Rep. Rita Sanders

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 1073 requires all commercial motor vehicle driver training programs in the state to include 30 minutes of antitrafficking training starting January 1, 2027. This applies directly to driver training schools and future commercial drivers who complete certification courses. The Attorney General must develop and update the training curriculum by December 1, 2026, and every three years thereafter, collaborating with human trafficking experts to cover recognition, prevention, and reporting. The bill repeals the previous version of the relevant licensing law to implement this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "military impact funding" mechanism for Nebraska school districts serving children of active-duty military members. Districts receive state funds calculated by comparing per-pupil federal impact aid (from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) to per-pupil local tax levies, with the difference paid for each enrolled military-connected child. This funding is added to the state's school finance formula starting in the 2025-26 school year. It directly affects districts that received federal impact aid in the prior year and provide free education to military-connected students.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change Nebraska's deadline for filing initiative petitions. It would require that petitions for new laws or constitutional amendments filed on or after July 7, 2028, be submitted to the Secretary of State by the second Wednesday in July before the general election (instead of four months prior). This directly affects citizens and groups seeking to propose new laws or constitutional changes through the initiative process. The current deadline (four months before election) would remain in effect for petitions filed before July 7, 2028.

Maddy summaryLB 594 proposes to prohibit drivers from holding or manually using handheld wireless devices (like cell phones) while operating a moving vehicle, except for specific exceptions. It exempts emergency personnel (police, firefighters), utility workers responding to emergencies, and drivers communicating with emergency services. The bill allows hands-free use (e.g., voice commands without touching the device) and requires law enforcement to enforce this only after citing drivers for other traffic violations. Violations would result in fines ($200 for first offense) and points on a driver’s license, with the law repealing the current section it amends. This bill, currently pending in Nebraska’s Transportation Committee, directly affects all drivers operating motor vehicles in the state.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 193 creates a new "Committee on Pacific Conflict" to prepare for potential regional or global conflicts centered on the Pacific theater. The committee, consisting of seven voting members (including state officials like the Homeland Security Director and infrastructure representatives) and four non-voting legislative members, will assess threats to supply chains, critical infrastructure, and security - particularly disruptions involving China or other Pacific nations. It mandates quarterly meetings (with security exemptions from public records), requires an annual state threat assessment from the Governor, and allows for confidential reports on security vulnerabilities. The bill directly affects state officials, critical infrastructure operators, and emergency planning efforts within Nebraska.

Maddy summaryThis Nebraska bill (LB 596) updates how legal notices and publications required by law must be distributed. It allows notices to be published online via digital news platforms (without print options) and adds a new requirement: all such notices must also be posted on a statewide website repository maintained by Nebraska newspapers, starting October 1, 2022. The bill keeps existing newspaper publication rules in place but mandates the online posting as an additional step. It directly affects government entities, courts, and businesses that must publish legal notices, as well as newspapers and digital platforms that distribute them. The change ensures notices are accessible both through traditional media and a centralized online system.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LB 244) restates the legislative findings supporting Nebraska's campaign finance disclosure requirements under the Political Accountability and Disclosure Act. It replaces the existing wording in Section 49-1402 with updated language emphasizing the public interest in election transparency, the need for full disclosure of campaign funding sources and spending, and the importance of preventing conflicts of interest for public officials. The bill does not change any existing disclosure rules or requirements; it only revises the stated rationale for these laws. The original findings section is repealed as part of this update.

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 summaryLB 243 changes how Nebraska counties collect sidewalk assessments from property owners. It amends state law to allow these assessments to be collected using the same methods as county or state taxes on real estate, replacing the previous process. This directly affects property owners in counties that impose sidewalk assessments, streamlining their collection through standard tax enforcement procedures. The bill repeals the original section governing sidewalk assessments to implement this change.

Maddy summaryLB 321 would have changed how boards of trustees are elected for Nebraska's local drainage districts. It proposed shifting voting rules: at elections held four years after the first election, two trustees would be chosen by residents owning property in the district, and three by all property owners; this would flip to three resident-elected and two all-property owners at eight-year elections. The bill also required candidates representing corporations or partnerships to list their entity's name on ballots and provide documentation proving their role. These changes would directly affect property owners and entity representatives within drainage districts, altering how trustees are selected based on ownership type and residency. (Note: The bill was amended into LB287 on June 6, 2025.)