All Roll Calls
Yes: 63 • No: 21
NebraskaLB275A109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Appropriation Bill
Sponsored By: Megan Hunt
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
DHHS must protect kids' benefits
DHHS must keep a child’s Social Security money in a separate account or trust, not mixed with state funds. It must use and save the money only for the child’s use and best interest, including future needs. DHHS must use allowed tools that do not count against federal asset limits, like ABLE accounts, special‑needs trusts, PASS plans, IDAs, and dedicated back‑pay accounts.
Faster Social Security help for kids
The law requires DHHS to screen every child in its custody for Social Security within 60 days. If a child may qualify, DHHS must apply and, when best for the child, appeal denials. Within 10 days of any Social Security decision, DHHS must notify the child, the guardian ad litem, and the parents. If the child is approved, DHHS must also tell them that adults who know the child can apply to be the payee. If DHHS is named payee, it must send a 10‑day notice with appeal rights and deadlines.
Kids get notices and say on funds
When DHHS is the payee and gets the first payment, it must send a 30‑day notice with the amount, that a separate account was set up, allowed uses and saving rules, and how to ask for personal use. At every juvenile court review hearing after January 1, 2023, DHHS must report total received, total saved, and itemized spending. The child, guardian ad litem or attorney, and parents can get full accounting records on request and when DHHS stops as payee. For children age 14 or older, DHHS must meet at least every six months to plan spending and saving, and the child can ask the juvenile court to order how funds are used or saved. By October 1, 2026, a public form lets children request personal-use access.
Saved funds and what the state takes
DHHS must save at least 20% of payments at ages 14–15, 30% at 16, 40% at 17, and 50% at 18 or older. Saved funds cannot be used to repay the state for care. If the child asks for a disbursement from a trust or similar account, later payments cannot be taken to repay those amounts. But the state may use a child’s assets over $1,000 and the child’s current income to reimburse care costs. Children with assets must pay for their own personal items from those assets.
Help keeping benefits when leaving care
At least six months before a child leaves state care, DHHS must explain how to keep Social Security benefits and the federal asset limits, and help file any needed applications. At exit, DHHS must tell the child the expected amount of any unspent or saved benefits, that Social Security will disburse them with contact details, and that DHHS is no longer the payee. If the child is under 18, DHHS must say an adult the child knows can apply to be the new payee.
Safe accounts and tracking for child assets
Child assets in DHHS care can be kept in a checking account, an insured savings account, or U.S. bonds. Any interest or earnings must be credited to that child. DHHS must keep detailed records of all deposits, investments, and spending of each child’s assets.
State rules and federal funding first
By October 1, 2026, DHHS must adopt rules to run these representative‑payee protections, following federal Social Security rules. To pay for this work, DHHS must seek all available federal Title IV‑E funds before using state General Funds.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Megan Hunt
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 5/30/2025
Final Reading
Yes: 27 • No: 21
legislature vote • 5/8/2025
Vote
Yes: 36 • No: 0 • Other: 13
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
6/6/2025legislaturePassed on Final Reading 27-21*-1
5/30/2025legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
5/30/2025legislaturePresented to Governor on May 30, 2025
5/30/2025legislaturePlaced on Final Reading
5/19/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
5/14/2025legislaturePlaced on Select File
5/12/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
5/8/2025legislatureDate of introduction
5/6/2025legislaturePlaced on General File
5/6/2025legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
6/6/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted