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Nebraska Legislation Affecting Early Childhood
Our legislative efforts promote accountable early childhood investments with impactful outcomes that eliminate the achievement gap for Nebraska’s youngest learners.
Nebraska Legislation Highlights from the 2018 Legislative session
Nebraska Legislation Report updated daily during the Legislative session
Legislation to Watch
LB295Adopt the Opportunity Scholarships Act and provide tax credits
LB295
Adopt the Opportunity Scholarships Act and provide tax credits
Sponsor: Smith et al., Linehan Priority Bill
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Education, School Funding, Budget/Taxes
Provides for a tax credit against income tax due for any individual taxpayer that contributes to a scholarship-granting organization as defined by the bill as non-public elementary and secondary schools.
LB768Redefine economic development program to include early childhood infrastructure development for cities of the first and second class and villages
LB768
Redefine economic development program to include early childhood infrastructure development for cities of the first and second class and villages
Sponsor: Quick et al.
Status: 4/23/2018 Provisions/portions amended into bill: LB873
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Child Care, Early Childhood Workforce
This bill would amend §18-2705 of the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act. It would redefine economic development program to include early childhood infrastructure development for cities of the first and second class and villages. Provision or portions of LB768 were amended into LB873 by AM2065.
LB803Change provisions related to kindergarten, early childhood education, and the Step Up to Quality Child Care Act
LB803
Change provisions related to kindergarten, early childhood education, and the Step Up to Quality Child Care Act
Sponsor: Stinner, Scheer Priority Bill as Speaker
Status: 4/17/2018 Approved by the Governor
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Child Care, Early Childhood Workforce, Education
This bill would change the teacher certification requirements for early childhood education, increase the hours of daily instruction for kindergarten programs, and change the age a child can stay in early childhood education programs.
First Five Nebraska written testimony (PDF)
LB829Adopt the Property Tax Relief Act
LB829
Adopt the Property Tax Relief Act
Sponsor: Erdman et al., Erdman Priority Bill
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: School Funding, Budget/Taxes
If passed, beginning January 1, 2019, each taxpayer who is a homeowner will receive a refund that equals 50% of the amount of local property taxes they paid to public schools.
LB876Change special education reimbursements
LB876
Change special education reimbursements
Sponsor: Kolowski
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Education, School Funding, Budget/Taxes
This bill would amend current statute and allow the Department of Education to reimburse each school district at least 80% of the total excess allowable costs for all special education programs and support services provided by each school district.
LB877Change provisions related to early childhood education in the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Act
LB877
Change provisions related to early childhood education in the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Act
Sponsor: Kolowski
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: School Funding, Budget/Taxes
This bill would amend current statute and provide details on how to calculate funding for early childhood education programs as part of the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Act.
First Five Nebraska written testimony (PDF)
LB880Provide for an early childhood element as prescribed for cities with comprehensive plans
LB880
Provide for an early childhood element as prescribed for cities with comprehensive plans
Sponsor: Hansen
Status: 4/23/2018 Provisions/portions amended into bill: LB873
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Child Care
This bill would amend current statute and require counties and municipalities to include an assessment of early childhood care for any new comprehensive plan or updates to existing plans. Provision or portions of LB880 were amended into LB873 by AM2065.
LB944Provide, change, and eliminate provisions relating to appropriations and reduce appropriations
LB944
Provide, change, and eliminate provisions relating to appropriations and reduce appropriations
Sponsor: Scheer at the request of the Governor
Status: 4/4/2018 Approved by the Governor
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Budget/Taxes
This bill is the main budget bill and includes the Governor’s 2018 mid-biennium budget adjustment recommendations for the 2017-2019 biennium. This bill contains an emergency clause. Provision or portions of LB674, LB802, LB864, LB1055, LB1062 were amended into LB944 by AM1699.
LB945Provide for transfers of funds and change transfer provisions
LB945
Provide for transfers of funds and change transfer provisions
Sponsor: Scheer at the request of the Governor
Status: 4/4/2018 Approved by the Governor
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Budget/Taxes
This bill includes the Governor’s 2018 mid-biennium budget adjustment recommendations for the 2017-2019 biennium. This bill authorizes fund transfers and contains an emergency clause. Provision or portions of LB538, LB1002 were amended into LB945 by AM1700. Provision or portions of LB679 were amended into LB945 by AM2288.
LB946Change provisions relating to the Cash Reserve Fund
LB946
Change provisions relating to the Cash Reserve Fund
Sponsor: Scheer at the request of the Governor
Status: 4/4/2018 Approved by the Governor
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Budget/Taxes
This bill includes the Governor’s 2018 mid-biennium budget adjustment recommendations for the 2017-2019 biennium. This bill authorizes transfers from the Cash Reserve Fund and contains an emergency clause.
LB947Adopt the Nebraska Property Tax Cuts and Opportunities Act, change income tax rates, and eliminate certain exemptions and credits
LB947
Adopt the Nebraska Property Tax Cuts and Opportunities Act, change income tax rates, and eliminate certain exemptions and credits
Sponsor: Smith at the request of the Governor, Smith Priority Bill
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Budget/Taxes
LB947 would provide all residential homeowners a refundable tax credit equal to a percentage of property taxes paid during the taxable year. This bill would also provide residents that pay a property tax on agricultural land and farm sites, a refundable income tax credit equal to a percentage of the property taxes paid during the taxable year. Finally, this bill would eliminate exemptions under the Personal Property Tax Relief Act and eliminate credits under the Property Tax Credit Act to pay for the tax credits and reductions proposed in this bill.
LB1088Adopt the Nebraska Education Formula and the Remote Seller Sales Tax Collection Act, terminate the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act and the Property Tax Credit Act, and eliminate tax exemptions
LB1088
Adopt the Nebraska Education Formula and the Remote Seller Sales Tax Collection Act, terminate the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act and the Property Tax Credit Act, and eliminate tax exemptions
Sponsor: Wayne
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Education, School Funding, Budget/Taxes
This bill would adopt the Remote Seller Sales Tax Collection Act as another form of incoming revenue and allow Nebraska’s Department of Revenue to collect taxes from remote sellers of goods who reside outside of Nebraska. This bill would also change the school aid formula and terminate TEEOSA (current funding formula) on July 1, 2020 and would eliminate certain tax exemptions.
LB1108Authorize certain tax credits, change the sales tax rate, and provide for school foundation aid and certain grant programs
LB1108
Authorize certain tax credits, change the sales tax rate, and provide for school foundation aid and certain grant programs
Sponsor: Harr, Harr Priority Bill
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Early Childhood Workforce, Education, Budget/Taxes
LB1108 would amend current statute and adopt the Occupational Learning Opportunities Act to encourage employers to offer educational and workforce development programs. This bill would also repeal the sunset provision of the School Readiness Tax Credit Act and increase the tax credit by $5 million.
First Five Nebraska written testimony (PDF)
LB1110Require annual reporting of school performance scores and classification
LB1110
Require annual reporting of school performance scores and classification
Sponsor: Vargas
Status: 4/17/2018 Approved by the Governor
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Education
This bill would amend §79-760.06 and require the State Board of Education create an annual report on the performance of public schools and school districts.
LB1135Adopt the Alternative Certification for Quality Teachers Act
LB1135
Adopt the Alternative Certification for Quality Teachers Act
Sponsor: Vargas
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Early Childhood Workforce, Education
This bill would require the State Board of Education grant a teaching certificate to any person in good standing who has a valid teaching certificate from another state and who annually completes the requirements to maintain the teaching certificate. Additionally, this bill would allow the board to grant a temporary teaching certificate to anyone who has a valid bachelor’s degree or higher, passed the basic skills and subject area tests, and is enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program approved by the board. This temporary certificate would only be valid for two years. After that time, the individual is required to have a valid Nebraska teaching certificate.
First Five Nebraska written testimony (PDF)
LR270CAConstitutional amendment to reduce the minimum age in the constitutional requirement to provide free instruction
LR270CA
Constitutional amendment to reduce the minimum age in the constitutional requirement to provide free instruction
Sponsor: Kolowski
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Education, School Funding, Budget/Taxes
This proposed constitutional amendment would lower the age and provide free instruction for children ages 3-21 years old for those who opt in.
First Five Nebraska written testimony (PDF)
LR285CAConstitutional amendment to eliminate the State Board of Education
LR285CA
Constitutional amendment to eliminate the State Board of Education
Sponsor: Murante
Status: 4/18/2018 Indefinitely Postponed
FFN Position: Legislation to Watch
Category: Education, Systems/Governance
This constitutional amendment would eliminate the State Board of Education and make the Department of Education report directly to the Office of the Governor.
Bill enacted into law
Included in the budget bill 
Provisions/portions amended into different bill
Bill no longer active
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