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NebraskaLB660109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessionslegislature

Adopt the State Building Construction Alternatives Act and the Secure Drone Purchasing Act, require agencies to submit a federal funding inventory, and change provisions relating to agency rules and regulations, state buildings, and works of art for state buildings

Sponsored By: Bob Andersen

Signed by Governor

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger public input on agency rules

Agencies must accept written and electronic public comments and cannot require people to travel to comment. You can challenge a rule in court where you live, where your main business is, in Lancaster County, or where the agency is based. Starting January 1, 2026, every agency reviews all its rules at least once every five years and files a report by June 30. During a review, new rulemaking is paused except for health, safety, welfare, time‑sensitive, or deadline‑driven rules. The review section is added to the Administrative Procedure Act, and two older APA sections are repealed.

New contracting rules for state buildings

The state now uses design-build and construction manager–general contractor methods for building projects. CM/GC is allowed only if the total project cost is over $30 million. Agencies must post RFQs, shortlist firms, and score design-build with price counting for at least 50%. A licensed Nebraska architect or engineer helps set project goals and score bids. Managers cannot sublet more than 70% of the work without consent. Before construction, the agency gets an independent cost estimate and must get approval from the Director of Administrative Services to use these methods. The State Building Division issues uniform guidelines, can set rules, leads this program, and sends reports electronically. Some older bid-opening and consultant-selection laws no longer apply to these projects.

Agencies must report federal funds

All state agencies that get legislative funds must file a federal funding inventory by September 15 of every even‑numbered year. The report lists last year’s federal spending, how much of the budget is federal, state match rules, and a plan for a 10% or larger federal cut. It also lists promised results, the law each fund supports, and any funds with end dates and spending schedules. This helps the state plan and protect services.

Art committee for state projects

Each covered state construction project has a committee to oversee public art. The committee includes the project architect, three members from the agency or board, and three members of or chosen by the Nebraska Arts Council. Agencies can ask for a waiver when art is not appropriate. The committee reviews the request and tells the agency if it is approved.

More state projects must be bid

Projects that cost more than $100,000 must go out to the lowest responsible bidder. This lowers the cutoff, so more jobs require formal bidding. Beginning January 1, 2026, the state updates these dollar thresholds every four years using a published construction cost index. This changes which jobs need bidding now and how the cutoff moves over time.

Art spending rules for state buildings

For new state construction over $1.5 million, agencies spend at least 1% on art, capped at $300,000 per project. No art spending is required if a waiver is approved or if more than 75% of costs are mechanical work. For remodeling over $500,000, these art rules and exceptions also apply. The law narrows what counts as a public building by excluding repair shops, garages, warehouses, labs, and similar industrial buildings. Older sections on art and related building rules are repealed to align with these changes.

Secure drone purchases for government

By January 1, 2026, the state lists approved secure drones and updates the list at least every six months. Beginning January 1, 2027, state agencies cannot buy drones unless they are cleared, and state funds cannot pay for banned models. Local governments should follow the list when practicable. Approved drones must meet strong security rules like U.S. data storage, AES‑256 encryption, tamper protection, MFA, and annual audits (NIST/ISO/SOC 2). Any contract to buy a prohibited drone is void. Electric suppliers that meet NERC CIP rules are exempt.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bob Andersen

    Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 54

legislature vote • 5/14/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 49 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/8/2025

Vote

Yes: 8 • No: 27 • Other: 14

legislature vote • 4/23/2025

Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 0 • Other: 13

legislature vote • 4/23/2025

Vote

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 16

legislature vote • 4/23/2025

Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0 • Other: 11

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 16

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 0 • Other: 13

legislature vote • Unknown

Vote

Yes: 8 • No: 27 • Other: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. Provisions/portions of LB664 amended into LB660 by AM1008

    6/6/2025legislature

  2. Provisions/portions of LB662 amended into LB660 by AM1008

    6/6/2025legislature

  3. Provisions/portions of LB445 amended into LB660 by AM1008

    6/6/2025legislature

  4. Provisions/portions of LB29 amended into LB660 by AM1008

    6/6/2025legislature

  5. Approved by Governor on May 20, 2025

    5/20/2025legislature

  6. Presented to Governor on May 14, 2025

    5/14/2025legislature

  7. President/Speaker signed

    5/14/2025legislature

  8. Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 49-0-0

    5/14/2025legislature

  9. Dispensing of reading at large approved

    5/14/2025legislature

  10. Enrollment and Review ST36 recorded

    5/12/2025legislature

  11. Enrollment and Review ST36 filed

    5/12/2025legislature

  12. Placed on Final Reading with ST36

    5/12/2025legislature

  13. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

    5/8/2025legislature

  14. Spivey FA189 lost

    5/8/2025legislature

  15. Spivey FA189 filed

    5/8/2025legislature

  16. Andersen AM1234 withdrawn

    5/8/2025legislature

  17. Enrollment and Review ER58 adopted

    5/8/2025legislature

  18. Andersen AM1234 to AM1008 filed

    4/29/2025legislature

  19. Enrollment and Review ER58 filed

    4/29/2025legislature

  20. Placed on Select File with ER58

    4/29/2025legislature

  21. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

    4/23/2025legislature

  22. Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM1008 adopted

    4/23/2025legislature

  23. Conrad AM1147 adopted

    4/23/2025legislature

  24. Conrad AM1147 pending

    4/23/2025legislature

  25. Conrad AM1147 to AM1008 filed

    4/23/2025legislature

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    1/22/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Slip Law

    PDF

  • Final / Enacted

    PDF

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