All Roll Calls
Yes: 301 • No: 21
NebraskaLB1187109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Change provisions of the Livestock Brand Act
Sponsored By: Barry DeKay
Signed by Governor
Agriculture Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
New rules and fees for dairy heifer facilities
Dairy heifer development facilities can register for one year. The Brand Committee checks applications within 30 days. The annual fee equals 25% of the facility’s authorized maximum head count. Registered facilities must keep inventory and purchase records, and they can be audited up to twice a year. The committee can cancel a registration for violations or for not cooperating. When cattle leave a registered facility or a qualified dairy and are not otherwise inspected, a triplicate shipping certificate is required. If you ship to a place that does inspections and lack the certificate, your cattle are inspected and fees apply. Sales where the buyer or seller is a qualified dairy are exempt from brand inspection. These sections do not stop nonqualified dairies from operating.
Registration, records, and movement for feedlots
Feedlots in the brand inspection area can get a one‑year registration. The fee equals 25% of the standard inspection fee, and you pay each year to renew. Registered feedlots must keep inventory and purchase records and can be audited up to twice a year. Cattle may move into a registered feedlot or a backgrounding lot without a new inspection if they come with satisfactory proof of ownership or were inspected when entering the originating backgrounding lot. If cattle do not meet those conditions, they must be inspected after arrival and fees and any surcharge apply.
Clearer proof-of-ownership rules for cattle
The law lists many items that count as proof of ownership. Examples include brands, tattoos, nonvisual IDs, bills of sale, inspection certificates, and affidavits. The Brand Committee and its staff must use this uniform definition. Only the Brand Committee or its employees can demand to see your ownership proof.
New Nebraska Brand Committee structure
Starting August 28, 2026, the committee grows to seven appointed voting members. Five must be district residents who raise cattle, one must be a cattle feeder in the inspection area, and one must be a livestock auction market owner in the area. The Governor appoints with legislative confirmation, and terms are staggered. The committee must appoint an executive director, approved by the Governor, to run daily work. The law also sets five committee districts by county.
Brand inspection fees and travel charges
Inspection fees are capped at $1.50 per head. Certified calf bills of sale and transport permits use the same electronic inspection fee. The committee can charge up to $30 per inspection location as a travel surcharge. For inspections outside the area, you also pay miles at the state rate and up to $30 per hour for travel and inspection time. The person asking for the inspection usually pays these costs.
Brand renewal costs and late penalties
Renewing a recorded brand costs up to $400 and lasts four years. If a brand expires, the same owner has one year to reinstate it. Reinstatement requires the renewal fee plus $5 for each month, or part of a month, since expiration. During that year, transfers need a notarized bill of sale and the transfer form.
Start dates and repealed brand sections
Sections 11 and 26 take effect on January 1, 2027. Other parts of the law take effect on their listed dates. The law repeals several older brand law sections and removes them from the books.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Barry DeKay
Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/10/2026
Final Reading
Yes: 39 • No: 9
legislature vote • 4/8/2026
Vote
Yes: 36 • No: 2 • Other: 11
legislature vote • 4/1/2026
Vote
Yes: 38 • No: 1 • Other: 10
legislature vote • 4/1/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 1 • Other: 9
legislature vote • 4/1/2026
Vote
Yes: 36 • No: 4 • Other: 9
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 36 • No: 2 • Other: 11
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 38 • No: 1 • Other: 10
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 1 • Other: 9
Actions Timeline
Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureApproved by Governor on April 16, 2026
4/16/2026legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
4/10/2026legislaturePassed on Final Reading 39-9*-1
4/10/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading
4/8/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
4/8/2026legislatureJacobson AM3068 adopted
4/8/2026legislatureHansen FA1043 withdrawn
4/8/2026legislatureDorn FA963 withdrawn
4/8/2026legislatureKauth FA847 withdrawn
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER184 adopted
4/8/2026legislatureJacobson AM3068 filed
4/7/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER184 filed
4/7/2026legislaturePlaced on Select File with ER184
4/7/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
4/1/2026legislatureAgriculture AM2886 adopted
4/1/2026legislatureDeKay AM2503 withdrawn
4/1/2026legislatureHansen FA1042 withdrawn
4/1/2026legislatureDorn FA962 withdrawn
4/1/2026legislatureJacobson AM3037 adopted
4/1/2026legislatureJacobson AM3037 to AM2886 filed
3/31/2026legislatureAgriculture AM2886 filed
3/25/2026legislaturePlaced on General File with AM2886
3/25/2026legislatureKauth name added
3/19/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
1/21/2026
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted
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