Rep. Carolyn Bosn

Maddy summaryLB 788 changes the administrator of Nebraska's Financial Fraud Victims' Reimbursement Fund from the Attorney General to the Nebraska State Patrol. The fund reimburses victims of financial fraud (including individuals and financial institutions) using assets forfeited from financial transaction offenses. Under this bill, the State Patrol would now handle all aspects of the fund, including processing victim applications, determining eligibility, and distributing funds. This is a procedural change to administrative responsibility, not a new policy or funding mechanism. The bill repeals the existing law designating the Attorney General as administrator.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1073 requires all commercial motor vehicle driver training programs in the state to include 30 minutes of antitrafficking training starting January 1, 2027. This applies directly to driver training schools and future commercial drivers who complete certification courses. The Attorney General must develop and update the training curriculum by December 1, 2026, and every three years thereafter, collaborating with human trafficking experts to cover recognition, prevention, and reporting. The bill repeals the previous version of the relevant licensing law to implement this requirement.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 5 provides legal immunity for administering naloxone, an FDA-approved drug that reverses opioid overdoses. It protects health professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists), family/friends, school staff, emergency responders, and police officers who act in good faith to help someone experiencing or likely to experience an opioid overdose. The law shields them from lawsuits, criminal charges, or professional penalties when reasonably using naloxone under specific circumstances. It specifically covers naloxone hydrochloride and other FDA-approved overdose reversal drugs, requiring only good-faith action without willful negligence.

Maddy summaryLB 205 sets new rules for medical expense evidence in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It requires plaintiffs to disclose "letters of protection" (agreements where providers get paid from settlements) and limits admissible evidence to actual payments or Medicare/medicaid rates for medical costs. The bill also caps noneconomic damages in cases against commercial motor vehicle carriers. These changes directly affect injury victims, healthcare providers, and trucking companies in civil litigation.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 387 redefines "solitary confinement" in the state's Correctional Services Act to specifically mean "confinement in an individual cell having solid, soundproof doors that deprives an inmate of all visual and auditory contact with others." This change directly affects Nebraska correctional facilities and inmates held in restrictive housing, as it establishes a clear legal definition for this practice. The bill amends section 83-170 of the law by adding this definition and repealing the previous version. This is a technical clarification of terminology, not a new policy or funding change.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 503 creates a program allowing counties to become "American energy friendly counties" to earn additional tax revenue from privately owned renewable energy facilities (like solar and wind installations). To qualify, counties must relax zoning rules - permitting renewable projects by right without discretionary approvals, setting noise limits at 50 decibels, and limiting setbacks (e.g., 300 feet for solar). The Department of Revenue will track designated counties and the annual tax revenue generated from these facilities. This policy directly affects county governments (through new revenue options) and renewable energy developers (by standardizing local permitting requirements).

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 465 changes how transportation network companies (like ride-share services) pay annual fees and removes a requirement that drivers must use their personal vehicles. Companies can now choose between a flat $25,000 annual fee or an $80 fee per vehicle, replacing the previous structure. The bill also eliminates the mandate that drivers must operate personal vehicles, while maintaining annual safety inspections covering brakes, lights, tires, and other vehicle components. These changes apply directly to transportation network companies operating in Nebraska and affect their fee obligations and vehicle operation rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Nebraska's Legislature to appropriate $600,000 annually from the General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 specifically for interpreter services at the Supreme Court. It directly affects deaf, hard of hearing, and non-English-speaking individuals who need court interpreters. The bill mandates that these funds be used exclusively for increasing payments to interpreter service providers for these court-related needs. It does not create new rules but allocates existing state funds to support language access in the Supreme Court.

Maddy summaryLB 466 redefines specific terms in Nebraska's juvenile justice law to clarify existing procedures. It specifically revises the definition of "alternative to detention" to exclude physical restraints (like locked facilities), clarifying that electronic monitoring or community programs count, but hardware-based restrictions do not. The bill also adds detailed definitions for "staff secure juvenile facility" to distinguish it from secure detention. This purely definitional bill affects juvenile courts, detention facilities, and legal professionals who apply these terms in cases involving youth. It does not create new programs or change penalties.

Maddy summaryLB 4 adopts the Telecommunications Exchange Deregulation Act to remove state regulatory oversight for specific telecommunications services. It directly affects older local exchange carriers (those with certificates issued before February 8, 1996, or acquired with such certificates) by allowing them to opt out of state regulation for services like voice over internet protocol (VoIP), mobile radio, and interexchange services. The bill amends Nebraska law to explicitly state that the Public Service Commission cannot regulate these services (per Section 86-124(1)), while maintaining the commission's authority over other areas like universal service funds and consumer protection. The bill was amended into LB 311 on June 6, 2025, and did not become law.