Rep. Dan Lonowski

Maddy summaryLB 1145 amends Nebraska's Open Meetings Act to update how public bodies must provide notice of meetings. It requires most public bodies to give advance notice through newspaper publication (in a general-circulation newspaper within their jurisdiction) plus posting on a statewide website repository. Smaller municipalities (cities of the second class, villages, and fire districts) may instead post notices in three public locations within their area. The bill clarifies that failing to follow these notice rules does not invalidate meeting decisions, and ensures notices include sufficient agenda details for public awareness. These changes apply to all Nebraska public bodies holding regular meetings.

Maddy summaryLB 830 requires state salaries for Supreme Court judges, legislators, and certain commission members to be paid in equal monthly installments. It updates salary amounts for Supreme Court judges (effective 2024-2026), allows deferred maintenance funds to be used for federal facilities under the Military Department, and eliminates the requirement for counties to make payments toward state institutions. The bill harmonizes related statutes and repeals specific outdated sections, including section 83-380 of Nebraska law. These changes directly affect state employees, county governments, and state institutions.

Maddy summaryLB 685 requires all Nebraska public, private, denominational, and parochial schools to install an exterior secure key box meeting Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037 at each school building for emergency law enforcement access. It creates a State School Security Director with new duties, including overseeing key box installations, assessing school security, and identifying deficiencies. The bill also establishes a grant program funded by the School Safety and Security Fund to help schools purchase security infrastructure like key boxes, surveillance systems, and secure doors. These changes apply directly to all approved or accredited schools in Nebraska, with $10 million intended for the grant program.

Maddy summaryLB 688 prohibits advertising e-cigarettes and similar electronic nicotine delivery systems within Nebraska. It directly affects businesses and advertisers selling these products by making it unlawful to promote them in the state. The bill does not ban the sale or use of e-cigarettes, only their advertising. This is a clear policy change requiring advertisers to remove e-cigarette promotions from all Nebraska-based marketing channels.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 690 updates laws governing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility-type vehicles by authorizing counties to regulate their operation on county and township roads outside city limits. The bill redefines ATVs (≤50 inches wide, ≤1,200 lbs, 3+ off-road tires) and utility vehicles (≤74 inches wide, ≤1,800 lbs, 4+ off-road tires), clarifying they exclude golf carts and low-speed vehicles. It changes registration, fee, and tax requirements under the Motor Vehicle Registration Act and updates safety rules to allow certain vehicles on highways per Nebraska's Road Rules. The law harmonizes existing regulations across multiple statutes and takes effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryLB 285 prohibits the sale of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes) in Nebraska, specifically banning products with non-tobacco or non-menthol tastes/smells distinguishable to consumers. It directly affects vape retailers and manufacturers by requiring them to stop selling these flavored products, with tobacco- and menthol-flavored vapes excluded from the ban. The bill defines "flavored vapor product" and imposes penalties including Class III misdemeanors and potential license revocation for violations. Enforcement applies to all retail sales, including online or delivery, under existing tobacco product regulations.

Maddy summaryNebraska's Legislative Resolution 21 (LR 21) is a procedural application to Congress requesting a constitutional convention to propose a federal amendment limiting House and Senate members to a set number of terms. It directly seeks to initiate a process that would affect all future U.S. congressional elections by potentially restricting how many times a person can be re-elected to either chamber. The resolution specifies that Nebraska's application will be counted toward the 34-state threshold required under Article V of the Constitution, aggregating with similar applications from other states. This resolution does not create new law but is part of a state-level effort to advance term limits for federal lawmakers through the constitutional amendment process.

Maddy summaryLB 686 prohibits government entities from maintaining lists of privately owned firearms or firearm owners, except during criminal investigations. It also bans payment networks and retailers from using merchant category codes to identify firearm retailers or transactions involving firearms. The bill requires the Attorney General to enforce these rules by investigating violations, issuing corrective notices, and imposing civil fines of up to $1,000 per violation for non-compliance. This law directly affects government agencies, payment processors, and retailers handling firearm sales in Nebraska.

Maddy summaryLB 687, the Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination Act, requires Nebraska government agencies to verify that companies they contract with (for agreements over $100,000 with 10+ full-time employees) do not refuse business with firearm-related businesses or trade associations. It mandates written confirmation that companies won’t discriminate against gun manufacturers, retailers, ranges, or gun industry trade groups (nonprofits representing these businesses) in contracts. Exceptions include sole-source contracts or when no qualified bids are received. The law aims to prevent government entities from excluding firearm industry businesses from public contracts based solely on their industry, while allowing compliance with federal/state laws or traditional business reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LB 689) clarifies rules for school employees in Nebraska's retirement systems when they temporarily return to work after separation. It redefines when a return to work as a temporary, substitute, or volunteer employee counts as a "termination" for retirement benefits, and specifies when employees can restart retirement contributions and accrue service credit. The bill also updates procedures for members who withdraw retirement contributions (taking a refund) and later return to work, allowing them to restore refunded amounts under specific conditions. These changes directly affect current and former school employees participating in Nebraska's School Employees Retirement Act or Class V Retirement Act.