Rep. Rita Sanders

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution expresses appreciation to Wilson Munsterman, a Nebraska adoptee from China, for writing the book "Marked by Adoption" and congratulates him on its success. The document recognizes the book's achievements, including reaching number one on Amazon, being added to the Library of Congress collection, and receiving recognition from state and university leaders. It acknowledges how Munsterman's personal experience provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by adopted children and helps new adoptive parents better understand their children's needs. The resolution concludes by directing that a copy be sent to Munsterman, serving as a formal commendation rather than a policy change.

Maddy summaryLB 320 requires hotels and similar public lodging establishments in Nebraska to display multilingual posters about human trafficking (including the National Human Trafficking Hotline number) in guest areas and provide employee training on recognizing and responding to trafficking. The bill directly affects all hotels, motels, and similar lodging businesses by mandating these awareness and training measures. Key provisions include requiring posters in English and Spanish (and other languages as determined), training employees to identify trafficking indicators, and limiting liability for lodging owners regarding third-party trafficking crimes. The bill also establishes a human trafficking task force to study prevention efforts and victim services, but the primary direct impact is on lodging businesses through the poster and training requirements.

Maddy summaryThis is an interim study resolution (not a law), directing Nebraska's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to examine current lobbyist credentialing requirements. The study will assess whether these rules are the least restrictive means necessary to protect public health/safety, uphold individuals' right to pursue lawful occupations, promote competition, and align with the Occupational Board Reform Act's principles. It will specifically review four key aspects of the current system. The committee will report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature after completing the study. This resolution does not change any existing rules but initiates a review process.

Maddy summaryLR 192 is a legislative resolution proposing an interim study to examine Nebraska's current public notice requirements for government actions, specifically those under the Open Meetings Act and Administrative Procedure Act. The study, to be conducted by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, will investigate how state agencies and bodies notify the public about meetings and rulemaking. Its purpose is to assess whether existing notice rules are effective and accessible for Nebraskans. The committee must report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature or Legislative Council by the end of the study period. This resolution does not change laws but seeks to evaluate current procedures.

Maddy summaryLB 198 amends Nebraska's Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulations to directly affect specialty pharmacies, pharmacists, and PBMs. It prohibits PBMs from excluding accredited specialty pharmacies from their networks and bans "spread pricing" (where PBMs charge health plans different prices than they pay pharmacies for drugs). The bill also allows network pharmacists to decline to dispense a drug as prescribed and updates definitions for terms like "clinician-administered drugs" and "specialty pharmacy." These changes aim to increase transparency, protect pharmacy access, and clarify PBM obligations under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for Nebraska landowners who place perpetual recreational trail easements on their land. The exemption provides $0.10 per square foot annually for qualifying easements that grant public nonmotorized access (such as walking, hiking, or biking) and connect to existing or planned trails. To qualify, easements must be held by eligible entities like municipalities, accredited land trusts, or specific nonprofits focused on public access and conservation, and landowners must apply through the Department of Revenue with proof of the recorded easement. The bill also updates filing procedures for easement documentation to support this tax program.

Maddy summaryLB 660 adopts two new acts: the State Building Construction Alternatives Act, which creates new contracting methods (like design-build and construction manager contracts) for state building projects, and the Secure Drone Purchasing Act. It requires state agencies (such as Corrections, Transportation, and the State Building Division) to seek approval from the Director of Administrative Services before using these methods, especially for projects over $30 million, and mandates justification based on cost, schedule, or complexity. The bill also updates rules for agency procurement, building regulations, and acquisition of art for state buildings, while excluding universities and specific existing laws like the Public Water Project Contracting Act. It does not include detailed provisions for the Secure Drone Purchasing Act in the provided text.

Maddy summaryLB 644 requires individuals acting as agents for "adversary nations" (countries on a U.S. government list as of April 2025) or foreign terrorist organizations to register with Nebraska authorities. It specifically mandates transparency for lobbyists or consultants working on behalf of Chinese military companies and prohibits certain foreign entities from receiving state incentive program benefits. The bill also adds new rules for medical and research facilities, restricting how they store and remotely access genetic sequencing data. These provisions directly affect lobbyists, consultants, foreign entities seeking state contracts, and healthcare/research organizations handling genetic information.

Maddy summaryLB 521 amends election rules for cities of metropolitan and primary class in Nebraska. It changes election dates (moving primary elections to April and general elections to May), modifies how city council members are elected (requiring seven members per city), revises ballot formats to remove party designations, and updates candidate filing requirements. The bill also eliminates outdated provisions about voter registration delegates and political party delegates, while adjusting notice requirements for city council meetings under the Open Meetings Act. These changes affect local election administration in larger Nebraska cities and their voters.

Maddy summaryLB 530 amends penalties for several offenses, changing violations of specific sections to Class I misdemeanors. It directly affects individuals convicted of motor vehicle homicide (including cases involving unborn children), tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certain controlled substances violations, and improper passing of stopped vehicles or vulnerable road users. The bill modifies existing law by specifying that these offenses will now carry the penalty classification of a Class I misdemeanor, rather than a higher or unspecified level. This change affects sentencing outcomes for these specific violations, without altering the underlying prohibitions or creating new offenses.