Rep. Danielle Conrad

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum training requirements for nurse aides working in Nebraska's intellectual and developmental disability facilities. It mandates a 20-hour training program (including 15 hours of personal care training) for these facilities, compared to 75 hours for other nursing homes. Nurse aides must also meet English proficiency standards and pass background checks. The law replaces prior requirements and creates a registry with mandatory abuse reporting training as part of the curriculum.

Maddy summaryLB 335 amends Nebraska's In the Line of Duty Dependent Education Act by clarifying that "child" includes stepchildren of Nebraska law enforcement officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty. This definition change (Section 85-2303(3)) ensures children of eligible deceased officers/firefighters - regardless of birth or adoption status - qualify for the education benefit. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility criteria beyond explicitly including stepchildren in the definition. It affects dependent children of Nebraska public safety personnel who die while performing official duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts retirement contribution rates for firefighters in Nebraska cities of the first class (over 60,000 residents). It increases firefighter contributions from 6.5% to 12.7% of salary over time (2024-2026), but exempts those working in cities over 60,000 residents within counties over 100,000 population (like Omaha) from the higher rates starting March 2025 - they pay only 6.5%. Cities must cover these contributions directly instead of deducting from firefighters' paychecks, and the bill repeals previous contribution rules. These changes apply specifically to firefighters in eligible cities participating in the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) honoring Senator Joseph Robert Kerrey. It formally thanks Kerrey - Nebraska's former governor, U.S. Senator, and Medal of Honor recipient - for his service to Nebraska and the U.S., specifically recognizing his military heroism in Vietnam and political career. The resolution has no policy impact; it simply expresses legislative gratitude and directs a copy to Kerrey. Nebraska's legislature passed it unanimously with no recorded opposition.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic legislative resolution (not a law) designating February 2025 as "Turner Syndrome Awareness Month" in Nebraska. It formally recognizes Turner syndrome - a chromosomal condition affecting about 1 in 2,000 female births - and aims to raise public awareness about the condition's health challenges, including cardiac risks and learning difficulties. The resolution expresses support for individuals with Turner syndrome, their families, and caregivers, but does not create new policies or affect any legal rights or obligations. As a recognition measure, it has no binding effect beyond promoting awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new homestead tax exemption for Nebraska residents, allowing owners to exclude the first $100,000 of their home's actual value from property taxes starting in 2025. The law applies to all homeowners who live in the property and works alongside existing exemptions for seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans, which remain available in addition to the new deduction. It also establishes a process for transferring these tax benefits to a new home if an owner sells their current residence and buys another before August 15 of the same year. To support this change, the bill requires the state to issue standardized application forms and ensures that the tax revenue lost from these exemptions is reimbursed by the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Nebraska's tort and consumer protection laws to allow victims of death, child abuse, or sexual assault of a child to file claims against government entities and to adjust civil penalties under consumer protection statutes. It establishes specific definitions for terms like gross negligence and malice, and it creates a tiered system for awarding punitive damages based on the severity of the defendant's misconduct. Under the new rules, juries can order defendants to pay additional fines to punish egregious behavior, with caps ranging from one million to five million dollars depending on the category of wrongdoing, unless the case involves conduct threatening human life. Any punitive damages awarded under these provisions must be used exclusively to support public schools in the county where the penalty was imposed.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes renaming the Property Tax Credit Act and its associated cash fund while adjusting how funds are distributed to support property tax relief. It modifies the allocation of taxes collected from licensed racetracks, sales of recreational vehicles, and cash devices to increase the portion directed toward the Property Tax Assistance Credit Cash Fund. Additionally, the legislation introduces a new quarterly tax on cash devices, with a significant share of the revenue designated to help fund property tax credits for eligible Nebraskans.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new excise tax on individual incomes starting in 2025, which would apply only to earnings exceeding $1 million for single filers or $2 million for married couples. The tax rate is set at 9.5% minus the existing income tax rate already paid on that high income, meaning the additional charge is based on the gap between the current tax and a 9.5% rate. Revenue collected from this tax would be placed in a new account called the Tax Equity Cash Fund, which the Department of Revenue could use for its own administrative costs. Any remaining money in the fund could be transferred to the state's general budget, education fund, or property tax credit fund with legislative approval. The legislation was indefinitely postponed in August 2024 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the Property Tax Circuit Breaker Act to offer financial relief to low-income individuals struggling to pay property taxes. It creates a refundable income tax credit for two groups: farmers with agricultural land and homeowners or renters with a federal adjusted gross income below $100,000 or $50,000, respectively. Eligible applicants must submit a form between January 1 and April 15 of 2025 and 2026, providing details about their property, income, and taxes paid. The Department of Revenue would calculate the credit amount based on specific income thresholds and property values, issuing certifications by December 31 of each year. A total funding cap of $74 million is set for each year, with any excess applications receiving proportional reductions.