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NebraskaLB1075109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET

Provide for a database of county and municipal financial information and requirements for village warrants and vacancies in a village board, change provisions of the Election Act, the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act, and the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, and eliminate provisions relating to initiative and referendum petitions

Sponsored By: Rita Sanders

Signed by Governor

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

28 provisions identified: 15 benefits, 5 costs, 8 mixed.

Unclaimed property: privacy, fees, school fund

Paid finders can charge at most 10% and only after 24 months from publication or official disclosure, and they must tell owners how to claim for free. Owner records with SSNs, birth dates, and last‑known addresses are confidential and treated like tax return data; limited sharing is allowed only with reciprocal states. The seven‑year enforcement clock pauses during a Treasurer exam or a voluntary disclosure agreement. Each year by November 1, any Unclaimed Property Trust Fund balance over $5,000,000 is transferred: in 2026–2035, the first $1,000,000 of the excess goes to the Capitol Restoration Cash Fund and the rest to the permanent school fund; starting in 2036, all excess goes to the permanent school fund.

Higher fees for late campaign filings

Campaign committees pay a $150 registration fee at filing. Late filings now cost more. Most late reports cost $50 per day up to $1,500. New committees formed within 30 days of an election pay $200 per day, up to $2,000, if late. Campaign statements late: $50 per day up to $1,500; statements of exemption: $50 per day up to $450. Independent expenditure reports late: $50 per day up to $1,500. Earmarked and other specified reports late: $50 per day up to $1,500. Out-of-state reports late: $200 per day for 10 days, then 1% per day up to 10% of the amount. Reports of late contributions: $200 per day for 10 days, then 1% per day up to 10% of the contribution.

Early and mail voting: IDs and deadlines

If you cast a provisional ballot or mailed a ballot without ID, you can fix it by the Friday after the election. Bring valid photo ID or a reasonable‑impediment certification to the county office. Early in‑person voting is up to 30 days before statewide elections (15 days for other elections); photo ID is required. Officials mail ballots between the 25th and 10th day before the election. If your early‑ballot request arrives by the second Friday, they must send your ballot with the ID envelope and oath. If you are not registered and request by the third Friday, they mail a registration form with the ballot; after that, no ballot is mailed to nonregistered voters. You or your agent may pick up a replacement ballot in person until 5:00 p.m. on election day, but your signature must match your registration. If you spoil a ballot, mark it “spoiled” and return it; no voter may receive more than four ballots total.

Recount costs and refunds for candidates

A recount request must list the counties and include prepayment. The cost is $100 per precinct that voted in the contest, paid to each county treasurer. If actual costs differ from the estimate, the requester pays the extra or can claim a refund of any overpayment. If the recount makes the requester the winner, the county refunds all amounts the requester paid.

Tougher foreign money ban and donor privacy

Foreign nationals may not give or spend money on ballot questions or help make those decisions. Committees that break this pay the larger of the illegal amount or $100,000; a foreign national pays the amount plus $100,000. Late‑contribution reports must include full donor details, and committees must use a street address for committee donors. Investigations must shield lawful donor identities and limit when government can demand donor names.

Candidate filings: names and objection windows

A candidate may change the ballot name to match a legal name change by the filing deadline, with proof. Objections to filings must be in writing within seven days after the filing deadline, or three business days for special elections. Filing officers must send written notice of objections to all affected candidates.

Change to who pays election costs

Sanitary and improvement districts no longer have to pay the costs to nominate and elect their officers. Other listed local entities still pay their own election costs.

Clear election notices and sample ballots

Counties must publish the election notice by 42 days before the election and post it in the election office. Sample ballots must be printed in English and any other required language. Publish samples 2 to 30 days before most elections (30 days for certain mail elections). Ballots are white unless a different color is approved for local elections, and ballot envelopes may not show a voter’s party.

Earlier written notices to election workers

Election officials must give written notice to appointed judges, clerks, and board members at least 15 days before statewide primaries and generals. For special elections, county clerks must send written notice on or before the third Friday before the election.

Felonies for faking filings or ballots

Falsifying, destroying, suppressing, or filing false candidate forms is a Class III felony. Forging or placing false initials or signatures on ballots is also a Class III felony.

Limits on precinct size and lines

Precincts must be compact and within legislative districts. Each precinct generally has at least 75 registered voters and no more than 1,750, measured by recent election turnout. Do not change precinct lines between the statewide primary and general unless the Secretary of State approves.

New funds to manage unclaimed property

Beginning July 18, 2026, the State Treasurer runs two new funds. The Unclaimed Property Liquidation Proceeds Trust Fund holds sale proceeds and can move money to the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to pay claims. The Unclaimed Property Cash Fund collects approved program costs before other transfers, and any move from it to the General Fund needs legislative direction. Both funds are invested under state law.

Online database of local finances by 2027

The state will host a public website with financial data for every county, city, and village. It shows auditor filings and, when available, revenue, spending, and balance sheets from audits. The site must launch by January 1, 2027.

Parties may let unaffiliated vote

A political party may allow unaffiliated registered voters to vote in its primary for races where it has candidates, if the party follows the required notice rules.

Paying village bills during board vacancies

If more than half of a village board’s seats are empty, the board must pass a yearly resolution letting the clerk prepare claims and issue warrants. The clerk may only pay bills already approved or required by law or contract. This authority ends when a majority is seated, and the new board must review those claims.

Some parties may open primaries

A party can let unaffiliated voters vote in its primary by filing a rule at least 60 days before the primary. The Secretary of State must notify local election officials. The rule is final and applies only to the next primary.

Stronger ballot transport and observer access

Ballots going to a central counting place must be delivered directly there, with no extra stops. In midday pickups, ballots stay sealed in the box unless two watchers from different parties observe removal. Watchers cannot be excluded from counting unless officials provide an unobstructed view by camera, window, or similar device.

Warning first for electioneering violations

If an official or officer sees you violate electioneering or petition rules, they must warn you to stop. You face a Class V misdemeanor only if you keep violating the rule after the warning.

Stronger privacy for voter records

Early‑voter lists and applications made public before an election must not show your birth month and day, signature, ID numbers, ID copies, or impediment forms. Only election officials, law enforcement, courts, or the Secretary of State may copy the precinct sign‑in register.

Cancelling a special election has costs

A local government can cancel a special election by filing a cancellation resolution by the fourth Thursday before the election. After that date, a cancellation is not effective. The local government must pay costs already incurred, including costs chargeable under law.

Higher late fees for lobbyists

If a lobbyist or principal owes a special report during a session month after receiving or spending over $5,000, late fees are $200 per day for the first 10 days. After day 10, the fee adds 1% of the reportable amount per day, up to 10%. Quarterly statements or statements of activity are $50 per day late, capped at $1,500. A filer may ask the commission for relief.

New anti-foreign money checks in campaigns

The law defines “foreign national” and what counts as “preliminary activity.” Ballot question committees must certify at organization that no preliminary activity was funded by foreign nationals. Their campaign statements must also include a treasurer’s certification that donors are not foreign nationals and did not take over $100,000 from foreign nationals in the past four years. People filing independent expenditure reports on ballot questions must certify they did not accept over $100,000 from foreign nationals in the past four years.

No petitioning near ballot drop boxes

Petition circulators cannot collect signatures within 25 feet of a secure ballot drop box during the ballot-return window. For special mail elections, the rule runs from when ballots are mailed to the receipt deadline. For other elections, it runs from when early ballots are mailed to the receipt deadline.

Early ballot postage and replacements

Voters must pay the postage to return early ballots and required materials. If a ballot was destroyed, spoiled, lost, or never received, the voter or an authorized agent can get a replacement in person. The voter must sign the statement and return it by the ballot receipt deadline.

More transparency and faster recount timelines

Appointed watchers may observe early‑vote counting. Watchers and observers cannot be excluded from vote‑device testing unless an unobstructed view is provided. Clerks must post the canvass board meeting time by noon the day after election day. Counties must send vote abstracts by the third Monday after the election. Recounts can run at the same time, and candidates now have only three days to request them. State‑level recounts are set for the fifth Wednesday after the election, or the sixth if needed.

Old election statutes repealed and cleaned up

The law repeals listed sections to remove outdated or conflicting rules. This is a code cleanup that supports the new election framework.

Public testing dates and late-abstract fixes

Before statewide elections, counties must certify when vote-counting device tests are done, and the Secretary of State posts the dates online. If a county’s vote abstract is late, the Secretary can require overnight delivery with tracking or send a messenger at the county’s expense. If the local official caused the delay, that official must repay the county for the messenger.

Start dates and statute clean-up

Many sections take effect July 18, 2026; others start January 1, 2027; the rest start on their stated dates. The law also repeals sections 32-915.03, 32-957, 32-1002.01, 32-1406, and other listed statutes. These updates align the code with the new election and ethics rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rita Sanders

    Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 546 • No: 217

legislature vote • 4/10/2026

Final Reading

Yes: 49 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/7/2026

Vote

Yes: 5 • No: 38 • Other: 6

legislature vote • 4/7/2026

Vote

Yes: 45 • No: 0 • Other: 4

legislature vote • 4/7/2026

Vote

Yes: 2 • No: 44 • Other: 3

legislature vote • 4/7/2026

Vote

Yes: 43 • No: 1 • Other: 5

legislature vote • 4/7/2026

Vote

Yes: 8 • No: 24 • Other: 17

legislature vote • 4/7/2026

Vote

Yes: 45 • No: 0 • Other: 4

legislature vote • 3/23/2026

Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 0 • Other: 13

legislature vote • 3/23/2026

Vote

Yes: 43 • No: 1 • Other: 5

legislature vote • 3/23/2026

Vote

Yes: 43 • No: 1 • Other: 5

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 0 • Other: 13

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 43 • No: 1 • Other: 5

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 45 • No: 0 • Other: 4

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 5 • No: 38 • Other: 6

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 2 • No: 44 • Other: 3

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 43 • No: 1 • Other: 5

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 45 • No: 0 • Other: 4

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 8 • No: 24 • Other: 17

Actions Timeline

  1. Provisions/portions of LB1074 amended into LB1075 by AM2496

    4/17/2026legislature

  2. Provisions/portions of LB1002 amended into LB1075 by AM2496

    4/17/2026legislature

  3. Provisions/portions of LB969 amended into LB1075 by AM2496

    4/17/2026legislature

  4. Provisions/portions of LB927 amended into LB1075 by AM2496

    4/17/2026legislature

  5. Provisions/portions of LB884 amended into LB1075 by AM2496

    4/17/2026legislature

  6. Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026

    4/17/2026legislature

  7. Approved by Governor on April 15, 2026

    4/15/2026legislature

  8. President/Speaker signed

    4/10/2026legislature

  9. Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 49-0-0

    4/10/2026legislature

  10. Dispensing of reading at large approved

    4/10/2026legislature

  11. Dungan FA1183 withdrawn

    4/10/2026legislature

  12. Dungan FA1182 withdrawn

    4/10/2026legislature

  13. Dungan FA1181 withdrawn

    4/10/2026legislature

  14. Dungan MO567 withdrawn

    4/10/2026legislature

  15. Placed on Final Reading

    4/8/2026legislature

  16. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

    4/7/2026legislature

  17. Raybould AM3054 lost

    4/7/2026legislature

  18. Raybould AM2985 withdrawn

    4/7/2026legislature

  19. Sanders AM3109 adopted

    4/7/2026legislature

  20. Sanders AM3110 adopted

    4/7/2026legislature

  21. Sanders AM3111 adopted

    4/7/2026legislature

  22. Ballard AM3024 withdrawn

    4/7/2026legislature

  23. Cavanaugh, M. FA1167 withdrawn

    4/7/2026legislature

  24. Dungan MO559 withdrawn

    4/7/2026legislature

  25. Cavanaugh, J. MO557 withdrawn

    4/7/2026legislature

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    1/15/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Slip Law

    PDF

  • Final / Enacted

    PDF

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