Nebraska social media limits, lab-grown meat ban, domestic abuse survivor help, 28 more bills pass
LINCOLN — Nebraska state senators sent 31 bills Wednesday to the governor for his approval, including measures requiring age verification to use social media, banning lab-grown meat, helping domestic violence survivors and outlawing the use of credit card skimmers.
The bills that passed included Legislative Bill 383, from State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, requiring that, starting in July 2026, anyone wishing to create a social media account in Nebraska must prove they are 18 years old or older. Younger users would need parental permission. A parent would also need to prove they are 18 years old or older.
LB 383 also includes the provisions of LB 172, from State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, outlawing using artificial intelligence or computer generation to create pornographic images or videos depicting someone younger than 18 years old, or knowingly and intentionally receiving such content.
Both measures were priorities of Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers, as was LB 140 from State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue.
LB 140 would require all of Nebraska's 245 school districts to prohibit student use of cellphones and other personal electronic communication devices during most parts of the school day beginning this fall. School districts would retain wide latitude in implementing such a policy. Most already have one.
LB 383 passed 46-3. LB 140 passed 48-1.
Lawmakers also approved LB 246, from State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara at Pillen's request, to ban the sale of lab-grown meat. Some lawmakers, including conservative State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, as well as the Nebraska Farm Bureau, preferred to label rather than ban the products, which aren't currently available in Nebraska markets.
LB 246 passed 38-11 and would take effect three months after lawmakers adjourn. The last day is scheduled for June 9.
Lawmakers also advanced housing supports for survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking through LB 78, from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln. It would increase the documentary stamp tax by 7 cents per $1,000 worth of property, which is on the transfer of real estate, a portion of which the state uses for affordable housing or homeless shelter assistance.
All new revenue would be directed to the new housing assistance. It passed 49-0 and would take effect three months after adjournment.
Senators also passed LB 559, from State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, chair of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, to outlaw unauthorized skimming devices and 'kingpins' who use them, such as on ATMs, point-of-sale systems or fuel pumps. It passed 43-6.
The bill included LB 464, also from Bosn, a former prosecutor, to outlaw 'organized retail crime,' a step up from strings of shoplifting depending on the value of merchandise stolen.
Other bills that passed on Wednesday include:
LB 32, from State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, to allow candidates to use a post office box instead of a street address on political advertisements. A street address would still need to be on file with state officials. Passed 47-2.
LB 36, from State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, to establish the 'Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act' to collect and safely dispose of certain batteries, increase fees on Nebraska Game and Parks Commission park entry permits and expand allowable water recreation projects. Passed 43-6.
LB 80, from State Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, would consolidate laws related to protection orders, extend ordered protection orders and renewals to two years instead of one, require child abuse involving a military family to be reported to the service member's military installation and require landlords to change locks or remove a perpetrator of domestic violence from a rental agreement soon after abuse is documented and a protective or restraining order has been granted. Passed 46-3.
LB 133, from State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, to expand the definition of 'law enforcement officer' to include animal control officers to enforce state or local animal control laws if authorized by a city, village or county. Passed 42-7.
LB 166, from State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, to require county treasurers to conceal the addresses of law enforcement, members of the Nebraska National Guard or judges if such a person applies to have their address withheld, which is currently the law for county assessors. Addresses for judges would also be concealed when they are up for retention elections. Passed 48-1.
LB 230, also from Hallstrom, to restrict and regulate the sale of kratom to those 21 years of age or older, classify tianeptine ('gas station heroin') as a Schedule II controlled substance and prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Passed 49-0.
LB 257, from State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, creates a pathway for marriage and family therapists from other states to be licensed in Nebraska and increases the minimum liability coverage needed for child care licensing. Passed 46-3.
LB 287, from State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, to give additional authority to cities of the metropolitan class (Omaha) to crack down on bed bug infestations and regulate housing authorities within metropolitan cities for pest control, regular inspections, property registrations, penalties or requiring updates to the city council. Passed 34-15.
LB 332, from State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, to create assistant funeral directors, permit pharmacists to dispense emergency refills in certain circumstances and require Medicaid coverage for psychology services provided by qualifying advanced-level practitioners supervised by a licensed psychologist. Passed 49-0.
LB 364, also from Quick, would allow the Legislature's Executive Board, when the Legislature is not in session, to approve an 'indication of intent' from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to move land into the state park system. Passed 46-3.
LB 526, from State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, to allow a public power supplier to pass on costs to or require additional terms and conditions of cryptocurrency mining operations, including if the operation necessitates infrastructure upgrades. Passed 49-0.
LB 561, also from Brandt, would create a special permit for overweight vehicles carrying raw milk up to 107,500 pounds. The Nebraska Department of Transportation would need to create a list of bridges that would and would not support the weight. Passed 49-0.
LB 660, from State Sen. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County, would require state agencies to regularly review regulations and repeal unnecessary rules, mandate an updated inventory of federal funds the state relies on along with contingency plans in the event of reductions in federal support and permit legal challenges against rules or regulations in local district courts rather than only in Lancaster County. Passed 49-0.
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