Rep. Ashlei Spivey

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 221 creates a process to fill vacancies on state boards and commissions when gubernatorial appointments remain unfilled. If a seat is vacant for six months, the relevant legislative committee can collect applications and recommend candidates to the Governor. If the seat stays vacant for an additional three months after recommendations are submitted, the Legislative Council's Executive Board can appoint a replacement. This directly affects state boards, commissions, and similar entities requiring gubernatorial appointments, ensuring they maintain required membership for operations.

Maddy summaryLB 171 adjusts Nebraska's individual and corporate income tax rates for 2025 and future years. It reduces the top individual income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.20% for taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, with further gradual reductions to 4.55% in 2026 and 3.99% after 2027. The bill also modifies corporate tax rates and establishes a new inflation adjustment mechanism using the Consumer Price Index for income tax brackets. This directly affects Nebraska residents and businesses filing state income taxes, altering their tax liability based on income levels. The changes apply to tax years starting in 2025, with specific rate schedules updated annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the tax rate on cash devices (like slot machines) from 15.5% to 15% of their net operating revenue. It also changes how collected taxes are distributed, reducing the portion going to the Nebraska Tourism Commission Promotional Cash Fund from 10% to 7.5% of total revenue. Cash device operators and distributors must pay quarterly taxes based on revenue, with funds remitted to the State Treasurer by specified dates. The changes take effect October 1, 2025, and repeal the original tax sections.

Maddy summaryLB 442 establishes a Nebraska state child care subsidy program to assist families with incomes between 130% and 400% of the federal poverty level. The program will provide sliding-scale payments where families pay no more than 39% of their gross income for child care, based on a fixed-rate schedule updated annually. It is funded by a 0.52% payroll tax (39% employer, 13% employee) and includes specific provisions for qualified apprentice workers and child care providers. The program begins October 1, 2026, with eligibility determined by income and provider background checks.

Maddy summaryThis bill's title claims to address "income tax adjustment for tip income," but the provided text contains no provisions related to tips or gratuities. Instead, the bill amends Section 77-2716 to modify standard tax adjustments for interest, dividends, net operating losses, and other income types (e.g., excluding certain bond interest or educational savings plan contributions). It does not include any specific changes to how tip income is taxed. The actual text focuses on federal income tax adjustments under Nebraska law, unrelated to service industry tips. The discrepancy between the title and the bill's content suggests a possible error in the title or description.

Maddy summaryLB 153 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to submit a state plan amendment to the federal government seeking approval to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to at least six months for eligible new mothers. This change would directly affect Medicaid-covered postpartum individuals, ensuring continued health insurance coverage during the critical postpartum period. The bill specifies that funding for this extension would come from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund, as outlined in Section 68-996. The amendment seeks federal matching funds to support this expanded coverage period under the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 30 would exclude income earned from overtime compensation from state taxable income. This change directly affects Nebraska residents who receive overtime pay, as it removes this specific income source from their taxable base. The bill amends Section 77-2716 of the state tax code to create a subtraction for overtime earnings, meaning workers would pay state income tax only on regular wages, not extra overtime pay. This is a concrete policy change to reduce the tax burden on overtime income, without altering other tax provisions.

Maddy summaryLB 439 creates a refundable tax credit for Nebraska residents whose property taxes or rent on their primary residence exceeds 5% of their federal adjusted gross income. It directly affects homeowners and renters who live in their primary residence at least six months annually, with higher caps for seniors (up to $5,000 versus $4,000 for others). The credit equals 50% of the amount over the 5% threshold, calculated using the county’s average home value for property tax limits. Residents must apply to the Department of Revenue with proof of residence, taxes paid, and income to claim the credit on their annual tax return.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 676 changes regulations for certified nurse midwives by eliminating required "practice agreements" between midwives and collaborating physicians. It updates definitions and scope of practice provisions (amending sections 38-206, 38-601, 38-603, 38-604, 38-606, 38-607, 38-608, 38-610, 38-611, and 44-2803) and makes the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act apply to midwives. The bill removes outdated sections (38-609, 38-613, and 38-614) while keeping midwives' core services - like prenatal care, childbirth support, and gynecological care - unchanged. This affects certified nurse midwives, their collaborative relationships with physicians, and their medical liability coverage under state law.

Maddy summaryLB 706 requires law enforcement officers to be accompanied by trained adult protective services (APS) social workers during calls involving individuals with mental health concerns or a history of mental illness. Dispatchers must screen calls for mental health issues, flag them as "Mental Health Priority," and notify nearby APS social workers to join the response. The APS social worker takes the lead in interactions, using de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed care to reduce the risk of harm. Law enforcement agencies must create written policies for this process, which the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement will review annually for compliance.