Rep. Tanya Storer

Maddy summaryLB 814 changes Nebraska's property tax valuation for agricultural and horticultural land, reducing the assessed value from 75% to 50% of market value starting January 1, 2027. This adjustment lowers the taxable value of such land, directly reducing property tax bills for farmers, gardeners, and landowners using property for agricultural or horticultural purposes. The bill also updates the acceptable valuation range for these lands to 44-50% of market value after 2027, replacing the previous 69-75% range. The change affects all Nebraska landowners with qualifying agricultural or horticultural land, as it modifies how their property is assessed for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1196 prohibits using any state or local funds - such as student aid, school operating money, grants, or facility funding - for postsecondary education programs identified as "low-earning outcome" under federal law (20 U.S.C. 1087d). The bill directly affects public colleges and universities receiving state funding by blocking support for programs that don’t lead to strong earnings. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education must annually review federal program rankings, enforce the funding ban, and report on its impact and costs to the Legislature. This law aims to redirect public education resources toward programs with better economic outcomes for students.

Maddy summaryLB 1195 repeals a specific Nebraska law (section 47-111) that previously required county jails to follow certain procedures for female inmates and maintain jail matrons. This bill directly affects county jails across Nebraska by removing those mandatory requirements. The key mechanism is a straightforward repeal of the existing statute, eliminating the legal obligations without creating new policies or altering inmate treatment standards. As a procedural repeal, it does not introduce new rules but removes an outdated requirement from state law.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1197 amends rules for limited landowner hunting permits, primarily affecting landowners with qualifying agricultural property. It sets specific acreage thresholds: Nebraska residents with 80+ acres of farm/ranch land (or family members) can apply for deer, antelope, or turkey permits at half the regular fee, while non-residents need 320+ acres. The bill adds a new provision allowing up to eight special deer permits per landowner for the three days before the main season, with a $5 fee and limits of six permits for those under 19 and two for 19+ years. It also clarifies permit eligibility for partnerships, corporations, and trusts owning qualifying land, while maintaining existing rules for family definitions and species-specific allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Nebraska's traffic laws to clarify rules for motorists encountering livestock and animal herders. It redefines "vulnerable road user" to explicitly include people leading, herding, or driving livestock on highways (Section 60-6,193). The key provision prohibits livestock herders from traveling on roadways with minimum speed limits of 20 mph or higher, requiring them to use lower-speed roads instead. This directly affects ranchers, farmers, and others who lead or herd animals on public roads. The change aims to improve safety by reducing conflicts between slow-moving livestock and faster-moving traffic on higher-speed roadways.

Maddy summaryLB 1082 requires Nebraska telecommunications companies to protect subscribers from unwanted calls and texts originating from unauthenticated North American Numbering Plan numbers. It specifically mandates that companies prevent fraudulent caller identification information that misleads customers about the source of calls. This duty directly affects all telecom providers operating in Nebraska and their customers who receive such communications. The bill amends Nebraska's Telecommunications Regulation Act to add this requirement, harmonizing it with federal definitions of the North American Numbering Plan.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1194, the Real Food Act, establishes state dietary guidelines prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods for public health. It requires state agencies (Health, Agriculture, Education) and programs like school lunches to update educational materials by 2027 to align with specific food recommendations: emphasizing whole proteins (including animal and plant sources), whole-food fats (like nuts and avocados), colorful produce, full-fat dairy without added sugar, and fiber-rich whole grains over refined carbs. The bill directs agencies to launch public awareness campaigns and partner with communities to promote these guidelines, while highlighting Nebraska-produced foods. It directly affects state nutrition programs, schools, and healthcare services that serve residents. The guidelines become effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 665 prohibits the use of electronic livestock identification tags manufactured by entities with ties to "foreign adversaries" as defined by federal regulations (15 C.F.R. 791.4). The law directly affects livestock owners, veterinarians, and the Department of Agriculture by banning these specific electronic tags and preventing the state from requiring them for animal tracking. Key provisions include banning foreign-made devices for livestock identification and ensuring state requirements align with federal traceability rules (9 C.F.R. part 86). The bill aims to protect Nebraska's livestock industry from potential security risks linked to foreign surveillance technology, without altering existing federal traceability standards.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 61 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a federal waiver amendment specifically adjusting reimbursement rates for memory care services under the state's Medicaid home and community-based services program. This change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries receiving memory care (typically elderly or disabled individuals with dementia or similar conditions) and the providers offering those services. The bill mandates the department file this waiver amendment with federal authorities to secure updated funding rates for memory care, rather than creating new coverage. It does not establish new benefits or funding but modifies existing reimbursement structures for a specific service category. The requirement is procedural, focusing on adjusting payment rates through a federal waiver process.

Maddy summaryLB 669 would revise Nebraska's abortion laws by changing consent requirements for patients seeking abortions and modifying civil action rules for abortion-related claims. The bill redefines key terms like "dismemberment abortion" (specifying procedures involving dismembering a living fetus) and "complications associated with abortion" (requiring peer-reviewed statistical evidence). It mandates providers to obtain voluntary, informed consent based on updated standards and allows civil lawsuits against non-physicians performing illegal abortions or encouraging self-abortions. The bill directly affects abortion providers, patients, and healthcare facilities by altering pre-abortion screening protocols and legal accountability. (Note: This is a proposed bill; it has not been enacted as of its 2025 introduction date.)