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NebraskaLB1181109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessionslegislature

Change provisions relating to the rights of victims of certain crimes

Sponsored By: Carolyn Bosn

Signed by Governor

Judiciary Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Faster return of your property

Law enforcement returns your property quickly when it is no longer needed as evidence. If possible, it is returned within 10 days after being taken. Exceptions include weapons, money, contraband, items that still need testing, or disputed ownership.

More people now count as victims

The law expands who counts as a victim. It includes parents or guardians of child victims, close family of homicide victims, some sexual‑assault and serious‑crash victims, and related groups. In homicide cases, survivors who suffered severe emotional harm may give a written impact statement or appoint someone to read it. Family members of all homicide victims receive the same rights and services given to victims.

Stronger privacy for victim contact info

Agencies must keep victims’ addresses and phone numbers private. These details are not public records or releasable under federal FOIA rules cited in the law. State institutions may release only the parts of patient records needed to give the victim notices the law requires.

Stronger victim notices on appeals and releases

After a felony conviction, unless you waive notice, the county attorney sends your contact to parole, corrections, health services, county corrections, and the Pardons Board. If your name is in the file, you get notices about parole dates (within 90 days), hearings, decisions, returns to custody, sex‑offender releases, and corrections events: furloughs/releases of 24+ hours, community transfers and programs, escapes/returns, and planned discharge (about 30 days’ notice when practical). On your one‑time request, corrections mails its earliest parole/release calculation within 30 days and tells you about any cut in the minimum sentence and your right to submit a statement. DHHS notifies you about commitment petitions tied to the covered offense, escapes/returns, discharges or disposition changes, and furloughs or releases of 24+ hours, and education or work release. The Board of Pardons sends certified‑mail notice at least 30 days before proceedings and then tells you within 10 days if a pardon or commutation is granted. If the prisoner escapes, you and the prosecutor are notified right away. When an appeal is filed, the Attorney General tells you, explains the process and outcomes, says if the defendant is on bail, gives hearing times, and sends the result and final outcome within 30 days after it ends.

Victims get earlier info and a say

Before agreeing to a plea, the county attorney consults with the victim or makes a good‑faith effort and records it. Presentence reports include your written statement, or the probation officer certifies outreach and offers to take one. If a jailhouse informant gets leniency for testifying in your case, the prosecutor notifies you. The state creates a victims’ rights pamphlet, and the county attorney gives it to you within 72 hours after arraignment. You can review most public criminal‑justice records about your case, not secret investigative files.

You can sue to enforce rights

If you meet the law’s definition of a victim, you can file a civil lawsuit to get a court order that makes agencies follow Nebraska’s victim‑protection laws.

Old victim-law sections repealed

The law repeals Nebraska statutes 29‑120 and 29‑119. This is a legal cleanup and does not change your rights or duties directly.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Carolyn Bosn

    legislature

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 144 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/24/2026

Vote

Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17

legislature vote • 4/10/2026

Final Reading

Yes: 49 • No: 0

legislature vote • 3/5/2026

Vote

Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18

legislature vote • 3/5/2026

Vote

Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17

Actions Timeline

  1. Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026

    4/17/2026legislature

  2. Approved by Governor on April 14, 2026

    4/17/2026legislature

  3. Dispensing of reading at large approved

    4/10/2026legislature

  4. Passed on Final Reading 49-0-0

    4/10/2026legislature

  5. President/Speaker signed

    4/10/2026legislature

  6. Placed on Final Reading with ST68

    3/19/2026legislature

  7. Enrollment and Review ST68 filed

    3/19/2026legislature

  8. Enrollment and Review ST68 recorded

    3/19/2026legislature

  9. Enrollment and Review ER139 adopted

    3/17/2026legislature

  10. Kauth FA841 withdrawn

    3/17/2026legislature

  11. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

    3/17/2026legislature

  12. Placed on Select File with ER139

    3/11/2026legislature

  13. Enrollment and Review ER139 filed

    3/11/2026legislature

  14. Judiciary AM2066 adopted

    3/5/2026legislature

  15. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

    3/5/2026legislature

  16. Speaker priority bill

    2/20/2026legislature

  17. Placed on General File with AM2066

    2/17/2026legislature

  18. Judiciary AM2066 filed

    2/17/2026legislature

  19. Referred to Judiciary Committee

    1/23/2026legislature

  20. Notice of hearing for February 06, 2026

    1/23/2026legislature

  21. Kauth FA841 filed

    1/22/2026legislature

  22. Date of introduction

    1/21/2026legislature

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    4/17/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Slip Law

    PDF

  • Final / Enacted

    PDF

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