barred from.