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
9 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Stronger open meetings and virtual access
The law strengthens your right to attend, speak at, and record public meetings. Notices must be clear, list agenda items, and cannot be changed within 24 hours (48 hours for some city or village meetings outside limits), except for emergencies. Bodies can meet virtually if they give access details, keep at least one public site open with a member present, and record hearings. During a Governor-declared emergency, they may hold virtual meetings with posted agendas and documents. Meeting notices must also appear on a newspaper website and a statewide repository, with backup posting steps if a paper refuses. Out-of-state meetings are limited to 25% a year and need 21 days’ statewide notice.
Lower marriage license and copy fees
You pay $25 for the marriage license, oath, and recording. Each certified copy of a marriage record costs $9. These amounts go to the county general fund.
Stronger privacy for veteran records
County-held military discharge records are confidential. Access is limited to the veteran, the county veterans service officer, or a post service officer. A clerk may send a record to the State Archives after the federal file is public or after 62 years, whichever is later.
Better notice for unclaimed money
The State Treasurer publishes an annual notice to help owners find abandoned property. Items under $50 usually are not listed unless needed. If your property is $50 or more and the Treasurer has your address, the office must mail you notice within 120 days of getting the report.
Modern county payments and inventories
County clerks must issue warrants only after board approval, number them by fiscal year, and keep public records that show date, amount, payee, and cancellation. Counties must build electronic or mechanical warrant systems that work with treasurers’ funds transfer systems. In counties with 150,000+ people, the clerk must keep a running inventory of county personal property and file annual supply and equipment estimates by December 1.
Modern rules for keeping records
Offices can store official records on durable, accessible media. They may destroy originals after verification if they keep a silver negative microfilm security copy off‑site. Copies made by photo, microfilm, or similar methods have the same legal effect as the original.
Higher lien filing fees and e-filing
Certified bankruptcy documents that affect real property must be recorded with the register of deeds. The recording fee matches the fee in UCC section 9-525. For state tax liens, filings can be sent electronically and become effective when filed by the register of deeds. The Secretary of State fee for each tax lien equals two times the county recording fee; filing a termination statement has no fee. The Secretary of State bills the Tax Commissioner or Commissioner of Labor monthly instead of charging at filing.
Name change steps and safety options
To change your name, you must live in the county for one year and file in district court with your address and birthdate. If you are 19 or older, you must publish notice once a week for four weeks; if under 19, once a week for two weeks. The court can waive publication if it would endanger you. For minors with a noncustodial parent and a provided address, the clerk must mail certified notice within five days after publication. The clerk must send any order to Health and Human Services and the Nebraska State Patrol’s sex offender division.
Legal notices go digital; rates change
Digital newspapers can qualify to run legal notices if they meet staff, subscriber, and content rules. Starting October 1, 2022, papers that publish legal notices must also post them on a statewide website. From Oct 1, 2022 to Oct 1, 2023, rates are $0.48 per line for the first insertion and $0.394 per line after. Beginning Oct 1, 2023, rates are $0.50 per line for the first insertion and $0.4334 per line after. Temporary printing breaks for disasters do not invalidate notices.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Rita Sanders
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 1 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
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: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10
legislature vote • 3/5/2026
Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 1 • Other: 8
Actions Timeline
Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureApproved by Governor on April 14, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislaturePassed on Final Reading 46-3*-0
4/10/2026legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
4/10/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST79
4/7/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST79 filed
4/7/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST79 recorded
4/7/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER140 adopted
3/31/2026legislatureLonowski AM2730 adopted
3/31/2026legislatureDover AM2987 not germane
3/31/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
3/31/2026legislatureDover AM2987 filed
3/30/2026legislatureLonowski AM2730 filed
3/18/2026legislaturePlaced on Select File with ER140
3/11/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER140 filed
3/11/2026legislaturePoint of order on germaneness of AM2405 to the bill withdrawn
3/5/2026legislatureLonowski AM2405 withdrawn
3/5/2026legislatureDeKay AM2428 adopted
3/5/2026legislatureRountree FA1027 filed
3/5/2026legislatureRountree FA1027 adopted
3/5/2026legislatureGovernment, Military and Veterans Affairs AM2282 adopted
3/5/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
3/5/2026legislatureDeKay AM2428 to AM2282 filed
3/4/2026legislaturePlaced on General File with AM2282
3/3/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
4/17/2026
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted