Rep. Tony Sorrentino

Maddy summaryLB 747 amends Nebraska labor laws to remove the requirement for employers to obtain child employment certificates for workers under 16, simplifying compliance for businesses hiring minors. It eliminates a hotline and website for reporting suspected employee misclassification violations and grants the Labor Commissioner expanded authority to enforce wage payment laws. The bill affects all Nebraska employers, particularly those with minor employees or payroll systems, by updating enforcement mechanisms. It also repeals outdated sections of labor law to create more consistent regulations across child labor, wage collection, contractor registration, and employee classification rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Nebraska's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act to clarify how paid sick time carries over between years. It sets a maximum of 40 hours for small business employees (11-19 workers) and 56 hours for other employees to carry over unused sick time annually. Employers can also choose to pay out unused sick time instead of allowing carryover, meeting the annual accrual requirements. The changes directly affect Nebraska employees covered by the sick leave law, including those working for small businesses.

Maddy summaryLB 1124 increases Nebraska's cigarette tax by $1.64 per pack (for ≤20 cigarettes) and redirects the majority of tax proceeds to specific state funds. It directs 97 cents per pack plus $1.25 million annually to the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund for Medicaid programs, addressing smoking-related healthcare costs cited as exceeding $120 million yearly. The bill also allocates remaining funds to outdoor recreation, health services, building renewal, and public safety programs, while requiring the General Fund to receive the equivalent of 52.49 cents per pack. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with Medicaid funding as the primary new focus.

Maddy summaryLB 1125 requires Nebraska's legislature to approve University of Nebraska contracts for acquiring major hospital facilities valued over $100 million. It also prohibits for-profit companies or out-of-state entities from owning primary University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) health facilities unless the Attorney General approves after consulting the University's Board of Regents. The bill directly affects the University of Nebraska Board of Regents (who negotiate contracts) and potential owners of UNMC facilities. Key provisions mandate legislative review for large contracts and establish strict ownership rules for medical facilities tied to UNMC. This changes how the University enters agreements for significant healthcare infrastructure.

Maddy summaryLB 1100 updates Nebraska's civil court procedures by removing outdated legal distinctions between "actions at law" and "suits in equity." It replaces these terms with a single unified process called a "civil action" for all non-criminal court cases. This change directly affects Nebraska courts, lawyers, and anyone involved in filing or defending civil lawsuits. The bill modernizes court language without altering substantive legal rights or procedures, simply streamlining terminology to reflect current practice.

Maddy summaryLB 748 expands Nebraska's Educational Savings Plan Trust to allow trust funds to cover costs for state-recognized postsecondary credential programs (such as certifications or apprenticeships), in addition to traditional degree programs. This change directly affects Nebraska residents using the state's 529 savings plan who pursue non-degree credentialing programs approved by the state. The bill amends the definition of "qualified education expenses" to include these programs, as specified in the revised statute sections. It does not alter contribution rules or eligibility for the savings plan itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Nebraska calculates state aid for cities and towns. It requires the Department of Revenue to use each municipality's prior year's certified property tax levy data (separating bond and nonbond taxes) to determine aid amounts. Municipalities with tax levies below the state average face a 20% aid reduction for each cent below the average, up to 80% total reduction. The calculation uses population and property tax averages, and if the aid fund is insufficient, money is allocated proportionally to all cities.

Maddy summaryLB 315 sets a specific end date (January 1, 2026) for Nebraska's requirement that domestic and foreign corporations file biennial reports and pay occupation taxes. It affects corporations registered in Nebraska, requiring them to submit reports and pay taxes every even-numbered year before 2026, with deadlines on March 1 and penalties for late filing by April 15. The bill harmonizes existing tax and reporting rules across multiple statutes and repeals the original sections once the sunset date passes. This is a procedural change to clarify the duration of these corporate obligations, not a policy shift in tax rates or requirements.

Maddy summaryLB 200 reinstates tax exemptions for specific properties under Nebraska's Personal Property Tax Relief Act, directly affecting state/local government entities, nonprofit organizations (educational, religious, charitable, cemetery), and Medicaid-serving healthcare facilities. The bill restores exemptions for government property used for public purposes, nonprofit properties used exclusively for their mission (not for profit or discrimination), and skilled nursing facilities serving Medicaid beneficiaries (with exemptions based on average occupancy). It also clarifies that student housing exemptions apply only to common areas of buildings owned by charities and made available to students. The bill amends multiple tax code sections to harmonize these provisions without creating new exemptions.

Maddy summaryLB 199 shortens Nebraska's statute of limitations for personal injury claims to two years, applying only to cases filed after the law takes effect. It expands the Nonrecourse Civil Litigation Act to cover administrative proceedings and requires consumers using litigation funding to disclose funding contracts to all parties, courts, and insurers upfront. The bill also establishes a registration system for litigation funding companies with the Secretary of State, mandating annual reporting on funding terms and outcomes, and allows disciplinary action for violations. These changes directly affect Nebraska residents with personal injury claims, consumers using litigation funding, and the companies providing such funding. The law creates new disclosure obligations and oversight for funding agreements but does not alter existing civil procedure rules.