THE ISSUE

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen ceremonially signs LB 1261 alongside introducer State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara (right), and promoter State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus (left). (Erin Bamer/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — As demand for electricity grows across Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen expressed his preference for establishing public-private partnerships to shoulder some of the cost burdens of new infrastructure. Pillen ceremonially signed Legislative Bill 1261 Tuesday alongside state lawmakers, public power representatives and other stakeholders. The bill alters the authority of public power districts to allow private companies to build energy infrastructure, like power plants, without the risk of having a public power board take them over using the power of eminent domain. State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara introduced the bill at the governor’s request. DeKay said the bill’s aim is to ease the cost burden on public power districts and ratepayers by allowing private industry to shoulder the costs of building new and expensive facilities. The idea is aimed at growing the baseline electricity production needed to power data centers and similar users. State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, who prioritized LB 1261, said he felt pressure to get the bill right because there are “fantastic amounts of money” involved in building new power plants. Delette Marengo, vice president of government and public relations for Omaha-based power company Tenaska, estimated that new power plants come with

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Agriculture Session Review 2026 Session Review: Agriculture May 15, 2026 admin The Agriculture Committee considered measures this session to modernize the funding and structure of the Nebraska Brand Committee and to update regulation of the ethanol industry, grain warehouses and dealers, fertilizers, soil conditioners and noxious weeds. Lawmakers passed LB1187 , introduced by Niobrara Sen. Barry DeKay, which updates several Brand Committee fees, including raising the maximum per-head inspection fee from $1.10 to $1.50 and replacing mileage-based travel charges with a flat surcharge of up to $30 per inspection stop. Among other provisions, the measure revises how feedlot fees are calculated, replacing the current flat structure with a formula based on inspection fees. Feedlots will pay an annual charge equal to 25% of the per-head inspection fee multiplied by a facility’s capacity. The bill also increases the statutory cap on the brand renewal fee, set by the committee, from $200 to $400. The measure creates a classification for dairy heifer development facilities and exempts certain dairy-related cattle movements from inspection, such as transfers between development facilities and dairies. In addition, LB1187 changes the Brand Committee’s membership. Beginning Aug. 28, the current five-member committee will be replaced by a seven-member group composed of five cattle producers — one from each newly created geographic district — along with a cattle feeding operation owner or operator and a livestock auction market owner. The governor will appoint all members, and current members may be reappointed if they meet the new requirements. LB1187 passed 39-9. Senators also approved a measure that updates regulation of the state’s ethanol industry. LB815, sponsored by Plymouth Sen. Tom Brandt and passed 35-14, expands the Nebraska Ethanol Board from seven to nine members and updates the board’s mission. The measure eliminates outdated authorities, repeals obsolete provisions tied to expired incentive programs and defines an ethanol producer as an individual who spends at least 50% of their professional time on operational or business management activities at an ethanol production facility. Additionally, LB815 adjusts fuel-related taxes tied to ethanol programs. Beginning Oct. 1, a quarter-cent per gallon excise tax will be imposed on dyed diesel used for off-road purposes. The first $140,000 collected each year will be directed to the Motor Fuel Tax Enforcement and Collection Cash Fund, with the remainder directed to the Agricultural Alcohol Fuel Tax Fund, which funds the ethanol board’s promotional activities. The bill also removes a petroleum release remedial action fee on dyed diesel and shifts existing fees by removing one on dyed diesel while increasing the fee on clear diesel to 0.6 cents per gallon. Lawmakers also expanded oversight of grain warehouses and dealers this session. LB894, introduced by DeKay, eliminates an exemption that allowed certain warehouses to avoid classification as grain dealers when engaging in grain dealing activities if the grain involved in the transaction was first unloaded at their facilities. The bill also replaces the current $100 annual grain dealer license fee and the annual grain warehouse license fee with fees established by the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Those fees are capped at $1,500 for the grain dealer license and an amount that does not exceed current federal license fees for grain warehouses. Existing fees will remain in place until July 1, 2027, and the commission must submit a proposed fee schedule to the Legislature by Dec. 1. License revenue will continue to be deposited in the state’s General Fund until July 1, 2027, after which it will be redirected to the newly created Grain Dealer and Grain Warehouse Cash Fund. Among other provisions, LB894 also revises rules that allow grain producers to claim against a dealer’s security in the event of a gran dealer insolvency. The bill repeals statutory requirements that grain sellers meet certain payment demands and notice deadlines to preserve their right to seek payment for grain delivered but not paid for. Included in the bill are provisions of DeKay’s LB895, which remove an exemption from licensure for federally licensed warehouses and instead provide that those warehouses automatically qualify for state licensure and are not subject to a state license fee. The measure also exempts federally licensed warehouses from bonding and regulatory filing fees other than those required under federal law. An omnibus bill modernizing regulatory language and updating certain fees relating to fertilizer and soil conditioners was approved this session. LB948, introduced by the Agriculture Committee, renames the Nebraska Commercial Fertilizer and Soil Conditioners Act as the Nebraska Commercial Fertilizer and Beneficial Substances Act. It also incorporates beneficial substances — such as biostimulants that support a plant’s natural processes — as regulated products and revises fees collected under the act. The bill adds a new registration fee of $50 per product to cover the state Department of Agriculture’s cost of reviewing product labels, increases the minimum tonnage inspection fee from $5 to $10 and increases an annual license fee for distributing fertilizers and beneficial substances from $15 to $25. Finally, the measure includes provisions of LB947, also introduced by the committee, that: • revise authority for license, inspection and certification fees under the Plant Protection and

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Appropriations Session Review 2026 Session Review: Appropriations May 15, 2026 admin Lawmakers made adjustments to the state’s two-year budget this session, closing a projected budget shortfall of more than $646 million. The Appropriations Committee ’s budget adjustment package reduced that shortfall to $37 million through a variety of cuts to general fund appropriations, sweeps from state agency cash funds and reappropriation of existing general fund dollars. The passage of several revenue-generating proposals closed the remaining gap. LB1071 is the main budget adjustment bill introduced by Speaker John Arch of La Vista on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen. The measure provides, changes and eliminates provisions related to appropriations for state expenses for the biennium ending June 30, 2027. Included in the measure are provisions of the following bills: • LB858, introduced by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson, which appropriates $500,000 from the Health Care Cash Fund to the state Department of Health and Human Services for aid to federally qualified health centers; • LB1070, sponsored by Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk, which appropriates $6 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to be disbursed to approved projects under the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act; • LB1140, introduced by Omaha Sen. Ashlei Spivey, which earmarks $500,000 of existing appropriated general funds in the state Department of Education Vocational Rehabilitation program for a multi-trade pre-apprenticeship pilot program serving young adults in a metropolitan class city; • LB1190, sponsored by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, which amends an earmark to expand eligibility for aid for mentorship programs for nonprofit organizations administered by the state Department of Economic Development; and • LB1248, introduced by Dover, which appropriates $38 million in federal funds previously appropriated to the state Department of Water, Energy and Environment for a grant to a first class city for wastewater treatment facilities, with certification of matching funds by an eligible applicant. The bill passed 35-13 and took effect immediately. Also introduced by Arch at the request of the governor, LB1072 transfers $152 million from the Cash Reserve Fund and makes a number of changes to other fund transfers, agency powers and duties and a variety of programs. Among the proposals included in LB1072 are: • LB844, introduced by Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, which expands grant eligibility under the Site and Building Development Fund to authorize a grant of $100,000 to a nonprofit organization for building rehabilitation for purposes of food distribution in certain counties; • LB862, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Jason Prokop, which extends intent language under the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act for regional coaches and job-embedded training relating to evidence-based reading instruction; • LB992, introduced by Dover, which creates the Nebraska Technology Infrastructure Cash Fund and requires that documentation related to software, informational technology hardware and a planning report be included with agency budget requests; • LB1229, sponsored by Sidney Sen. Paul Strommen, which requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to designate a unique budget subprogram for purposes of federal law for the Rural Health Transformation Program; and • LB1231, also introduced by Strommen, which amends the Animal Damage Control Cash Fund to include intent to appropriate funds for the animal damage control program and amends the Panhandle Improvement Project Cash Fund to authorize transfers to the Animal Damage Control Cash Fund. LB1072 also passed on a 35-13 vote and took effect immediately. Lawmakers passed a bill as part of the budget adjustment package that provides for payment of a series of claims against the state and agency write-offs. LB1133, sponsored by Business and Labor Committee chairperson Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, approves $695,507 in settled claims; six Workers’ Compensation Court claims totaling $1.17 million and a variety of state agency write-offs totaling $2.84 million. The measure passed 48-0 and took effect immediately. A proposal heard by the Appropriations Committee to implement a Money Follows the Person Program for the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care within the state Department of Health and Human Services was advanced to general file. LB1143, sponsored by Gering Sen. Brian Hardin, then was amended into LB867, a Health and Human Services Committee omnibus bill, which passed this session. An effort to use an Appropriations Committee proposal as a vehicle to increase salaries for various constitutional officers stalled this session. LB1210 was introduced by Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood as a shell bill for the committee. He offered a general file amendment to replace the proposal with an amended version of LB345. That proposal, introduced last year by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and advanced to general file, would have increased the salaries of seven offices established in the state constitution. The amendment would have increased salaries as outlined below: • governor, from $105,000 to $130,000; • lieutenant governor, from $75,000 to $95,000; • attorney general, from $95,000 to $120,000; • secretary of state, from 85,000 to $110,000; • state treasurer, from $85,000 to $110,000; • state auditor, from $85,000 to $110,000; and • public service commissioners, from $75,000 to $85,000. Lawmakers rejected the Clements amendment 21-18. Twenty-five votes were n

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Banking Commerce and Insurance Session Review 2026 Session Review: Banking, Commerce and Insurance May 15, 2026 admin Protecting agricultural data, enhancing the state’s affordable housing efforts and strengthening regulations and consumer protections across a variety of business sectors were among the issues considered by the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee this session. Lawmakers approved a measure aimed at creating comprehensive privacy protections for Nebraska agricultural data and strengthening regulation of conversational artificial intelligence. LB525 , introduced last session by North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen, requires controllers and potential controllers of agricultural data to enter into written consent agreements with agricultural producers before providing, using or selling that data. Among other provisions, the bill prohibits the sale of an agricultural producer’s raw data by anyone other than the producer who controls or processes that data, and requires any controller or processor in possession of such data to establish, implement and maintain reasonable security practices to protect the information. Under the bill, starting Jan. 1, 2027, every new contract or agreement involving the collection or processing of agricultural data in Nebraska must include a specific provision that prohibits the selling of that data unless the producer has given express written consent. Any contract entered into after that date that waives or limits the requirements of the bill will be void and unenforceable. The state attorney general may bring an action for violations to either seek injunctive relief or a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation. Also included in the bill are the provisions of LB1185, sponsored by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, which adopt the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Safety Act. The provisions require disclosure when a user reasonably could believe that they are interacting with a human being and add additional safeguards for minor account holders. The measure also requires a protocol to respond to prompts involving suicidal ideation or self-harm that includes referral to crisis services, and prohibits a service from claiming to be designed to provide professional mental or behavioral health care. The attorney general is empowered to enforce the provisions through civil action. Also sponsored by Jacobson, LB838 authorizes an optional program for financial institutions under which a vulnerable or senior adult may designate an authorized contact to be notified by a financial institution in the event of an emergency, loss of contact with the customer or suspected financial exploitation. The measure includes provisions from the following bills: ● LB837, also introduced by Jacobson, which addresses how merchants treat transactions involving physical currency now that the U.S. Mint has stopped producing pennies; ● LB875, sponsored by Syracuse Sen. Bob Hallstrom, which prohibits suppliers from including clauses in contracts that waive compliance with the Equipment Business Regulation Act or mandate that legal disputes be resolved in out-of-state forums or by other state laws; ● LB1063, introduced by Bostar, which modernizes the Nebraska Money Transmitters Act to exclude influence from foreign adversaries and regulates informal transfer systems; ● LB1118, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Carolyn Bosn, which updates the state’s Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act to treat certain conduct by social media platforms that accept paid advertising as a deceptive trade practice; ● LB1119, also introduced by Bosn, which updates the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act passed by lawmakers last year; ● LB1160, sponsored by Hallstrom, which modernizes Nebraska’s estate and trust laws by synchronizing the Uniform Probate Code with the Uniform Trust Code and strengthening the rights of surviving families; and ● LB1174, introduced by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, which imposes a 25% excise tax on a remittance transfer using cash, money order or cashier’s check by a licensee or authorized delegate to a resident of a foreign adversary country as determined by the federal government. The tax will not apply to remittance transfers to or from U.S. active-duty service members or their dependents, or remittances sent to Cuba or Venezuela. LB838 passed on a 46-3 vote and took effect immediately. A measure that would have required “large frontier” AI developers and large chatbot providers to create and publicly post plans describing how they assess and attempt to reduce “catastrophic” risks to the public and to children specifically was heard by the committee. LB1083, introduced by Whitman Sen. Tanya Storer, was advanced to general file but was not scheduled for debate. LB768, sponsored by Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk and passed 49-0, makes a number of changes to the powers of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act and the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Act. The bill authorizes NIFA to establish and own nonprofit subsidiaries that further housing goals. NIFA will not be responsible for the debts, liabilities and obligations of any nonprofit subsidiary it creates. LB768 also dissolves the Housing Authority Committee and grants the state Department of Economic Development the power to contract with statewide nonprofits to serve as agents for workforce and middle income housing programs. Among other provisions, the bill also: ● shortens the NIFA grant and loan application period from 90

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Business and Labor Session Review 2026 Session Review: Business and Labor May 15, 2026 admin Lawmakers considered several proposals this session relating to the state’s minimum wage, workers’ compensation provisions and workforce development. A measure that limits scheduled increases to the state’s minimum wage and establishes youth and training wages was approved by lawmakers this session. Nebraskans voted at the November 2022 general election to increase the state minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026. The minimum wage then was scheduled to adjust annually based on the Midwest Consumer Price Index to account for cost-of-living increases. LB258 , introduced last session by Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, instead increases the state minimum wage by 1.75% annually. The bill also establishes a youth minimum wage of $13.50 an hour for employees ages 14 and 15, and adjusts the 90-day training wage for new employees under age 20 to $13.50 an hour through Dec. 1, 2026. The training wage then increases by 1.5% annually. The youth minimum wage, which does not apply to emancipated youth, also will increase by 1.5% every fifth year beginning Jan. 1, 2030. Lawmakers also approved a bill that makes certain workers’ compensation first injury report information confidential. Currently, employers or insurers are required to file a first injury report with the Workers’ Compensation Court for any injury resulting in death, lost time, loss of consciousness or medical treatment beyond first aid. Such reports are considered public records and can be accessed through a public records request. LB455, introduced by Syracuse Sen. Bob Hallstrom last session, requires that an employee’s identifying information included in such reports remain confidential for 60 days after filing, except as necessary to administer and enforce other provisions of the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act. An injured employee may waive confidentiality. Access to the confidential report otherwise is restricted to the involved parties and their legal counsel, insurers and treating physicians, state and federal agencies for investigations or statistical research and nonprofit organizations that provide services to families of deceased employees. The Workers’ Compensation Court is required to send a letter to an injured employee notifying them of their right to seek legal advice or representation once a report is filed. The measure also includes provisions of Plymouth Sen. Tom Brandt’s LB1077. Those provisions update how workers’ compensation claims data is reported to the National Council on Compensation Insurance for purposes of calculating the experience modification factors used to set a business’s insurance premium, which is based on its workers’ compensation claim history compared to the industry average. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Nebraska businesses may use a net reporting system rather than a gross reporting system to allow for the exclusion of deductible payments in the determination of their experience modification factor. A measure that would have provided workers’ compensation benefits to certain firefighters who develop some cancers stalled after a failed cloture vote on general file. LB400, sponsored by Fremont Sen. Dave Wordekemper, would have amended the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act to include cancer experienced by firefighters as a result of on-the-job exposure to known carcinogens. As introduced last session, the bill would have established a rebuttable presumption that cancer experienced by a firefighter arose out of the course of employment. The measure would have applied to professional and volunteer firefighters who have served for at least five years. Retired firefighters would have needed to be diagnosed within 60 months of retiring and would have been eligible for medical benefits only. During first-round debate, lawmakers adopted an amendment offered by Kearney Sen. Stan Clouse that was meant to address concerns about the inclusion of coverage for volunteer firefighters. Under the amendment, a volunteer firefighter would have been eligible for benefits only after serving for 10 years, during which time they must have actively participated in a minimum of 40% of the department’s drills and 25% of emergency calls received. After eight hours of debate spanning several days, Wordekemper offered a motion to invoke cloture, which ends debate and forces a vote on the bill and any pending amendments. The motion failed on a 32-15 vote. Thirty-three votes were needed. Senators passed two omnibus measures that update a variety of labor and workforce programs. LB847, sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, creates the Nebraska Office of Registered Apprenticeship within the state Department of Labor to serve as the state apprenticeship registry. The bill also creates the Nebraska Apprenticeship Council to advise the office and provide community outreach and education regarding the benefits of apprenticeship. In addition, the measure increases from 20% to 50% the amount of the unemployment combined tax rate that can be transferred to the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund to invest in workforce development initiatives. LB847 includes provisions of five other bills: • LB747, introduced by Elkhorn Sen. Tony Sorrentino, which establishes uniform enforcement authority across multiple programs managed by DOL, including changing youth employment certification procedures, removing an infraction for failure to provide a wage statement and expanding the department’s subpoena powers; •

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Education Session Review 2026 Session Review: Education May 15, 2026 admin The Education Committee considered a wide range of topics this session, including student interventions, school meal funding and teacher certification policies. Lawmakers approved a measure restoring the ability of Nebraska schools to suspend pre-K through second-grade students in certain cases. LB653 , introduced last session by Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman , requires option school districts that are not in a learning community to automatically accept siblings of currently enrolled option students with individualized education programs without regard to capacity limitations. The bill also includes provisions of Murman’s LB430, which partially repeals a 2023 law banning the suspension or expulsion of pre-K through second-grade students by creating an exception for those who engage in violent behavior that causes or is likely to cause physical harm. Schools must provide parents oral and written notice when a child is suspended, including available resources, steps taken to address the behavior and strategies to keep the student in school. Schools also must make reasonable efforts to hold a follow-up meeting with a parent or guardian. A separate proposal aimed at strengthening support for young Nebraska students who struggle with reading failed to advance from the second round of debate. LB1050, introduced by Murman at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, would have expanded requirements under the Reading Improvement Act, including requiring schools, beginning in the 2027-28 school year, to administer dyslexia screening and conduct reading assessments three times annually for K-3 students. Students identified with a persistent reading deficiency by the end of third grade would have been subject to retention beginning in the 2028-29 school year and provided intensive support, including targeted reading interventions and other diagnostic assessments. Parents would have been able to request a meeting to discuss retention decisions and to make the final determination in cases of disagreement. Retention would have been limited to one occurrence per student, with exemptions for students with disabilities, those already receiving interventions and English language learners with fewer than two years of English instruction. After four hours of select file debate, Murman offered a motion to invoke cloture, which ceases debate and forces a vote on the bill. The motion failed on a vote of 31-4. Thirty-three votes were needed. Students who qualify for reduced-price meals may be able to receive them at no cost under a bill passed this session. LB966, sponsored by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha and passed 38-11, creates the Hunger-Free Schools Pilot Program, which will run through the 2031-32 school year. Under the bill, the state Department of Education must reimburse participating schools for the gap between federal free and reduced-price meal rates, allowing eligible low-income students to receive meals at no cost. Schools must apply for the pilot program and report meals served. Private donations will cover costs for public schools, while state General Funds will reimburse private schools. The department will study the program’s impact on student performance and behavior and report findings to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2032. LB748, introduced by Elkhorn Sen. Tony Sorrentino and passed 46-3, expands eligible uses of Nebraska education savings plan trust accounts. Under the bill, families may use NEST accounts for education-related expenses beyond K-12 and postsecondary tuition, including books, tutoring and online instructional materials, beginning Jan. 1, 2029. The measure also increases the annual withdrawal cap from $10,000 to $20,000 and expands eligible uses to qualified postsecondary credentialing programs, such as career and technical certifications, in line with current federal law. Additionally, LB748 permits the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office to enter agreements with recognized postsecondary credentialing programs, excluding those related to investment of program funds, and to make payments directly to those programs on behalf of beneficiaries. LB937, introduced by the Education Committee, makes a number of changes related to teacher policies and student protections. The measure aligns state law with current educational practices and ensures teachers eligible to teach dual enrollment courses qualify for the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act high-need grant. It also expands option enrollment reports to include approved applications, removes obsolete language related to solar and wind energy funding, aligns the College Pathway Program Act with state procurement processes and sets an Oct. 15 deadline for property tax authority requests and annual census reports. The bill includes provisions of five other measures considered this session. Under LB1146, sponsored by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, absences for physical or mental illness may be excused by a parent, guardian or educational decisionmaker if documentation from a credentialed health professional supports the absence for purposes of truancy enforcement or referral to a county attorney. For students with chronic illnesses, such documentation is subject to review each semester. LB1164, sponsored by Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings, establishes statewide guidelines for awarding college credit for prior learning exams. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education must approve and publish a list of recognized exams and minimum passing sc

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Executive Board Session Review 2026 Session Review: Executive Board May 15, 2026 admin The potential expulsion of a member of the Legislature and enhanced security considerations were the top issues addressed by the Executive Board this session. The committee voted unanimously to advance a measure to expel Amherst Sen. Dan McKeon from the Legislature. LR282 , introduced by the Executive Board, cited a “pattern of behavior violating the Nebraska Legislature’s workplace policies on harassment and decorum” by McKeon, including an incident involving a legislative staffer at a work-related party in 2025. The resolution also stated that McKeon violated the Legislature’s workplace harassment policy by engaging in retaliatory conduct against the complainant, and that he likely would not refrain from future violations of legislative policy. McKeon announced his resignation from the Legislature in a brief floor speech just before a single round of debate on LR282 was scheduled to begin. Entering the Nebraska State Capitol with certain weapons and substances will be prohibited under a bill sponsored by the Executive Board and given final approval this session. Under LB1237, the Nebraska State Patrol is charged with implementing procedures no later than Jan. 1, 2027, to provide for detection of weapons and controlled substances to prevent them from being brought into the Capitol. Prohibited weapons include firearms and knives with blades over 3.5 inches in length that could be capable of producing death or serious bodily injury. The bill provides exceptions for individuals who have received prior approval from the Nebraska State Patrol and allows possession of a weapon by law enforcement officers in the course of their official duties. LB1237 also allows any individual holding a current, valid permit issued pursuant to the Concealed Handgun Permit Act and qualified law enforcement officers, including retired officers, to carry concealed handguns in the building. Prohibited substances include explosives, incendiary or other combustible devices, hazardous materials and paint and spray paint. Lawmakers also approved a measure allowing the use of campaign funds by candidates and officeholders for security purposes. LB986, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, adds security measures to the list of allowable expenditures of campaign funds under the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Act. Under the bill, security personnel, hardware, software, electronic security equipment, installation, maintenance, monitoring and other reasonable physical and structural security measures and improvements are considered allowable expenditures. The measure also requires disclosure of security-related campaign expenditures in campaign finance reports. LB986 passed 41-8 and took effect immediately. LB1155, sponsored by Adams Sen. Myron Dorn, updates and clarifies legislative oversight changes enacted last session with passage of a bill that created the Legislative Oversight Committee. Among other provisions, the measure modifies due dates for annual reports and authorizes secure remote access for audit purposes. The bill also expands documentation requirements for room confinements longer than one hour to specify the duration of the confinement, facility staffing levels at the time and any incidents of self-harm or suicide committed by a juvenile while isolated. The Division of Legislative Oversight is required to review collected data, assess room confinement use and prepare an annual report of findings to be delivered to the Legislature. State law related to the compilation, printing and distribution of several official legislative documents also was updated this session. LB1236, introduced by the Executive Board, consolidates those duties under the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature and authorizes the clerk to distribute session laws, the legislative journal and state statutes in print, electronic or both formats. The bill also eliminates mandatory provision of certain documents in specific quantities, instead making them available for distribution upon request. LB1236 passed on a 49-0 vote and took effect immediately.

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 General Affairs Session Review 2026 Session Review: General Affairs May 15, 2026 admin Proposals to update lottery and gaming provisions, state liquor laws and medical cannabis regulations were among those considered by the General Affairs Committee this session. Lawmakers passed a bill that makes a series of changes to the state’s racetrack gaming industry and authorizes music bingo and progressive jackpots for certain organizations. LB1001 , sponsored by the General Affairs Committee, updates laws governing racetrack operations, wagering distribution, horse registration, simulcasting and problem gambling oversight. Among other provisions, the bill: • allows racetracks to petition the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission for waivers or modifications of minimum race requirements under specific circumstances; • mandates timely registration of Nebraska-bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses; • transfers oversight and funding of the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling from the state Department of Revenue to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission; • allows waivers of certain residency and foaling requirements; and • allows 19-year-olds to participate in keno at licensed racetrack enclosures in an area separate from the casino gaming floor. The measure includes provisions of three additional bills, including LB828, introduced by Niobrara Sen. Barry DeKay, which broadens the definition of operator in laws governing gift enterprises and savings promotion raffles. The provisions of LB1047, sponsored by Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, expand the Nebraska Bingo Act to include music bingo, in which winning outcomes are based on song titles, musical artists or music genres. The measure also increases the amount that can be charged for each bingo card from 25 cents to $1, the maximum prize amount that a licensed organization may award from $25 to $50 per game and the number of special event bingo permits a qualifying nonprofit may obtain annually from two to four. Provisions of Blair Sen. Ben Hansen’s LB1120 allow a licensed organization to conduct a lottery or raffle game with a progressive jackpot or multiple drawing dates, such as the Queen of Hearts. Tickets to such games may be sold through a vending or dispensing device. A licensee must register each lottery or raffle game with the state Department of Revenue and post the rules in a visible location where the game is conducted or tickets are sold. At least 50% of the gross proceeds from such games must be used for prizes. LB1001 passed on a 45-0 vote and took effect immediately. Also passed was LB60, introduced last session by Grand Island Sen. Dan Quick, which removes a current prohibition in state law on the sale of lottery tickets through vending or dispensing devices. The measure was approved on a 41-8 vote. Several provisions of state law governing liquor regulations and the implementation of medical cannabis were updated under LB1235, sponsored by the committee. The bill reorganizes the structure and administration of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission and authorizes an annual $12,500 salary for commission members. Under the measure, the commission is authorized to establish a maximum fee of $50,000 for license applications, registrations and renewals and require a finger-print based national criminal history background check for initial applicants. The bill also creates the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission Cash Fund to receive fees, gifts, grants and other revenue to support administration and enforcement. The amended provisions of LB1085, introduced by Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, are included in the bill. Those provisions clarify the definition of a bottle club, expand existing criminal penalties to apply to the unlicensed retail sale of alcoholic liquor and require the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to consider if an applicant is delinquent in any federal, state or local taxes when determining licensure. The bill also includes provisions of Norfolk Sen. Robert Dover’s LB1128, which create a consumption-only option under state entertainment district licensure, allowing local governing bodies to designate areas within an entertainment district where alcohol can be consumed, but not sold, for a $25 license fee. LB1235 passed on a vote of 46-2 and took effect immediately.

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Government Military and Veterans Affairs Session Review 2026 Session Review: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs May 15, 2026 admin The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee addressed a wide range of issues this session, including updates to election laws, changes to several boards and commissions and requirements for open meetings, legal notices and the Nebraska Hall of Fame. LB596 , introduced last session by Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, authorizes digital news publication of legal notices as an alternative to print newspapers, if a digital news publication does not also have a print version. It also clarifies definitions of digital newspapers and electronic editions of print newspapers for purposes of legal notices. The measure includes provisions from the following seven measures dealing with open meeting requirements and public records: • LB739, sponsored by Bellevue Sen. Victor Rountree, which changes the county newspaper public notice requirement for a legal name change from four consecutive weeks to two; • LB869, introduced by Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara, which requires that the state treasurer’s annual unclaimed property list include information on how to search for unclaimed property and be published in each legal newspaper of general circulation in every county; • LB896, sponsored by Hastings Sen. Dan Lonowski, which increases the marriage license fee from $25 to $50 and the cost of certified copies issued by county clerks from $9 to $16; • LB898, introduced by Lonowski, which adds three additional public bodies to the list of those authorized to hold virtual meetings: the Semiquincentennial Commission, the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Historical Society and local foster care review boards; • LB919, sponsored by Sanders, which updates four sections of state law governing the preservation of certain public records to allow the use of media other than microfilm or microfiche; • LB923, introduced by Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, which contains a number of cleanup provisions related to the duties of county clerks; and • LB1145, sponsored by Lonowski, which requires public bodies subject to open meetings requirements to provide reasonable advance notice by a method designated by the public body and recorded in its minutes. Finally, the bill includes provisions of Lonowski’s LB1159, introduced at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, which require that the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission name one living inductee before Jan. 1, 2027. The inductee must have a demonstrated record of achievement in public service, leadership in collegiate athletics and volunteer youth mentorship activities. The measure also eliminates the requirement that an individual have been dead for at least 35 years before being eligible for induction into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The committee considered a measure that would have required a copy of any sole source, emergency contract be provided to the Auditor of Public Accounts within three business days of contract approval. LB997, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Bob Andersen, advanced to general file but was not scheduled for debate. LB1075, sponsored by Sanders, is the annual elections cleanup bill, which makes a number of changes to laws relating to election provisions requested by the Nebraska secretary of state. Among other provisions, the bill sets the cost of a recount at $100 per precinct voting in the contest, authorizes village clerks to prepare claims and issue warrants and prohibits petition circulation within 25 feet of a secure ballot drop box. The measure includes provisions of five additional bills containing election law provisions: • LB884, introduced by Andersen, which requires midday delivery of ballots directly to a centralized location, prohibiting any other stops, and changes rules regarding observation by poll watchers; • LB927, also sponsored by Andersen, which prohibits the direct or indirect involvement of foreign nationals in funding and organizing ballot question committees in Nebraska; • LB969, introduced by Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, which creates a database of county and municipal financial information within the state Department of Administrative Services; • LB1002, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, which increases filing, application and noncompliance fees under the Political Accountability and Disclosure Act; and • LB1074, introduced by Sanders, which revises unclaimed property statutes to clarify timelines, provide a tolling period in certain cases and create the Unclaimed Property Liquidation Proceeds Trust Fund. LB1075 passed on a 49-0 vote and took effect immediately. A bill that sets new requirements for county boards and commissions when considering a conditional use permit or special exception for livestock siting received final approval. Introduced by Whitman Sen. Tanya Storer last session, LB663 makes a number of changes to the application process for such permits. Among other provisions, the bill: • sets an educational requirement of two hours per term for certain county officials on matters relevant to the bill’s provisions; • requires county officials to base conditional use permit decisions solely on county zoning regulations; • adds county zoning administrators to the application review process; • prohibits requiring a federal, state or other local permit when deciding on a conditional use permit; and • sets a timeline for county commissions to follow when processing an application. County officials will have 30 days to determine if an application is complete and 10

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Health and Human Services Session Review 2026 Session Review: Health and Human Services May 15, 2026 admin Proposals impacting the state’s Medicaid program, health care licensure and child care subsidy eligibility were among those considered by the Health and Human Services Committee this session. Lawmakers approved a measure that makes a number of changes to state Medicaid provision. LB958 , introduced by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, requires that the assessment tool used by the state Department of Health and Human Services to determine functional eligibility, service needs and service tier assignments for Medicaid waiver participants be administered by an employee or contractor trained in clinical interviewing techniques. Among other provisions, the measure requires that services authorized under a waiver must be based on individualized assessments of medical necessity, functional need and health and safety requirements as determined through a person-centered planning process in accordance with federal home and community based services waiver regulations. If an assessment results in a reduction of a waiver participant’s service tier, authorized service hours or service provision, the department is required to conduct an immediate supervisory review of the assessment and determination prior to final implementation of the reduction. The bill also includes provisions of four additional bills: • LB701, introduced last session by Omaha Sen. Ashlei Spivey, which requires DHHS to reimburse Medicaid providers for trained doula services by Jan. 1, 2029, and establishes a group of stakeholders and experts to develop an implementation plan by Jan. 1, 2027; • LB773, sponsored by Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, which expands the state’s Prenatal Plus Program to include a minimum of two breastfeeding support sessions, eliminates the program’s scheduled sunset date and extends reporting requirements to 2034; • LB777, introduced by Cavanaugh, which requires DHHS to provide the maximum amount of retroactive coverage for each Medicaid eligibility category authorized by federal law under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, and requires the department to include information on work requirements, concurrent enrollment and cost sharing in the Medicaid and Long-Term Care annual report; and • LB1033, sponsored by Spivey, which raises the maximum crisis assistant payment by DHHS under the federal low-income home energy assistance program from $500 to $800 per program year, while allowing higher payments in extenuating circumstances. LB958 passed on a 48-1 vote and took effect immediately. LB1091, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln and passed 49-0, requires DHHS to provide a carve-out from Nebraska’s Medicaid managed care program for services and supports for long-term care clients with special needs. Under the bill, those services instead must be administered and reimbursed through a Medicaid fee-for-service or other delivery system authorized under state or federal law. The measure also prohibits a skilled nursing facility from being required to enroll in an MCO as a condition of eligibility to provide such services. The bill requires DHHS to amend Medicaid managed care contracts, including revisions to enrollment processes, no later than six months after the bill’s effective date. Managed care organizations would have been authorized to cover out-of-pocket expenses for Nebraska Medicaid enrollees under a bill vetoed by Gov. Jim Pillen. LB929, introduced by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson, would have allowed Medicaid managed care organizations to cover deductibles, co-insurance, copayments or similar cost-sharing charges on behalf of Medicaid enrollees to the extent allowed under federal law. In his veto letter, the governor said that while the bill would not require managed care organizations to cover cost sharing, it would encourage Medicaid enrollees to “overuse the system without consequence” and create an expectation that public benefits are “handouts.” An attempt to override the veto failed on a vote of 22-26. Thirty votes were needed. LB912, introduced by Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, requires DHHS to establish a statewide process to endorse community health worker training programs that meet minimum quality standards and ensure services provided by community health workers are eligible for reimbursement by Medicaid and private insurers. The bill includes provisions of 11 other measures considered by the committee this session: • LB735, sponsored by Bellevue Sen. Victor Rountree, which adopts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact; • LB736, also sponsored by Rountree, which adopts the Athletic Trainer Compact; • LB796, introduced by Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara, which clarifies engagement in the practice of pharmacy in Nebraska; • LB825, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Beau Ballard, which requires practitioners licensed under the Mental Health Practice Act to complete a minimum of two hours of continuing education in domestic abuse counseling every two years; • LB887, introduced by Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, which allows accredited pharmacy programs to determine the date and time of the jurisprudence examination for pharmacy students and clarifies that certified pharmacy technician requirements do not apply to interns under the supervision of a pharmacist; • LB891, sponsored by Blair Sen. Ben Hansen, which updates the Child Care Licensing Act to align state law with federal background check regulations, clarifies how self-reported licensing investigations appear on public records

Agriculture Appropriations Banking Commerce and Insurance Business and Labor Education Executive Board Government Military and Veterans Affairs General Affairs Health and Human Services Judiciary Natural Resources Retirement Systems Revenue Transportation and Telecommunications Urban Affairs Features Ceremonies Senator features Civic education Slideshows Print Archive Subscriptions Session Review 2026 Judiciary Session Review 2026 Session Review: Judiciary May 15, 2026 admin The Judiciary Committee advanced proposals to strengthen law enforcement support and training, expand protections for vulnerable populations and bolster the security of Nebraska’s critical infrastructure and agricultural industry. Lawmakers approved two criminal justice packages this session, combining measures addressing domestic violence, sexual misconduct, sentencing, law enforcement procedures and court costs. Under LB965 , introduced by Lincoln Sen. Eliot Bostar and passed 39-10, individuals in positions of authority — including probation officers, problem-solving court employees, guardians, conservators, guardians ad litem, foster and adoptive parents and child welfare providers — are barred from engaging in sexual contact with those under their supervision or care. The bill establishes penalties consistent with similar Nebraska laws covering correctional staff, parole officers and school employees and extends victim and witness assistance provisions to impacted individuals. Consent may not be used as a legal defense under the measure, which also adds adoptive and foster parents to the state’s incest statute. LB965 includes Bostar’s LB1123, establishing a formal process for Brady-Giglio disclosures related to law enforcement credibility. Among other provisions, the measure sets standards for maintaining and sharing credibility information, clarifies that placement alone is not grounds for discipline or termination and provides an appeals process for officers determined to be subject to a Brady-Giglio disclosure. The bill also incorporates LB859, sponsored by Bostar, which creates the position of county conflict counsel to provide constitutionally required representation to indigent clients when a public defender cannot be appointed due to a conflict or other good cause. In counties with more than 170,000 residents, conflict counsel may not engage in private practice and must exclusively represent indigent individuals. LB965 also contains provisions of the following bills: ● LB785, introduced by Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, which adds postal receptacle keys and locks used for the deposit and delivery of mail to the list of burglar’s tools in state law when possessed with intent to commit a crime; ● LB818, sponsored by Whitman Sen. Tanya Storer, which increases penalties for serious and repeat domestic assault offenses, enhances penalties for strangulation or suffocations and aligns first- and second-degree penalties with comparable crimes; ● LB908, introduced by Sen. Jared Storm of David City, which requires courts to consider credible evidence showing increased intellectual and social growth in children who have equal access to both parents when determining custody and parenting arrangements; and ● LB1000, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Jason Prokop, which establishes a graduated penalty structure for violations of domestic abuse and sexual assault protection orders by increasing the penalty for a third offense to a Class IIIA felony, and to a Class IIA felony for fourth or subsequent offenses. A second omnibus package combines updates to sentencing, court fees and rural legal access. LB935, introduced by Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, allows a political subdivision to recover attorney fees and court costs if it must defend against a claim that a court finds frivolous or primarily intended to harass the subdivision or its public officials. The bill also modifies sentencing rules by preserving the presumption of probation for Class IV felonies, unless a defendant originally was charged with a more serious felony and pled down to a Class IV offense. LB935 includes provisions of the following bills: ● LB789, introduced by Bosn, which prevents defendants from benefiting if they intentionally make a witness unavailable, allowing a witness’s prior statements to be admitted in court; ● LB876, sponsored by Hallstrom, which establishes a statewide 72-hour no-contact period, to take effect automatically when a person is arrested for certain domestic or sexual assault offenses; ● LB978, introduced by Storer, which allows individuals depicted in or exposed to obscene material, child sexual abuse material or content promoting child sexual exploitation to sue entities that intentionally distribute such content on publicly available websites; ● LB1020, sponsored by Bostar, which criminalizes unauthorized use of tracking devices, establishes penalties for swatting incidents and restricts drone use in designated airspace without proper approval; ● LB1139, introduced by Hallstrom, which modifies how child and spousal support liens are applied by limiting them to periods of missed payments and requiring their automatic removal once obligations are satisfied; ● LB1199, sponsored by Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach, which provides additional funding for the state’s rural attorney loan repayment program, increases the county population threshold from 15,000 to 75,000 to qualify as a designated legal profession shortage area and creates a tiered priority system for future awards; and ● LB1228, introduced by Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, which establishes a new docket fee for civil cases and traffic misdemeanors and infractions in district and county courts, creates a $10 case management system software fee and directs most of the new revenue to the state General Fund. LB935 passed on a 38-11 vote and took effect immediately. LB816, introduced by Storer and passed 48-0, establishes legal protecti