All Roll Calls
Yes: 127 • No: 19
NebraskaLB275109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Require the Department of Health and Human Services to screen state wards for social security benefit eligibility
Sponsored By: Megan Hunt
Signed by Governor
Health and Human Services Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
State secures Social Security for kids
The law requires the state to screen every child in DHHS custody for Social Security within 60 days. If the child may be eligible, DHHS applies and, when in the child’s best interest, appeals denials. DHHS must send written notice of SSA decisions to the child, the guardian ad litem, and parents within 10 calendar days. When benefits are approved, DHHS must tell them within 10 days that adults known to the child can apply to be representative payee. If DHHS is appointed, it must give 10‑day notice and explain appeal rights and deadlines.
Clear notices and court rights for kids
If DHHS is payee, it must, within 30 days of the first payment, tell the child, guardian ad litem, and parents the amount, that a trust exists, how funds will be used, how to request money, and that a child 14+ can ask juvenile court to set use. At every juvenile court review after January 1, 2023, DHHS must report totals received, saved, and itemized spending since the last review. DHHS must give full accounting records on request and when it stops as payee. For children 14+, DHHS meets at least every six months, they may ask the court to change use if in their best interest, and DHHS helps apply for benefits six months before exit. When a child exits care, DHHS must give written notice of any unspent amount, SSA contact to get it, that DHHS is no longer payee, and that an adult may apply if the child is under 18. By October 1, 2026, DHHS must publish a public form children can use to request benefit money.
Protect and save kids' benefit money
When DHHS is the representative payee, it must manage and save the child’s benefits under federal rules and in the child’s best interest. The money must be kept separate in a trust, and DHHS may use PASS, ABLE, IDA, special‑needs trusts, or dedicated back‑pay accounts to avoid losing other benefits. DHHS must save at least 20% at ages 14–15, 30% at 16, 40% at 17, and 50% at 18+, and those saved amounts cannot repay state care costs. If saved funds are paid out at the child’s request, later SSA payments must replace them and cannot be used to reimburse the state.
Rules and funding to run the law
By October 1, 2026, DHHS must adopt rules to carry out these steps and align with federal representative‑payee rules. The department must use federal Title IV‑E funds first before state General Funds for costs. The law repeals the prior version of section 43‑907.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Megan Hunt
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • 5/30/2025
Final Reading
Yes: 29 • No: 19
legislature vote • 4/24/2025
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15
legislature vote • 4/24/2025
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
6/6/2025legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
5/30/2025legislaturePassed on Final Reading 29-19*-1
5/30/2025legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
5/30/2025legislaturePresented to Governor on May 30, 2025
5/30/2025legislaturePlaced on Final Reading
5/12/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
5/8/2025legislaturePlaced on Select File
4/30/2025legislatureHunt AM1126 filed
4/24/2025legislatureHunt AM1126 adopted
4/24/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
4/24/2025legislaturePlaced on General File
3/25/2025legislatureHunt priority bill
3/14/2025legislatureNotice of hearing for March 12, 2025
2/21/2025legislatureNotice of hearing for February 28, 2025 (cancel)
2/10/2025legislatureNotice of hearing for February 28, 2025
2/7/2025legislatureConrad name added
1/21/2025legislatureReferred to Health and Human Services Committee
1/17/2025legislatureDate of introduction
1/15/2025legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
6/6/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted