All Roll Calls
Yes: 266 • No: 0
NebraskaLB332109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Provide for assistant funeral directors, change scope of practice and regulatory provisions regarding funeral directing and embalming, hearing instrument specialists, and audiologists, change membership provisions for the Board of Pharmacy, change provisions regarding delegated dispensing permits and prescription refills, provide medicaid coverage for psychology services, and establish the Rural Health Opportunity Program
Sponsored By: Brian Hardin
Signed by Governor
Health and Human Services Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 1 costs, 5 mixed.
Free state college for rural health students
If you are a rural Nebraska student and get provisional admission to an eligible UNMC program, you get a 100% waiver of tuition and fees at a state college. The waiver covers up to four academic years of required coursework before transfer or admission to UNMC. You must have attended or graduated from an approved Nebraska high school, or hold a Nebraska equivalency, and have lived in a rural area as set by the boards. The boards run the program by agreement.
Medicaid help for pregnancy and lactation
Beginning January 1, 2025, Medicaid covers an electric personal‑use breast pump at 36 weeks of pregnancy or at birth. It also covers at least ten lactation consultation visits per mother or covered child. The department must seek federal approval to extend postpartum coverage from 60 days to at least six months, and may ask for up to 12 months. Any change to postpartum coverage depends on federal approval.
Medical respite pilot for homeless adults
The department must submit by October 1, 2025 a plan to reimburse medical respite care at two centers. One center will be in a metropolitan class city and one in a primary class city. Services are for homeless adults in the Medicaid expansion group and are paid from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. The department must report yearly on people served, costs, and savings.
More Medicaid mental health providers
Beginning January 1, 2026, Medicaid covers psychology services provided by advanced trainees who finished a doctoral internship or postdoctoral fellowship. They must be under the current supervision of a licensed psychologist.
Easier access to some medicines
Public health clinics with a delegated dispensing permit may give approved, prepackaged drugs without an onsite pharmacist if safeguards are met. The first fill must be by a licensed practitioner or nurse, and only contraceptives may be refilled under the permit. A pharmacist must be available and documented, and dispensing stops if none is available. A pharmacist may also give one emergency refill of a non‑controlled maintenance medicine, limited to seven days, when the prescriber cannot be reached. The pharmacist must tell the prescriber within 72 hours and document the refill.
Medicaid pays for language help
Medicaid pays for needed translation and interpretation during covered medical visits. The department must try to maximize federal funding and may use the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. Coverage is in place no later than January 1, 2024.
Easier paths to hearing specialist license
You can qualify for a hearing instrument specialist license through more paths. Applicants must be at least 21 with a high‑school‑level education. The department may issue a one‑year training license, with one allowed renewal if you have not passed the exam. Certified specialists may work as trainers and give hands‑on training to employees or trainees.
Stricter exams and upkeep for specialists
The licensing exam now has three parts: a written competency test, a practical exam, and a law test. Retake and remediation rules apply after multiple failures. You must calibrate audiometers at least yearly, do annual electrical and acoustic checks, and keep maintenance records for 10 years. You must also follow the FDA rules in 21 C.F.R. 801.422 to keep your license.
More services and safety in hearing care
Licensed specialists can do more for hearing aid care. They must assess you face‑to‑face or review a valid test from the last six months before ordering or fitting. They must show the fitting helps you using objective and validated tools and refer you to a doctor for FDA‑listed warning signs. If qualified, they may remove earwax in the outer one‑third of the canal after a board course, with insurance, documentation, and added yearly training. At delivery, you get a detailed receipt, including price, serial or lot number, locked or unlocked software, and if the device is new, used, or rebuilt. You do not need a new medical evaluation to replace a device if you already have a qualifying permanent ear condition.
Immediate effect and repeal of old sections
The law takes effect as soon as it is passed and approved. It also repeals listed older code sections. Any practical effects from those repeals depend on the new rules in this act.
New rules for assistant funeral directors
The law creates an assistant funeral director role. Before acting, an assistant must be employed by a licensed funeral director, pass a Nebraska law exam, and sign a collaborative agreement. Assistants may help with funeral duties under supervision but may not do any embalming; doing so ends the agreement and job. Employers must supervise and keep records of agreements and tasks. Apprentices need onsite supervision for their first 25 assists and embalmings. Not following the collaborative‑agreement rules is now a disciplinary ground.
Hearing board membership changes
The Hearing Instrument Specialists Board now has six members: three specialists, one ear surgeon, one audiologist, and one public member. The law sets transition rules for vacancies and terms.
Licensing rules for hearing aid sellers
You must hold a current hearing instrument specialist license to sell or fit hearing instruments. Licensed audiologists who dispense, including those with compact privilege, do not need the specialist license. Wearable devices with an implantable part, like cochlear implant processors, are not "hearing instruments" under this law. A hearing instrument specialist is defined as someone who orders and fits hearing instruments.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Brian Hardin
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 28 • No: 0 • Other: 21
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 0 • Other: 20
legislature vote • 5/14/2025
Final Reading
Yes: 49 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/23/2025
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 4/2/2025
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 0 • Other: 20
legislature vote • 4/2/2025
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 0 • Other: 20
legislature vote • 4/2/2025
Vote
Yes: 28 • No: 0 • Other: 21
Actions Timeline
Provisions/portions of LB119 amended into LB332 by AM828
6/6/2025legislatureProvisions/portions of LB154 amended into LB332 by AM729
6/6/2025legislatureProvisions/portions of LB515 amended into LB332 by AM729
6/6/2025legislatureProvisions/portions of LB555 amended into LB332 by AM729
6/6/2025legislatureProvisions/portions of LB697 amended into LB332 by AM729
6/6/2025legislatureApproved by Governor on May 20, 2025
5/21/2025legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
5/14/2025legislaturePassed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 49-0-0
5/14/2025legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
5/14/2025legislaturePresented to Governor on May 14, 2025
5/14/2025legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST25
4/29/2025legislatureEnrollment and Review ST25 filed
4/29/2025legislatureEnrollment and Review ST25 recorded
4/29/2025legislatureEnrollment and Review ER42 adopted
4/23/2025legislatureHardin AM1117 withdrawn
4/23/2025legislatureHardin AM1154 filed
4/23/2025legislatureHardin AM1154 adopted
4/23/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
4/23/2025legislatureHardin AM1117 to ER42 filed
4/22/2025legislaturePlaced on Select File with ER42
4/9/2025legislatureEnrollment and Review ER42 filed
4/9/2025legislatureHardin AM828 adopted
4/2/2025legislatureHealth and Human Services AM729 adopted
4/2/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
4/2/2025legislatureHardin AM828 to AM729 filed
3/31/2025legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
6/6/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted