Rep. Kathleen Kauth

Maddy summaryLB 531 exempts certain affordable housing projects from requiring compliance with the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code. Specifically, it prohibits the Department of Economic Development from mandating that new construction or rental conversion projects receiving funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund meet the energy efficiency standards in the code. The bill amends existing law to clarify this exception while maintaining the code's requirement for all other state-funded buildings. It does not change energy standards for non-affordable housing projects or other state construction.

Maddy summaryLB 530 amends penalties for several offenses, changing violations of specific sections to Class I misdemeanors. It directly affects individuals convicted of motor vehicle homicide (including cases involving unborn children), tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certain controlled substances violations, and improper passing of stopped vehicles or vulnerable road users. The bill modifies existing law by specifying that these offenses will now carry the penalty classification of a Class I misdemeanor, rather than a higher or unspecified level. This change affects sentencing outcomes for these specific violations, without altering the underlying prohibitions or creating new offenses.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 89, the "Stand With Women Act," requires public and private schools, as well as colleges, to designate interscholastic sports teams as "male," "female," or "coed" based solely on biological sex at birth. It prohibits biologically male students from participating on teams designated for females (girls/women), with a limited exception only if no girls' team exists for a specific sport. The bill cites physical differences between sexes as justification, stating that separate teams reduce injury risk for female athletes and ensure fair competition. This law directly affects student-athletes, schools, and athletic associations in Nebraska by mandating sex-based team eligibility.

Maddy summaryLB 534 authorizes payments totaling approximately $3.2 million for settled legal claims against Nebraska. It directs funds from the General Fund and Workers' Compensation Claims Revolving Fund to pay specific claimants, including families of line-of-duty death victims (e.g., Ross Bartlett, Christopher Marcello), businesses like Nebraska Press Advertising Service and Follett Corporation, and individuals with workers' compensation claims (e.g., Matthew Nicholas, Janice Myers). The bill does not create new policies but appropriates existing funds for claims already resolved through court settlements or state claims boards. Payments are allocated through specific state program codes (536, 592, 593) as detailed in the bill’s appropriation sections.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (LR 196) proposes an interim study on truancy in Nebraska schools, directed to the Education Committee. It does not create new laws or directly affect schools or students; instead, it authorizes the committee to research truancy causes and impacts. The committee must report its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Council or Legislature after completing the study. This is a procedural step to gather information, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryLR 197 is a legislative resolution proposing an interim study by Nebraska's Health and Human Services Committee to examine violence in behavioral health settings. This resolution does not create new laws or directly affect individuals; it simply requests the committee investigate the issue and report findings with recommendations. The committee must complete the study and submit its report to the Legislative Council or Legislature. This is a procedural step to gather information, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (LR 144) proposes an interim study to examine creating an apprenticeship-based pathway for individuals with equivalent education and professional experience to become K-12 teachers in Nebraska. It would specifically study barriers in current certification, best practices from other states, necessary teaching skills training, and how school districts and the State Board of Education could oversee such programs. The study aims to address teacher shortages, particularly in rural and high-need areas, by evaluating whether an apprenticeship model could maintain quality while expanding the teacher workforce. This is a study request only - no policy change is enacted by the resolution itself.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution honoring Nebraska State Patrol Officer Kyle McAcy, who died in a traffic incident at age 31 on February 17, 2025. The resolution expresses the Nebraska Legislature's condolences to his family, friends, and fellow officers and directs that a copy be sent to his family. It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is solely a ceremonial tribute to recognize his service and life.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Nebraska Legislature's condolences to the family, friends, and fellow officers of Kyle McAcy, a Nebraska State Patrol officer who died in a traffic incident on February 17, 2025. It formally recognizes McAcy's 10-year service, including roles as a range officer and crisis negotiator, and notes the Nebraska State Patrol's decision to retire his badge number (302) in his honor. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to McAcy's family as a gesture of respect. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy impact, solely offering condolences.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Nebraska laws to clarify which properties are exempt from property taxes and how those exemptions are calculated. It directly affects government entities, schools, charities, nursing homes, and homeowners by defining specific rules for tax-free status. Key provisions include setting a voter-approval threshold for large public construction projects, establishing a formula for "payments in lieu of taxes" for unleased government land, and adjusting how property tax exemptions are applied to skilled nursing facilities based on their Medicaid occupancy rates. Additionally, the bill refines definitions for educational and charitable organizations to ensure only non-profit properties used for public benefit retain their tax-exempt status.