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NebraskaLB341109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET

Adopt the Nebraska Statutory Thresholds for Settlements Involving Minors Act

Sponsored By: Bob Hallstrom

Signed by Governor

Judiciary Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Parents can settle minor claims to $40,000

If you have legal custody, you can settle a child’s claim up to $40,000 without a conservator or guardian ad litem. The $40,000 cap leaves out medical reimbursements, liens, reasonable attorney fees, and court costs. Payment must be by cash, check, draft, direct deposit, or buying an annuity, and the money must be handled as the law requires. You must sign an affidavit after a reasonable inquiry; any attorney must keep it for four years after the child turns 21. When these rules are met, your signature is binding without court approval, good‑faith actors are shielded from later claims, and families may still ask the court to approve and oversee the settlement.

How minors' settlement money is held

For cash, check, draft, or direct deposit, the money goes into a restricted account for the child. If a lawyer is involved, it first goes to the lawyer’s trust account, then promptly into a Nebraska UTMA account with notice to the child and custodian. If no lawyer is involved, it is paid into a UTMA account; if the child is a state ward, it goes into a DHHS trust that earns interest with notice to the child. If paid by buying an annuity, the company is paid directly and the child is the sole beneficiary. Withdrawals are only by court order, by the UTMA custodian for the child’s benefit, when the child turns 19, or after death; a “minor” means under age 19.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bob Hallstrom

    legislature

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 156 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/24/2026

Vote

Yes: 35 • No: 0 • Other: 14

legislature vote • 4/3/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 47 • No: 0 • Other: 2

legislature vote • 2/26/2025

Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10

legislature vote • 2/26/2025

Vote

Yes: 35 • No: 0 • Other: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor on April 7, 2025

    4/8/2025legislature

  2. Passed on Final Reading 47-0-2

    4/3/2025legislature

  3. President/Speaker signed

    4/3/2025legislature

  4. Presented to Governor on April 3, 2025

    4/3/2025legislature

  5. Placed on Final Reading

    3/19/2025legislature

  6. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

    3/11/2025legislature

  7. Placed on Select File

    3/4/2025legislature

  8. Judiciary AM176 adopted

    2/26/2025legislature

  9. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

    2/26/2025legislature

  10. Placed on General File with AM176

    2/10/2025legislature

  11. Judiciary AM176 filed

    2/10/2025legislature

  12. Notice of hearing for February 05, 2025

    1/28/2025legislature

  13. Referred to Judiciary Committee

    1/21/2025legislature

  14. Date of introduction

    1/16/2025legislature

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    4/8/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Slip Law

    PDF

  • Final / Enacted

    PDF

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