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NebraskaLB454109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET

Change provisions relating to regional behavioral health authorities and the Behavioral Health Services Fund

Sponsored By: Dan Quick

Signed by Governor

Health and Human Services Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Housing help for adults with serious mental illness

The Behavioral Health Services Fund pays for housing help for very low-income adults (50% or less of HUD area median income) who have a serious mental illness or a substance use disorder. Covered costs include rent, utilities, deposits, and landlord risk payments for big damages, lost rent, or legal fees. An adult with a serious mental illness is 18+ with a diagnosable condition that seriously limits daily life. If core housing needs are met, up to 20% of the remaining money can help regions buy or fix housing for this group. The division sets a distribution formula, contracts with regions, and regions can work with public, private, or nonprofit partners.

Easier for providers to expand services

Behavioral health providers can add new services or increase capacity with department approval. Providers must meet network enrollment standards, be enrolled with the department and a regional authority, and have a contract with a regional authority.

New fund for community mental health

The state created the Behavioral Health Services Fund and the health department’s division runs it. Money can come from the Legislature or other sources the Legislature directs. The fund can give grants, loans, and reimburse providers to grow community behavioral health services. The Legislature can move money to the General Fund. Idle balances are invested by the state investment officer under Nebraska law.

Standard fees for public mental health care

Regional behavioral health authorities now use one policy to decide what you pay for community behavioral health care. The policy looks at your taxable income, family size, and debts. Providers must follow the approved fee and copay schedule and cannot charge more than the service costs. The same rules apply across all providers in your region.

Stronger rules for regional mental health authorities

Regional authorities must plan and coordinate publicly funded behavioral health services, submit budgets and reports, manage contracts, and help with audits. They generally cannot directly provide division-funded services unless there was a public bid, no qualified provider exists, and the director approves in writing with a contract. They must follow conflict-of-interest rules, use fair public bidding, and keep separate budgets and accounts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dan Quick

    legislature

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 215 • No: 2

legislature vote • 4/24/2026

Vote

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 16

legislature vote • 4/24/2026

Vote

Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15

legislature vote • 5/29/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 46 • No: 2

legislature vote • 5/9/2025

Vote

Yes: 35 • No: 0 • Other: 14

legislature vote • 5/9/2025

Vote

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 16

legislature vote • 5/9/2025

Vote

Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025

    6/6/2025legislature

  2. Passed on Final Reading 46-2*-1

    5/29/2025legislature

  3. President/Speaker signed

    5/29/2025legislature

  4. Presented to Governor on May 29, 2025

    5/29/2025legislature

  5. Placed on Final Reading

    5/27/2025legislature

  6. Enrollment and Review ER83 adopted

    5/21/2025legislature

  7. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

    5/21/2025legislature

  8. Placed on Select File with ER83

    5/14/2025legislature

  9. Enrollment and Review ER83 filed

    5/14/2025legislature

  10. Quick AM952 adopted

    5/9/2025legislature

  11. Health and Human Services AM547 adopted

    5/9/2025legislature

  12. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

    5/9/2025legislature

  13. Quick AM952 to AM547 filed

    4/8/2025legislature

  14. Speaker priority bill

    3/17/2025legislature

  15. Placed on General File with AM547

    3/14/2025legislature

  16. Health and Human Services AM547 filed

    3/14/2025legislature

  17. Notice of hearing for February 28, 2025

    2/7/2025legislature

  18. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee

    1/23/2025legislature

  19. Date of introduction

    1/21/2025legislature

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    6/6/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Slip Law

    PDF

  • Final / Enacted

    PDF

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