Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1241 requires school boards and private school authorities to verify employment histories for applicants in roles involving regular student contact. Schools must obtain written authorization from applicants to contact their past employers (over the last 20 years) and confirm whether applicants faced allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or related disciplinary actions. Applicants who provide false information or withhold required details face civil penalties up to $500 or denial of employment. The bill mandates schools to review these records before hiring and allows immediate termination if misconduct history emerges post-hiring, excluding grievance procedures. This directly affects all school applicants and school employers across Nebraska's public, private, denominational, and parochial schools.
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Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1242 allows the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and enforce child support obligations for an unborn child upon the mother's request. The bill enables retroactive support starting from the month of conception (as determined by a physician), which can be collected even if paternity is confirmed after birth. It prohibits paternity testing for an unborn child if it poses any risk to the child's health. The support amount is determined by a court considering the best interests of the mother and child, without requiring paternity verification without the mother's consent.
Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 730 requires public schools and state agencies to designate restrooms and locker rooms based solely on biological sex (male or female), with signage indicating permitted use. It prohibits individuals from using facilities designated for the opposite sex, except for limited exceptions like custodial staff, emergency assistance, or parents accompanying children. The bill mandates that all state agencies define an individual's sex as male or female for administrative rules, enforcement, and dispute resolution, using specific biological criteria (reproductive systems producing sperm or eggs). It includes limited protections for individuals with differences in sex development under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This bill directly affects public schools and state agencies operating in Nebraska.
Maddy summaryLB 1090 requires petition circulators in Nebraska to provide personal details (name, date of birth, address, felony conviction status, and pardon status) via a notarized affidavit before circulating petitions. It directly affects individuals who collect signatures for initiatives, referendums, or candidate petitions. The bill imposes penalties including a Class III felony for falsifying circulator affidavits and a Class IV felony for accepting payment for signatures. These changes aim to verify circulator eligibility and prevent fraud in petition drives.
Maddy summaryLB 1244 removes existing sales and use tax exemptions for specific services, making them taxable for the first time. It directly affects businesses providing services like vehicle maintenance, lawn care, veterinary care, legal services, and personal care (e.g., haircuts), as well as consumers who purchase these services for personal use. The bill adds tax to services previously exempt under categories such as "cleaning and repair of other tangible personal property" and "lawn care, gardening, and landscaping services." It also requires the state to report on tax exemptions, including a new category tracking services subject to the new tax. This changes the tax base by expanding coverage beyond physical goods to include many personal service transactions.
Maddy summaryLB 731, the Gender Transition Malpractice Accountability Act, extends the time period for filing malpractice lawsuits related to gender-altering procedures, allowing individuals more time to seek legal action if harm is discovered later in life. It requires insurance companies to cover certain medical treatments and procedures that arise from gender-altering procedures, such as complications from surgeries or hormone therapies. The bill also modifies civil action rules under the Let Them Grow Act and excludes medical services for disorders of sex development or acute treatments for infections or injuries caused by the procedure.
Maddy summaryLB 939 requires AI chatbot platforms to block human-like features (such as claiming to feel emotions or build relationships) for users under 18. Platforms must display clear warnings every 30 minutes stating the AI isn't human, and implement systems to detect emergencies like self-harm. The law applies to all generative AI systems starting January 1, 2028, and also mandates measures to prevent emotional dependence on AI chatbots. It directly affects AI platforms, minors, and all users interacting with AI chatbots.
Maddy summaryLB 1240 modifies Nebraska's ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program by preventing the state from seeking recovery of funds from an ABLE account after the account holder's death. Specifically, it states that Nebraska cannot recover amounts from the account or distributions made upon death for medical assistance received under the Medical Assistance Act after the account was established. This directly affects Nebraska residents using ABLE accounts who receive state medical assistance, ensuring their beneficiaries won't face repayment claims for prior medical costs. The change amends Section 77-1403(5) of Nebraska law to align with federal ABLE program rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill would impose a 27-cent fee on every retail delivery of taxable tangible personal property (like online purchases delivered by vehicle) in Nebraska. Sellers would collect the fee from customers and remit it to the state Department of Revenue, which would credit the funds to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. The fee does not apply to exempt items, tax-exempt entities, new businesses (in their first year), or businesses with less than $500,000 in prior-year retail sales. It becomes effective January 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryLB 940 prohibits Nebraska public elementary and secondary schools from serving school meals containing six specific artificial color additives (Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6) starting August 1, 2026. The bill applies only to meals served under federal school lunch programs (as defined by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1966) and does not cover other food items offered to students. It bases the banned additives on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list as of January 1, 2026, using federal definitions for "color additive" and "school meal." The policy change directly affects school meal providers and students receiving these meals in Nebraska.