Rep. Ben Hansen

Maddy summaryLB 652 terminates Nebraska's Board of Educational Lands and Funds, which manages school lands, effective July 1, 2027. It transfers control of all school lands to the Department of Administrative Services, requiring them to sell the lands as existing leases expire. Current lessees get first right to purchase, with unsold land sold at public auction. Proceeds from sales and any remaining funds in the temporary school fund will be deposited into the state's permanent school fund and distributed to school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal Article VII, section 6 of Nebraska's Constitution, which established the Board of Educational Lands and Funds. If approved by voters, it would eliminate the constitutional basis for this board and its management of certain state-owned lands. The amendment is submitted for voter approval at the November 2026 general election. (Procedural bill; no direct policy changes beyond removing the board's constitutional foundation.)

Maddy summaryLB 147 eliminates the mandatory requirement for certain water providers in Nebraska to add fluoride to drinking water. It allows public or private water entities not currently required to add fluoride to do so voluntarily, following rules set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill repeals the existing requirement (Section 71-3305) and the previous version of the regulation (Section 71-3306). This change directly affects water suppliers serving communities where fluoride addition was previously mandated.

Maddy summaryLB 634 creates the Legislative Sunset Review Committee to periodically evaluate state agencies and commissions (called "reviewable entities") established by the Nebraska Legislature. It requires these entities to submit detailed performance reports every five years, including data on costs, effectiveness, public input, and potential duplication. The committee will review these reports and recommend to the Legislature whether to maintain, modify, or eliminate each entity. This bill directly affects all state boards, councils, commissions, and similar bodies created by the Legislature, replacing the previous Planning Committee with this new review process. The committee will begin its reviews in 2027, with initial appointments scheduled for 2026.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 149 removes a legal prohibition that previously prevented schools from suspending students in prekindergarten through second grade. The bill amends sections 79-263, 79-265, and 79-267 of Nebraska law to eliminate this restriction, allowing schools to apply existing discipline policies - including short-term suspensions up to five days - to students in these early grades. It specifically repeals the prior restriction (section 79-265.01) and harmonizes related statutes. The change directly affects pre-K through second-grade students and their schools, enabling consistent application of discipline procedures across all grade levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes safety requirements for physicians prescribing abortion-inducing drugs in Nebraska. It mandates in-person examinations, pregnancy verification, Rh factor testing, and follow-up visits within 3-14 days to confirm pregnancy termination and monitor for adverse events like hemorrhage or infection. Physicians must report specific details to the health department (excluding patient identifiers) within 30 days, and violations of these protocols become grounds for unprofessional conduct charges under medical licensing rules. The law directly affects physicians who prescribe such drugs, aiming to standardize safety monitoring without restricting access to the procedure itself.

Maddy summaryThis Nebraska constitutional amendment (LR 25CA) would change how state legislators are paid and covered. Starting January 6, 2027, legislators would receive the state minimum wage instead of the current $1,000 monthly salary. It also requires the state to provide health insurance with benefits matching Medicaid coverage for all legislators. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election to take effect.

Maddy summaryLB 632 requires health care facilities performing elective abortions in Nebraska to arrange for the dignified disposal of fetal remains through burial or cremation. It prohibits facilities from disposing of remains in any other manner, such as medical waste or incineration. The bill applies only to elective abortions (not medical emergencies), mandates facilities to handle disposal without notifying patients, and allows the Board of Health to direct alternative methods if burial/cremation isn't feasible. The bill is currently under review by the Health and Human Services Committee.

Maddy summaryLB 677A allocates $1 from the Medical Cannabis Control Fund for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. This funding supports "Program 96" to implement provisions from Legislative Bill 677. The bill specifies that total spending on salaries and per diems from these funds cannot exceed $1 annually. It declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon approval. This is a procedural funding measure with minimal financial impact.

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.