All Roll Calls
Yes: 80 • No: 4
NebraskaLB644A109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Appropriation Bill
Sponsored By: Eliot Bostar
Signed by Governor
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 7 costs, 1 mixed.
Whistleblowers get $50,000 for tips
If the commission finds a covered lobbyist disclosure violation and recovers a civil penalty, the person who gave the key information gets $50,000. The payment is one time and depends on the commission recovering any penalty.
Tough rules for lobbying for Chinese military firms
Lobbyists must say on their registration if they represent a Chinese military company and disclose it is a foreign adversary. They must list activities like calls, emails, mail, meetings, or testimony. Consultants must file before starting any influencing for such a company, name the parties and matters, and affirm they act for a foreign adversary. Civil penalties are $100,000 for the first violation, rising by $100,000 for each later violation, up to $1,000,000 per violation.
Tech contractors: bans and certifications
Beginning October 1, 2025, public entities cannot sign tech contracts that send money to a scrutinized company or to any company whose tech comes from a scrutinized company. Bidders must certify they are not a scrutinized company, will not subcontract to one, and that their tech does not originate with one. An exception applies only if no reasonable alternative exists, the Department of Administrative Services preapproves, and not buying poses a greater threat. Electric suppliers also have a narrow exception if they meet NERC CIP rules.
Stronger penalties for foreign agent violations
The Attorney General can ask a court to stop violations and order compliance. If the AG says a registration is deficient, the agent has 10 days to fix it and may not act after that unless corrected. The AG can issue civil investigative demands. Willful violations or willful false statements face civil penalties up to $50,000 per person per calendar year. Nebraska colleges must adopt policies, and people who willfully violate can be expelled, dismissed, and barred from campus.
Labs must replace banned gene sequencers
Beginning October 1, 2025, Nebraska medical and research facilities cannot use genetic sequencers or sequencing software made by, in, or tied to a listed foreign adversary. Facilities that have covered gear must disable it permanently or remove it. Sequencing data used in Nebraska cannot be stored in foreign adversary countries. No one may remotely access Nebraska‑stored sequencing data from those countries.
Crackdown on foreign-directed harassment
If someone commits listed crimes at a foreign principal’s direction, the penalty moves to the next higher class. Covert foreign‑directed policing or investigations without U.S. or state approval is a Class IIA felony. The Nebraska State Patrol may create training, a public reporting website with multiple languages, and awareness campaigns, and submit reports to the Legislature.
Public officials must attest they are not foreign agents
Anyone who files a statement of financial interests must check a box saying they are not an agent of a listed foreign adversary or a foreign terrorist organization. This new attestation is on the standard form.
Businesses must attest foreign-agent compliance
All businesses and nonprofits operating in Nebraska must add an attestation on their regular filings saying they follow the foreign‑agent registration law. This goes on each entity’s normal report (for example, LLC biennial in odd years; corporate biennial in even years; nonprofits in odd years; LLP annual; and other Secretary of State reports). Entities formed without filing a public organic document are exempt. The Attorney General sets the attestation with the Secretary of State.
Foreign agent registration and disclosure rules
Agents for a listed foreign adversary or terrorist group must register with the Nebraska Attorney General within 10 days and keep it current. If they send informational materials to two or more people, they must file two copies within 48 hours and include a clear label. Agents must give committees a copy of their latest registration when they testify. They must keep books and records and retain them for three years after their agent role ends. Officers and directors of an organizational agent must ensure filings and records are done. The Attorney General keeps a public copy and posts a public portal, and agents must tell any subcontractors about their agent status before work starts.
Old ethics and contracting laws repealed
The law repeals several older sections of Nebraska’s lobbying, disclosure, and contracting statutes so the new rules apply. Those specific sections are removed from the code.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Eliot Bostar
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 5/30/2025
Final Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 3
legislature vote • 5/15/2025
Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 1 • Other: 13
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
6/6/2025legislaturePassed on Final Reading 45-3*-1
5/30/2025legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
5/30/2025legislaturePresented to Governor on May 30, 2025
5/30/2025legislaturePlaced on Final Reading
5/22/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
5/21/2025legislaturePlaced on Select File
5/19/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
5/15/2025legislatureDate of introduction
5/14/2025legislaturePlaced on General File
5/14/2025legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
6/6/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted