# Nebraska LB635: Authorize the regulation of professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, professional muay thai, amateur muay thai, and amateur kickboxing by the State Athletic Commissioner Nebraska LB635, Authorize the regulation of professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, professional muay thai, amateur muay thai, and amateur kickboxing by the State Athletic Commissioner, is a 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions legislature bill sponsored by Ben Hansen; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Approved by Governor on May 13, 2025); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB635-109 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nebraska LB635 - State: Nebraska - Session: 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions - Title: Authorize the regulation of professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, professional muay thai, amateur muay thai, and amateur kickboxing by the State Athletic Commissioner - Status: signed - Chamber: legislature - Introduced: 2025-01-22 - Last action: 2025-05-13, Approved by Governor on May 13, 2025 - Sponsor: Ben Hansen - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: General Affairs Committee - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (153 yes, 5 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Drug testing and steep penalties for fighters: cost, high. The Commissioner can set a banned‑substances list and require drug tests to compete. Failing or refusing a test counts the same. First offense: suspension up to 1 year and a fine up to $1,500 or 40% of your purse, whichever is greater. Second offense: suspension up to 3 years and a fine up to $3,00… - Licenses, fees, and bonds for combat sports: cost, high. Promoters, officials, contestants, and other roles must be licensed. Fees: amateur event licenses $25–$100; promoter licenses $100–$300; referees $10–$40; matchmakers $10–$100; physicians, managers, judges $10–$20; timekeepers, contestants, seconds $10–$20. Individual applicants must include a Soci… - 5% tax on event and TV receipts: cost, medium. Licensees must file a written report for each event showing agreements, tickets, and receipts. You must pay 5% of gross receipts from professional matches (not counting TV rights). You must pay 5% of TV rights receipts. You must also pay 5% of gross receipts from amateur matches. If the fight is on… - Safety rules, doctors, and referees at matches: mixed, medium. You cannot compete unless a licensed doctor examines you the day of the match and writes that you are fit. Every match must have a licensed referee who can stop the match and must name a winner. The event organizer pays referee and official fees set by the Commissioner. Pro boxing, kickboxing, bare… - State control and licensing for combat sports: mixed, medium. The State Athletic Commissioner has sole control over listed professional and amateur combat sports in Nebraska. School, military, and recognized amateur events for contestants under 16 are excluded. Anyone 16 or older cannot compete for a prize or where admission is charged unless the event and pr… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ben Hansen, Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-09 | legislature | Final Reading | pass | 45 | 2 | | | 2025-04-25 | legislature | Vote | fail | 34 | 3 | 12 | | 2025-04-25 | legislature | Vote | fail | 37 | 0 | 12 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 37 | 0 | 12 | ## Actions (17) - 2025-05-13: Approved by Governor on May 13, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-05-09: Presented to Governor on May 9, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-05-09: President/Speaker signed (legislature) - 2025-05-09: Passed on Final Reading 45-2*-2 (legislature) - 2025-05-09: Dispensing of reading at large approved (legislature) - 2025-05-06: Placed on Final Reading (legislature) - 2025-05-01: Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment (legislature) - 2025-05-01: Enrollment and Review ER63 adopted (legislature) - 2025-04-30: Enrollment and Review ER63 filed (legislature) - 2025-04-30: Placed on Select File with ER63 (legislature) - 2025-04-25: Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial (legislature) - 2025-04-25: General Affairs AM399 adopted (legislature) - 2025-02-27: General Affairs AM399 filed (legislature) - 2025-02-27: Placed on General File with AM399 (legislature) - 2025-01-30: Notice of hearing for February 10, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-01-24: Referred to General Affairs Committee (legislature) - 2025-01-22: Date of introduction (legislature) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2025-01-22: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB635.pdf) - Enrolled / Slip Law: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB635.pdf) - Final / Enacted: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB635.pdf) ## Related bills - LB468: Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes, change certain fee and tax provisions, and eliminate a sales tax exemption relating to data centers (failed) - LB13: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendment relating to child care (failed) - LB677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide for regulation of medical cannabis (failed) - LB170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks (failed) - LB646: Provide an exemption from brand inspections and change fees under the Livestock Brand Act (failed) - LB714: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle taxes and fees (failed) ## Sources - [Introduced (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB635.pdf) - [Enrolled / Slip Law (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB635.pdf) - [Final / Enacted (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB635.pdf) ## Related - [LB468: Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes, change certain fee and tax pro…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB468-109) - [LB13: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB13-109) - [LB677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB677-109) - [LB170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB170-109) - [LB646: Provide an exemption from brand inspections and change fees under the Livestock…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB646-109) - [LB714: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle taxes and fees](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB714-109) - [Nebraska bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/nebraska/bills) - [Nebraska state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/nebraska) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB635-109 (as of 2026-10-17).