# Nebraska LB298: Provide for the Division of Legislative Oversight, the Director of Legislative Oversight, and the Legislative Oversight Committee and change provisions relating to the Public Counsel, the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare, and the office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System Nebraska LB298, Provide for the Division of Legislative Oversight, the Director of Legislative Oversight, and the Legislative Oversight Committee and change provisions relating to the Public Counsel, the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare, and the office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System, is a 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions legislature bill sponsored by John Arch; status signed, last action 2025-06-06 (Provisions/portions of LB228 amended into LB298 by AM1504) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB298-109 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nebraska LB298 - State: Nebraska - Session: 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions - Title: Provide for the Division of Legislative Oversight, the Director of Legislative Oversight, and the Legislative Oversight Committee and change provisions relating to the Public Counsel, the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare, and the office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System - Status: signed - Chamber: legislature - Introduced: 2025-01-15 - Last action: 2025-06-06, Provisions/portions of LB228 amended into LB298 by AM1504 - Sponsor: John Arch - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Executive Board - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 14 (457 yes, 97 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 31 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New legislative oversight division and committee: benefit, medium. The law creates a Division of Legislative Oversight inside the Legislature. A Director serves a six‑year term, picked by a two‑thirds vote, and cannot be a recent legislator or hold another state office. A Legislative Oversight Committee of key lawmakers approves the division’s yearly work plan and… - Stronger child welfare oversight and access: benefit, medium. Agencies must quickly report child deaths, serious injuries, sexual abuse claims, and major incidents at youth treatment centers to the Inspector General. The Department must tell the Inspector General when a criminal probe starts and ends, and when juvenile‑services leaders change. The Inspector G… - Witness protections and payments in oversight: benefit, low. If you appear by subpoena, you can get witness fees and mileage after filing a sworn voucher approved by the Executive Board chair. If your employer is under investigation, its lawyer cannot represent you in Inspector General interviews. You may ask that the employer’s lawyer be present, but they m… - Stronger whistleblower protections for public employees: benefit, low. If you work for a covered public agency, you are protected from job retaliation for reporting suspected wrongdoing, filing a complaint, or helping an investigation. This covers reports to the Inspector General or the Public Counsel. These rules protect workers who speak up. - Child welfare watchdog: structure and powers: benefit, low. The child welfare Inspector General sits in the Division of Legislative Oversight. The director appoints the IG with legislative approval. The IG serves five years, must get professional certification within two years, and stays nonpartisan. The office can audit, inspect, and investigate and has di… - Correctional watchdog staffing and records rules: benefit, low. The correctional Inspector General can hire investigators and staff within the approved budget and works under the Director of Legislative Oversight. Removing the Inspector General needs the oversight committee chair’s OK or a two‑thirds committee vote. The law clarifies who counts as an administra… - Cost checks on big state projects: benefit, low. For state land and building work costing $400,000 or more, the building division must prepare cost analyses and send them to the Governor and the Legislative Fiscal Analyst. The dollar threshold adjusts every four years based on construction costs. Agencies must submit copies of contracts before si… - Faster subpoenas for legislative oversight: benefit, low. When the Inspector General asks, the Legislative Oversight Committee can issue subpoenas after the Executive Board approves. The committee must vote within 10 days. Courts must decide subpoena disputes within 20 days, with appeals due in 10 days. Cases are heard in Lancaster County. The Executive B… - Faster subpoenas for Public Counsel: benefit, low. The Public Counsel can ask for subpoenas to make people testify or turn over records. The Executive Board must vote within 10 days, and subpoenas usually give 30 days to respond. Courts in Lancaster County decide subpoena fights within 20 days, with a 10‑day appeal window. The Board can seek contem… - New watchdog for state prisons: benefit, low. The law creates an Inspector General for Nebraska’s correctional system with a five‑year term and required qualifications. The office can visit prisons, department offices, and private agencies, announced or unannounced, and request or subpoena needed records. People must answer truthfully and not… - Performance audits strengthened and streamlined: benefit, low. The Legislative Audit Office conducts performance audits under the Oversight Committee and must follow the 2024 Government Auditing Standards. If the Legislative Auditor asks, the committee can issue subpoenas to get audit evidence. The Governor, any constitutional officer, any legislator, and seve… - Police get parolee names and rules: benefit, low. For anyone on parole, the Board of Parole provides the person’s name, parole officer, and conditions to the state law enforcement commission. Police get access to this information through the state criminal justice system. - Protections for whistleblowers and staff: benefit, low. If you share records in good faith, it is not a confidentiality breach. Employers must provide requested records and cannot retaliate against you for helping or filing a complaint. Employers cannot demand supervisor approval to complain or force their lawyer into your interview. The office may keep… - Public Counsel oversight of juvenile cases: benefit, low. The law establishes the Office of Public Counsel. The Public Counsel can investigate cases for juveniles in youth treatment centers and those reentering the community. Agencies and providers must cooperate. Employees who knowingly leak confidential records in ways the law does not allow can be fire… - Public Counsel scope and confidentiality: benefit, low. The Office of Public Counsel can review many state agencies, behavioral‑health regions and their providers, state health and human‑services contractors, and local jails and their employees. Information you give the Public Counsel stays confidential and cannot be shared outside the office unless ano… - Regular council meetings and rule reports: benefit, low. The full Legislative Council must meet at least once every two years, 30 to 60 days before the next regular session. By July 1 each year, every agency must report required but overdue rules to the Oversight Committee, explain missed deadlines, and say how any implementation funds and staff were use… - Stronger legislative research and audits: benefit, low. State and local agencies must give studies and information to the Legislature within budget limits, and these requests do not use public‑records procedures. The Executive Board can sign data‑sharing agreements. The state creates a Legislative Research Office and a Legislative Fiscal Office; their l… - Stronger legislative subpoena enforcement: benefit, low. The Legislative Oversight Committee can ask a court to order testimony even if a witness claims the right against self‑incrimination. Ordered testimony cannot be used in criminal cases, except for perjury, false statements, or disobeying the order. Oversight bodies can issue subpoenas with approval… - Stronger prison oversight and access: benefit, low. Corrections must give the Director of Legislative Oversight and the Inspector General direct access to records. Medical or mental health records need the inmate or parolee’s consent unless a death is under review. The department must share data in the least burdensome way, including secure electron… - Tax audits with strict privacy rules: benefit, low. Auditors can inspect tax returns to audit the Department of Revenue. Returns are chosen by random, statistical sampling, and confidential returns are reviewed only on department premises. For tax‑incentive audits, the audit reviews all applicants or a valid random sample. Auditors must give advance… - Tighter secrecy rules for staff: cost, low. Office employees must keep confidential records inside the office and may not share them with non‑employees unless a law allows it. An employee who knowingly makes an unlawful disclosure can be fired. - Child welfare privacy and whistleblower protections: mixed, low. Investigation records are not public records. A short final report is released only if the Inspector General and the committee chair agree it is in the public interest, or the Executive Board chair decides. The office can keep a reporter’s identity secret to prevent retaliation. The office can acce… - Child welfare probes pause for police: mixed, low. Police and prosecutors may choose whether to share their reports with the Inspector General. If they ask, the Inspector General must pause an investigation until the criminal case is far enough along or finished. This protects prosecutions but can delay oversight reviews. - Child welfare reports and timelines: mixed, low. Investigation reports must be written and can include reform ideas. After the Director of Legislative Oversight and the oversight chair get a report, the IG must give it to the director, probation administrator, or executive director within three business days. Within 15 business days, officials an… - Law takes effect immediately: mixed, low. The law declares an emergency. It takes effect as soon as it is passed and approved. - Prison and parole records rules: mixed, low. The Public Counsel and the Corrections Inspector General can examine corrections records. Medical or mental health records need the inmate’s consent, unless a death is under investigation, and those records cannot be disclosed except by law. The Board of Parole and the Department may keep files and… - Public Counsel powers and protections: mixed, low. The Public Counsel serves a six‑year term, with limits on removal, pay set by the Executive Board, and rules that bar recent legislators, other officeholders, and partisan activity. The office names deputies for corrections, state institutions, and public welfare, and agencies must share records an… - Public Counsel: more powers, less disclosure: mixed, low. The Public Counsel can conduct studies, investigate alleged agency violations, and must refer suspected crimes or discipline. It can share confidential information and coordinate with the Legislative Oversight Division. It is a Class II misdemeanor to obstruct or mislead the office. Investigation r… - Stronger child welfare oversight and access: mixed, low. The Child Welfare Inspector General can get the files and people needed to investigate. Employees, foster parents, and providers must cooperate and give records. If subpoenaed, you must provide records within 30 days or appear at the hearing. The office can seek case, licensing, medical, and financ… - Tighter privacy for child welfare investigations: mixed, low. The office keeps investigation records confidential and limits who can get full reports. Reports go only to the subject unless the Inspector General approves broader sharing, and confidential details must be removed before release. The office may share needed confidential information with certain l… - Auditors may inspect tax returns: mixed, low. For Department of Revenue audits, the Auditor of Public Accounts or the Legislative Audit Office can inspect confidential tax returns after a written request. All audit work on returns must occur on Department premises, and papers must be stored securely there. Employees face a Class I misdemeanor… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: John Arch, Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-30 | legislature | Final Reading | pass | 46 | 2 | | | 2025-05-28 | legislature | Vote | fail | 44 | 0 | 5 | | 2025-05-28 | legislature | Vote | fail | 17 | 21 | 11 | | 2025-05-28 | legislature | Vote | fail | 43 | 0 | 6 | | 2025-05-28 | legislature | Vote | fail | 7 | 22 | 20 | | 2025-05-21 | legislature | Vote | fail | 39 | 3 | 7 | | 2025-05-21 | legislature | Vote | fail | 37 | 3 | 9 | | 2025-05-21 | legislature | Vote | fail | 38 | 0 | 11 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 37 | 3 | 9 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 44 | 0 | 5 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 7 | 22 | 20 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 43 | 0 | 6 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 17 | 21 | 11 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 38 | 0 | 11 | ## Actions (40) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB228 amended into LB298 by AM1504 (legislature) - 2025-06-04: Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-05-30: Presented to Governor on May 30, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-05-30: President/Speaker signed (legislature) - 2025-05-30: Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 46-2*-1 (legislature) - 2025-05-30: Dispensing of reading at large approved (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Enrollment and Review ST46 recorded (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Enrollment and Review ST46 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Placed on Final Reading with ST46 (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Bostar AM1553 lost (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Bostar AM1553 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Conrad AM1614 lost (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Conrad AM1614 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Arch AM1600 adopted (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Arch AM1616 adopted (legislature) - 2025-05-28: Enrollment and Review ER92 adopted (legislature) - 2025-05-27: Arch AM1616 to AM1600 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-27: Enrollment and Review ER92 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-27: Placed on Select File with ER92 (legislature) - 2025-05-27: Arch AM1600 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Arch AM238 withdrawn (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Executive Board AM1504 adopted (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Cavanaugh, M. FA261 withdrawn (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Cavanaugh, M. FA261 to AM1504 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Arch AM1554 adopted (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Arch AM1554 to AM1504 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Cavanaugh, M. FA262 withdrawn (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Cavanaugh, M. FA262 to AM1504 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Cavanaugh, M. FA257 withdrawn (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Cavanaugh, M. FA257 to AM1504 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-21: Executive Board AM1504 pending (legislature) - 2025-05-19: Executive Board AM1504 filed (legislature) - 2025-05-19: Placed on General File with AM1504 (legislature) - 2025-03-05: Arch priority bill (legislature) - 2025-02-13: Arch AM238 filed (legislature) - 2025-02-03: Notice of hearing for February 18, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-01-17: Referred to Executive Board (legislature) - 2025-01-15: Date of introduction (legislature) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2025-01-15: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB298.pdf) - Enrolled / Slip Law: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB298.pdf) - Final / Enacted: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB298.pdf) ## Related bills - LB468: Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes, change certain fee and tax provisions, and eliminate a sales tax exemption relating to data centers (failed) - LB13: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendment relating to child care (failed) - LB677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide for regulation of medical cannabis (failed) - LB646: Provide an exemption from brand inspections and change fees under the Livestock Brand Act (failed) - LB170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks (failed) - LB714: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle taxes and fees (failed) ## Sources - [Introduced (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB298.pdf) - [Enrolled / Slip Law (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB298.pdf) - [Final / Enacted (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB298.pdf) ## Related - [LB468: Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes, change certain fee and tax pro…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB468-109) - [LB13: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB13-109) - [LB677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB677-109) - [LB646: Provide an exemption from brand inspections and change fees under the Livestock…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB646-109) - [LB170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB170-109) - [LB714: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle taxes and fees](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB714-109) - [Nebraska bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/nebraska/bills) - [Nebraska state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/nebraska) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB298-109 (as of 2026-10-19).