All Roll Calls
Yes: 360 • No: 6
NebraskaLB596109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Change requirements for legal publications and notices required by law, provisions of the Open Meetings Act, county inventories, warrants, and discharge records, storage requirements for certain records, petitions to change names, marriage license and record fees, reports of abandoned property, and the Nebraska Hall of Fame and eliminate a penalty for certain public officials and provisions relating to the registration of farm, ranch, or home names
Sponsored By: Rita Sanders
Signed by Governor
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Stronger privacy for veterans discharge records
County discharge records are confidential. Only the veteran, a county veterans service officer, or a post service officer from a recognized veterans group can access them. The county clerk may transfer these records to the State Archives after the federal file becomes public or after 62 years, whichever is later.
Changes to unclaimed property notices
Each year, the State Treasurer publishes a notice in a legal newspaper in every county. The notice can be an alphabetical list with counties or a large display ad that explains how to search. Items under $50 do not have to be published unless the Treasurer decides it serves the public interest.
Modern recordkeeping for county offices
Counties with 150,000 or more people must keep a perpetual inventory of county personal property. County clerks can issue one summary warrant listing each fund and amount. Registers of deeds and other officials may record on verified durable media, keep a secure off-site copy, and discard originals. If bankruptcy or state tax lien records are kept on durable media, offices do not need to keep the paper originals. State tax lien notices can be filed electronically with the Secretary of State. Accurate preservation duplicates on durable media have the same legal effect as originals.
Stronger open meetings notice and access
Public bodies must pick a notice method, record it in their minutes, and use it for meetings. Many public bodies must publish their regular meeting schedule four times a year, with listed exemptions, and missing one does not void actions. If a newspaper will not publish a required notice, the body must post it on its website if available, ask for posting on the statewide site, and post it in a public place, keeping a record. Agendas cannot change less than 24 hours before a meeting, or 48 hours if a city or village meets outside its limits, except for emergencies. Some named boards can hold more than half of meetings online but must hold at least one in person each year. The public may record meetings and must get a chance to speak, with reasonable conduct rules. No ID is required to enter; speakers can be asked to state their name and address, but the address can be waived for safety.
Set marriage license and copy fees
You pay $50 for a marriage license, oaths, and recording the certificate. Each certified copy of a marriage record costs $16. These fees go to the county general fund.
Name change requires two-week notice
If you petition to change your name, a notice must run once a week for two weeks in a county newspaper. The court can waive this notice if publishing it would put you in danger.
New rules and rates for legal notices
Legal notices can run in qualifying digital-only newspapers if they meet staff, weekly updates, and paid subscriber thresholds. An e-edition counts only if the same notice also runs in print, or if the paper stopped printing after qualifying. If no legal newspaper prints or posts an e-edition in a county, a local digital newspaper may publish at the legal rate. Starting October 1, 2022, publishers must also post legal notices on a statewide newspaper website, but posting does not change legal validity. Starting October 1, 2023, the first insertion costs $0.50 per line and each later insertion costs $0.4334 per line.
Old notice and meeting laws repealed
The law repeals several named sections of Nebraska statutes tied to notices, records, and meetings. People and agencies are no longer governed by those sections. Effects depend on what each repealed section had required, and the updated rules in this law now apply.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Rita Sanders
Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/10/2026
Final Reading
Yes: 46 • No: 3
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 1 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 1 • Other: 8
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 1 • Other: 19
Actions Timeline
Provisions/portions of LB1159 amended into LB596 by AM2730
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB1145 amended into LB596 by AM2282
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB923 amended into LB596 by AM2282
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB919 amended into LB596 by AM2282
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB898 amended into LB596 by AM2282
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB896 amended into LB596 by AM2282
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB869 amended into LB596 by AM2428
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB739 amended into LB596 by FA1027
4/17/2026legislaturePresented to Governor on April 10, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureApproved by Governor on April 14, 2026
4/14/2026legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
4/10/2026legislaturePassed on Final Reading 46-3*-0
4/10/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST79 recorded
4/7/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST79 filed
4/7/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST79
4/7/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
3/31/2026legislatureDover AM2987 not further considered
3/31/2026legislatureDover AM2987 not germane
3/31/2026legislatureLonowski AM2730 adopted
3/31/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER140 adopted
3/31/2026legislatureDover AM2987 filed
3/30/2026legislatureLonowski AM2730 filed
3/18/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER140 filed
3/11/2026legislaturePlaced on Select File with ER140
3/11/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
1/22/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted
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