Rep. Eliot Bostar

Maddy summaryLB 608A is an appropriations bill that allocates $781,647 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1,351,495 for fiscal year 2026-27 from Nebraska’s General Fund to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (Program 692). The funds are specifically designated to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 608 (related to postsecondary education), with strict limitations requiring the money to be used only for that purpose. The bill prohibits using these funds for state employee salaries or per diems. This measure was indefinitely postponed on May 14, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryLB 457 requires Nebraska school districts and licensed child care facilities to adopt written policies for managing anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) by July 1, 2026. These policies must include emergency protocols, individualized care plans for children with allergies, and strategies to reduce allergen exposure, based on model guidelines developed by the Health and Human Services Department. The bill also limits out-of-pocket insurance costs for epinephrine injectors to $50 annually for covered individuals, effective January 1, 2026. It directly affects schools, child care programs, and insured individuals needing emergency allergy treatment.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) congratulating Bryan Health on 100 years of community service. It formally thanks the healthcare organization for its history, including founding Bryan Memorial Hospital in 1926, pioneering medical innovations, and employing over 7,500 people across Nebraska. The resolution directs copies to be sent to Bryan Health and its CEO. It has no policy impact or funding changes - it solely recognizes the organization's service.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic legislative resolution (not a bill with policy changes), honoring Pat Lopez, a longtime public health director in Lincoln-Lancaster County who died on March 2, 2025. It expresses the Nebraska Legislature's condolences to Lopez's family, friends, and colleagues, recognizing her 50-year career improving public health for Nebraskans - particularly vulnerable populations - and her role in establishing the state's local health department system. The resolution has no legal effect; it simply serves as a formal gesture of respect. It was adopted by the Legislature on March 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryLB 609A appropriates $232,777 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $185,061 for fiscal year 2026-27 from the Financial Institution Assessment Cash Fund to the Department of Banking and Finance's Program 65. This funding supports the implementation of Legislative Bill 609 (which established a new banking oversight program) and limits salary/per diem expenses to $85,000 for 2025-26 and $87,125 for 2026-27. The bill directly affects the Department of Banking and Finance and its Program 65 operations.

Maddy summaryLB 609 adopts the Controllable Electronic Record Fraud Prevention Act, requiring businesses operating kiosks for digital assets (like cryptocurrency) to obtain a license, report to Nebraska's Department of Banking and Finance, and provide clear fraud warnings to customers. The bill mandates that kiosk operators disclose specific scam examples (e.g., fake bank alerts or "job offer" scams) and state that transactions are irreversible. It also includes changes to search warrant procedures, though the primary focus is on preventing fraud in digital asset transactions. This directly affects kiosk operators and customers using these services in Nebraska.

Maddy summaryLB 182 amends Nebraska's Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act and Child Care Tax Credit Act to clarify how tax credits can be used. It allows developers of affordable housing projects to transfer or sell their allocated tax credits to other taxpayers (like investors), and expands permitted uses of child care tax credits beyond their original scope. The bill specifically updates rules for allocating credits to pass-through entities (like partnerships or LLCs) and ensures credits only apply to projects completed after 2018. These changes directly affect affordable housing developers and childcare providers seeking tax credit benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend Nebraska state tax law to create a specific income tax credit for renters. The measure would allow qualified residents to claim a credit equal to the federal renter's credit on their state income tax returns. The bill distinguishes between higher-income filers, who would receive a nonrefundable credit, and lower-income filers, who would receive a refundable credit based on a percentage of the federal amount. Although the legislation outlines these tax provisions, it was indefinitely postponed in August 2024 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes licensed racetracks in Nebraska to offer sports betting through online platforms, allowing residents to place wagers via the internet. It defines specific rules for what types of sporting events can be bet on, such as professional and international games, while explicitly excluding in-state college teams, high school events, and fantasy sports contests. The legislation also outlines restrictions on who can participate, prohibiting athletes, coaches, and officials from betting on events they are involved in to maintain integrity. Additionally, the bill adjusts how taxes collected from sports wagering are distributed and modifies requirements for submitting constitutional amendment proposals.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update the legal definition of the "base limitation," which sets the maximum annual budget increase allowed for Nebraska school districts and other local government entities. The key change is to exclude restricted funds designated for public safety services from this calculation, while maintaining the existing base rate of 2.5 percent for most entities and specific lower rates for recent school years. Additionally, the bill retains the current authority for the Legislature to adjust these limits annually based on changes in the prices of services and products used by these organizations. Although the bill was introduced to modify budget rules, it was ultimately postponed during the legislative session and did not become law.