Rep. Stan Clouse

Maddy summaryLB 1205 requires Nebraska's Department of Economic Development to award grants under the Small Business Investment Program to support small businesses. The bill directs funding to microloan organizations, technical assistance groups, and innovation hubs that provide loans and business support to small businesses, with a focus on job creation and helping low-income communities. Key requirements include a $3 million annual funding limit, a 35% nonstate matching fund requirement for recipients, and mandating that at least 50% of funds support business technical assistance. This bill directly affects small business support organizations and microenterprises across Nebraska, particularly in rural and economically distressed areas.

Maddy summaryLB 1203 requires Nebraska county treasurers and clerks to track uncashed checks over $100 issued by their offices for two years. Checks under $100 become void three years after issuance, ceasing to be the county's obligation. The county must then charge off these voided checks, transferring the funds (plus interest) to the county's general fund, and the checks no longer count as unclaimed property under state law. This directly affects county financial offices and individuals holding old, uncashed checks.

Maddy summaryLB 1204 adopts the Nameplate Capacity Tax Facility Standards Act to establish statewide maximum standards for regulating renewable energy facilities (like wind farms) and energy storage resources in Nebraska. It directly affects renewable energy developers, landowners (both those leasing land to projects and nonparticipating neighbors), and local governments. The key mechanism sets uniform limits on local permitting and zoning rules - preventing counties from imposing stricter requirements than specified standards (e.g., setback distances for wind turbines) while allowing less restrictive rules. This ensures predictable development, protects nonparticipating landowners from agricultural impacts, and guarantees counties receive nameplate capacity tax revenue from these projects.

Maddy summaryLB 888 adjusts civil penalties for violations of Nebraska's housing standards for modular units and manufactured homes. It sets a maximum penalty of $3,650 per violation (per unit) and an annual cap of $4.56 million for related violations within one year, with both amounts automatically adjusted each August using the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. This bill directly affects manufacturers, dealers, and operators of modular housing units, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles who must comply with these standards. The changes apply specifically to violations of the Nebraska Uniform Standards for Modular Housing Units Act and the Uniform Standard Code for Manufactured Homes and Recreational Vehicles.

Maddy summaryLB 889 changes penalties under Nebraska's State Electrical Act by elevating violations from misdemeanors to Class IV felonies. It directly affects licensed electrical workers and contractors who commit specific violations, including making false statements on license applications, working without a license, failing to request required inspections, interfering with inspectors, or ignoring electrical regulations. The bill amends Section 81-2143 of the State Electrical Act to reflect this penalty increase for all five listed offenses. The original misdemeanor penalty provision is repealed, making these violations punishable by felony charges.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (LR 312CA) would allow Nebraska cities and villages to borrow money for residential development or redevelopment projects in designated blighted areas. It permits municipalities to issue bonds or loans without being restricted by existing charters and to pledge excess property taxes from the project area (above pre-development values) to repay the debt. The tax pledges would last up to 15 years for residential projects or 20 years for redevelopment (potentially extended under specific high-unemployment/poverty conditions). The amendment requires voter approval at the November 2026 general election and would change existing constitutional provisions governing such projects.

Maddy summaryLB 1202 updates Nebraska's rules for ignition interlock permits, which are devices that prevent vehicles from starting if alcohol is detected. It directly affects drivers convicted of certain traffic offenses (like DUI) who are required to use these devices. The bill clarifies the permit application process: applicants must submit a court order, proof of device installation, and pay a fee, and permits are only valid for non-commercial vehicles. It also specifies that drivers on probation for qualifying offenses won’t receive license points if they have the device installed, but will if they fail to comply.

Maddy summaryLB 762 requires most health insurance policies in Nebraska to cover treatment for two specific pediatric conditions: pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). It mandates coverage for recommended treatments like antibiotics, medication, behavioral therapy, plasma exchange, and immunoglobulin, directly affecting families of children diagnosed with these conditions and insurers offering health coverage in the state. Insurers must report coverage denials for these treatments annually to the Department of Insurance, which will publish a public report starting in 2028. The bill aims to ensure access to medically necessary care for affected children without insurer denials.

Maddy summaryLB 413 amends Nebraska law governing how public power, irrigation, and combined power/irrigation districts set rates for electricity and water services. It requires districts to establish fair, reasonable rates that distribute operational benefits equitably among users. Key changes include limiting negotiated rates for large commercial/industrial customers (over 500 kW) to five years and mandating that such rates cover the actual cost of producing the electricity if tied to qualifying economic development projects. This directly affects power districts and their commercial/industrial customers with significant electrical loads.

Maddy summaryLB 354 prohibits cities of the first class (like Omaha) from receiving state aid from Nebraska's Municipal Equalization Fund. The bill amends the existing law to explicitly exclude these large cities from eligibility, removing them from the formula used to calculate state aid. Under the current system, aid is based on property tax levies and population, but this bill ensures first-class cities receive no aid under this program. The change directly affects the funding of Nebraska's largest municipalities, eliminating a specific source of state revenue for them.