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Policy Priorities

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned on April 18, concluding a legislative session that saw progress on multiple early childhood bills. 

Progress in early childhood policy

With the state’s legislative biennium now concluded, early childhood advocates can look back on an active session that put the subsidy within the reach of more child care providers for their own family needs, expanded Nebraska’s options for setting subsidy reimbursement rates, secured more funding for evidence-based home visiting services, streamlined regulatory procedures and more.

But there is much work yet to be done. Lawmakers now have the opportunity to review bills that did not advance in 2024 for possible re-introduction in the new biennium. In the meanwhile, First Five Nebraska is looking forward to working with senators on multiple interim studies in the months ahead that will help set the stage for early childhood legislation in 2025 and beyond.

LB64 | (Carry-Over Bill) Require the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to provide notice in certain cases of child abuse and neglect

 

Introducer Sen. Jen Day (Dist. 49)
Co-Introducers Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46); Sen. Brian Hardin (Dist. 48)
Summary LB64 requires the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to notify parents of children at a licensed child care facility when an instance of child abuse or neglect is substantiated.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 1/26/24
Status (Carry-over bill from 2023)
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources
LB65 | (Carry-Over Bill) Change provisions relating to the complaint tracking system and disciplinary action under the Child Care Licensing Act

 

Introducer Sen. Jen Day (Dist. 49)
Co-Introducers Sen. Brian Hardin (Dist. 48)
Summary LB65 requires Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) to identify whether child care licensing violations are self-reported or the result of a complaint. Also requires NDHHS to notify parents of disciplinary actions against a child care license holder.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing  
Status (Carried over from 2023)
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources
LB856 | Change eligibility requirements for the federal child care subsidy program [Sen. Fredrickson Priority Bill]
Introducer Sen. John Fredrickson (Dist. 20) | PRIORITY BILL
Co-Introducers Sen. Mike Jacobson (Dist. 42); Sen. Jane Raybould (Dist. 28); Sen. Teresa Ibach (Dist. 44); Sen. Jana Hughes; (Dist. 24); Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46); Sen. George Dungan (Dist. 26)
Summary Senator Fredrickson’s priority bill, LB856 was intended to enable more early care employees to benefit from the child care subsidy by excluding the income eligibility requirement for qualifying employees. The bill was amended to address technical restrictions that could otherwise prevent eligible child care employees from benefitting from the subsidy if their own children are receiving care in the same programs where they work. The amendment also contained provisions enabling family child care home providers who meet subsidy eligibility requirements to enroll their own children in other programs to receive subsidized care. Due to fiscal constraints, Senator Fredrickson introduced AM3218 to remove the $10M fiscal note that would have covered the income eligibility exclusion. The other technical provisions remained in the bill.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 1/26/24
Amendment(s) AM2544, AM2510; AM3218
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

 

LB857 | Create the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program [Sen. Dungan Priority Bill]
Introducer Sen. George Dungan (Dist. 26)
Co-Introducers Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46); Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh (Dist. 6); Sen. Tony Vargas (Dist. 7)
Summary

LB857, Senator Dungan’s priority bill, creates the Prenatal Plus Program, offering additional services to mothers receiving Medicaid coverage who are at risk of an adverse birth outcome. These services include nutrition counseling, psychosocial counseling and support, general health education, breastfeeding support and targeted case management. The bill
identifies which mothers are eligible for Prenatal Plus services and allows the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to offer an enhanced payment structure to providers. As amended, LB857 sunsets June 30, 2028.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/7/24
Amendment(s) AM2409; FA218; AM2761 to AM2409
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources
LB874 | Change requirements relating to child care licensing and child care facilities
Introducer Sen. Eliot Bostar (Dist. 29) | SPEAKER PRIORITY BILL
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB874, prioritized by Speaker John Arch (Dist. 14), streamlines and clarifies state licensing requirements under the Child Care Licensing Act and standardizes local regulations governing child care. The bill provides for the portability of background check documentation for child care staff if they change employers, allows providers to obtain a dual license to adjust their staffing with changes in attendance, standardizes the permissive exemption on property taxes for operating a child care program and requires a report to the Legislature on licensing regulations promulgated by state agencies. 
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/15/24
Amendments AM2803
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources
LB898 | Adopt the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact
Introducer Sen. Teresa Ibach (Dist. 44)
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB898 enters Nebraska into the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact, which facilitates background check information sharing among states and the federal government. This would include federally mandated background checks in child care, the state agency or in court.
Committee Judiciary
Hearing 2/7/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources  

 

LB904 | Change provisions regarding child care reimbursement rates, create the Intergenerational Care Facility Grant Program, provide for use of the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund [Legislature's Planning Committee Priority Bill]
Introducer Sen. Wendy DeBoer (Dist. 10) | PLANNING COMMITTEE PRIORITY BILL
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB904 allows the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to determine child care subsidy reimbursements by assessing both market rates and costs of providing care. The bill also establishes the 75th percentile of the market rate as the baseline for subsidy reimbursement. LB1178 (Intergenerational Care Facility Grant Program bill) was amended into LB904 through AM2734.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/14/24
Amendment(s) AM2734; AM2775 to AM2734; ER87
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

 

LB913 | Require a state plan amendment for postpartum coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program
Introducer Sen. Megan Hunt (Dist. 8)
Co-Introducers Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46); Sen. Tony Vargas (Dist. 7)
Summary LB913 would have extended coverage of mothers covered by the unborn child option in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill required the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to submit a state plan amendment to provide postpartum coverage for at least six months and specifies that coverage would be identical to the postpartum offerings in Medicaid. LB913 was amended to LB62 via AM2321, but the amendment was withdrawn prior to Final Reading.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/2/24
Amendment AM2321
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources
LB946 | Change requirements for payments to Child Care Subsidy program providers
Introducer Sen. Jen Day (Dist. 49)
Co-Introducers Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46)
Summary LB946 amends the State Plan for Services to pay child care providers participating in the child care subsidy based on a child’s enrollment in a provider’s program rather than their attendance.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/21/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

 
LB997 | Require the State Department of Education to establish criteria for salary supplements for child care and early education providers
Introducer Sen. Teresa Ibach (Dist. 44)
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB997 creates the Child Care Wages Fund with the intent of making distributions to the Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska program to provide salary supplements to child care providers working with children age 5 or younger in licensed child care.
Committee Education
Hearing 2/5/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

 

LB1003 | Change a requirement relating to child care licensing in cities, villages or counties
Introducer Sen. Ben Hansen (Dist. 16)
Co-Introducers Sen. Dave Murman (Dist. 38)
Summary LB1003 allows municipalities to establish their own staff-to-child ratio requirements in child care. First Five Nebraska testified in opposition to this bill.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/2/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

 

LB1054 | Adopt the Child Care Safety and Security Act
Introducer Sen. Lynne Walz (Dist. 15)
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB1054 creates the Child Care Safety and Security Fund with a $300K appropriation. The Fund would help communities establish safety and reunification procedures for child care providers.
Committee Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/8/24
Amendment(s) AM2748
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

 

LB1055 | Require development of a reading instruction system and programming for adults and children, create a steering committee and provide for a literacy coordinator
Introducer Sen. Lynne Walz (Dist. 15)
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB1055 appropriates $10M to create a professional learning system to provide sustained professional learning and training in high-quality instruction in reading for teachers and early childhood educators who teach students birth through fifth grade. It also appropriates $2M to support adult literacy programs and creates a Literacy Steering Committee.
Committee Education
Hearing 2/13/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources  

 

LB1083 | Change provisions relating to the Nebraska Career Scholarship Act
Introducer Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46)
Co-Introducers  
Summary LB1083 includes early childhood education programs of study in the Nebraska Career Scholarship Act. Scholarship recipients must obtain an internship, apprenticeship or employment related to their major.
Committee Education
Hearing 2/5/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources

(PDF)

 

LB1124 | State intent to appropriate funds to the Department of Health and Human Services [AMENDED TO LB1412]
Introducer Sen. Tony Vargas (Dist. 7)
Co-Introducers Sen. Mike McDonnell (Dist. 5); Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46)
Summary LB1124 appropriates $900K per year over two fiscal years from the state General Fund to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for evidence-based early intervention home visiting programs. LB1124 was amended into LB1412, the state mainline budget bill, with funding from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund.
Committee Appropriations
Hearing 2/12/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File Amended to LB1412, approved by Governor, 4/1/24
 

 

LB1125 | State intent to appropriate funds to the Department of Health and Human Services [AMENDED TO LB1412]
Introducer Sen. Anna Wishart (Dist. 27)
Co-Introducers Sen. Teresa Ibach (Dist. 44); Sen. Mike McDonnell (Dist. 5); Sen. Danielle Conrad (Dist. 46)
Summary LB1125 appropriates $500K from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for evidence-based early intervention nurse home visiting programs for two fiscal years. LB1125 was amended into LB1412, the state mainline budget bill.
  Appropriations
Hearing 2/12/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File Amended to LB1412, approved by Governor, 4/1/24
Resources:

 

LB1178 | Create the Intergenerational Care Facility Incentive Grant Program [AMENDED TO LB904]
Introducer Sen. Anna Wishart (Dist. 27)
Co-Introducers Sen. Jana Hughes (Dist. 24); Sen. Brian Hardin (Dist. 48)
Summary LB1178 creates the Intergenerational Care Facility Incentive Grant Program that allows eligible applicants to make capital improvements and purchase materials or equipment necessary to co-locate child care programs with nursing homes and assisted living facilities. LB1178 was amended into LB904 though AM2734.
  Health and Human Services
Hearing 2/7/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File Amended to LB904, currently on Final Reading
Resources:

 

LB1254 | Provide for a professional learning system and regional coaches for teaching students to read
Introducer Sen. Lou Ann Linehan (Dist. 39)
Co-Sponsors  
Summary Portions of LB1252 and LB1254 were included in AM3061 to LB1284. The amendment appropriates $2million from the Education Future Fund for the 2024-25 and 2026-27 fiscal years to create a professional learning system to provide training in reading for educators who teach children from age 4 through third grade.
  Education
Hearing 2/13/24
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File  
Resources:  

 

LB1416 | Adopt the Child Care Capacity Building and Workforce Act [AMENDED TO LB164]
Introducer Sen. Eliot Bostar (Dist. 29) — At the request of the Governor
Co-Sponsors  
Summary LB1416 creates the Child Care Capacity Building and Workforce Grant Program and the Family Child Care Home Grant Program to support the child care workforce, child care programs and working families. LB1416 to LB164 was amended into LB164 through AM3104; the amendment removed funding provisions for the original bill.
Committee Banking, Commerce and Insurance
Hearing 2/6/24
Amendment AM2659
Status
1. Introduced 6. Engrossment
2. In Committee 7. Final Reading
3. General File 8. Passed
4. Enrollment & Review 9. Signed into Law
5. Select File Amended to LB164, Passed Final Reading on 4.16.24
Resources:

 

Elizabeth Lopez Everett
Elizabeth Lopez Everett

Deputy Director, Public Policy Manager