Rep. Dave Murman

Maddy summaryLB 691 requires public school districts and private, denominational, or parochial schools receiving state funds to display the full text of the Ten Commandments in all elementary classrooms and in every middle or high school building. The display must be at least 11x14 inches, use an easy-to-read font, and include the exact wording specified in the bill. Schools may use existing displays or accept donations to cover costs but are not required to spend new funds. The bill is currently under review by Nebraska's Education Committee, with a hearing scheduled for February 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryLB 496 updates Nebraska's traffic rules to address motorists encountering livestock on highways. It requires drivers to exercise caution near livestock being led or driven, stop immediately when a hand signal is given (unless avoiding an accident), turn off engines if requested, and yield the right of way to livestock. The bill replaces the previous rule with these specific protections for livestock handlers and animals. This directly affects drivers and livestock handlers using Nebraska roads, particularly in rural areas where livestock may be on highways.

Maddy summaryLB 300 amends Nebraska school district laws to add a compensation limit for superintendents and educational service unit administrators, requiring their pay to comply with the existing Superintendent Pay Transparency Act. The bill defines "compensation" as salary plus benefits (like retirement contributions and insurance) and prohibits school districts from entering contracts that exceed this new limit. It directly affects all Nebraska school districts and educational service units when hiring or setting pay for these leadership roles. The key mechanism is amending multiple statutes (79-566, 79-567, 79-594, 79-1219, and 79-2401) to include this limit and clarify pay transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 550 requires school districts to adopt a policy allowing students to miss one class period weekly for religious instruction courses, provided parents/guardians give written consent. The policy mandates sponsoring religious organizations to track attendance, handle transportation, assume liability during instruction, and use secular evaluation criteria (like class hours or syllabus review) if academic credit is offered. School districts cannot use public funds for these courses beyond minimal administrative costs, and students remain counted as attending for funding purposes during excused time. Violations allow affected parties to sue school districts for damages, attorney fees, or other relief.

Maddy summaryLB 430 clarifies that Nebraska schools cannot suspend students in pre-kindergarten through second grade except for two specific situations: bringing a deadly weapon to school or engaging in violent behavior that could cause physical harm. It updates suspension procedures by requiring schools to provide detailed written notices to parents within 24 hours of any suspension, explaining the reasons, available resources, and plans to help the student stay in school. These changes apply to both short-term and long-term suspensions, aiming to ensure transparency and support for young students facing disciplinary action.

Maddy summaryLB 671 amends multiple Nebraska education statutes to update reporting requirements for school districts and the State Department of Education. It changes how schools report enrollment option program rejections, alternative programs for expelled students, educator evaluations, dyslexia information, teacher apprenticeship programs, retention grants, and the College Pathway Program. The bill eliminates outdated provisions and removes references to the obsolete Junior Mathematics Prognosis Examination. These changes streamline administrative processes for school districts and the State Department of Education without creating new student benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 302 would eliminate the state's observance of daylight saving time (DST), switching to permanent Central Standard Time (CST). It amends election timing laws to set fixed poll hours (7 a.m.-7 p.m. in mountain time zones, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. in central time zones) and updates state employee leave policies to reference CST instead of DST. The bill requires neighboring states (Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Wyoming) to also adopt permanent standard time before Nebraska's change takes effect. This directly affects all Nebraskans by ending biannual clock changes, impacting election schedules, work hours for state employees, and daily routines.

Maddy summaryLB 156 modifies Nebraska's State Tort Claims Act and Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act to allow civil lawsuits for sexual assaults of children occurring in specific school-related settings. The bill removes the standard immunity that previously barred claims against schools (as political subdivisions) for such incidents, specifically covering cases on school grounds, in school-owned vehicles used for school purposes, in vehicles driven by school employees for school purposes, or at school-sponsored events. This change directly affects children who experience sexual assault in these settings and school districts that would now face potential liability for negligence in preventing such assaults. The policy shift enables victims to pursue civil remedies where the previous law blocked such claims.

Maddy summaryLB 653 updates Nebraska's education funding rules for special education programs, support services, and the enrollment option program (which allows students to attend schools outside their district). It requires school districts to deny no more than 16% of enrollment applications from students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) due to capacity limits, while ensuring non-discriminatory criteria for acceptance. The bill also revises reimbursement processes for certain students in the enrollment program and modifies how the Education Future Fund can be used. These changes aim to standardize district capacity rules and clarify funding mechanisms for educational programs.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 169 removes existing tax exemptions for specific services, requiring sales tax to be collected on them for the first time. It directly affects consumers and businesses using services like car repairs, haircuts, lawn care, legal services, and home maintenance that were previously tax-exempt. The bill repeals exemptions listed in sections 77-2704.53, 77-2704.56, and others, while adding these services to the tax base under the "Services purchased for nonbusiness use" category. This policy change shifts tax liability from the state to these previously exempt transactions, with the tax department mandated to report on such revenue impacts.