# Nebraska LB72: Change provisions relating to controlled substances schedules under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act Nebraska LB72, Change provisions relating to controlled substances schedules under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, is a 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions legislature bill sponsored by Bob Hallstrom; status signed, last action 2025-02-25 (Approved by Governor on February 25, 2025); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB72-109 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nebraska LB72 - State: Nebraska - Session: 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions - Title: Change provisions relating to controlled substances schedules under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act - Status: signed - Chamber: legislature - Introduced: 2025-01-09 - Last action: 2025-02-25, Approved by Governor on February 25, 2025 - Sponsor: Bob Hallstrom - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Judiciary Committee - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (118 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger drug‑crime penalties and youth zones: cost, medium. It is illegal to make, sell, or distribute controlled or counterfeit drugs without authorization. Crimes with “exceptionally hazardous” Schedule I–III drugs are Class II felonies; other Schedule I–III crimes are Class IIA; and Schedule IV–V crimes are Class IIIA. Possessing a controlled drug withou… - Weight‑based penalties for hard drugs: cost, medium. The law sets the same weight tiers for cocaine, crack, heroin, and amphetamine or methamphetamine (including salts, isomers, and mixtures). 140 grams or more is a Class IB felony. At least 28 grams but less than 140 grams is a Class IC felony. At least 10 grams but less than 28 grams is a Class ID… - Marijuana penalties by amount and priors: cost, low. More than 1 ounce but up to 1 pound of marijuana is a Class III misdemeanor. More than 1 pound is a Class IV felony. For 1 ounce or less, a first offense is an infraction with a $300 fine and a drug‑education course. A second offense is a Class IV misdemeanor with a $400 fine and up to 5 days in ja… - Teens lose licenses for drug offenses: cost, low. If you are 18 or younger and have a license, the court can impound it for 30 days on a first offense with a drug class. A second offense can mean 90 days and 20–40 hours of community service plus a drug class. A third or later offense can mean 12 months, at least 60 hours of service, a drug class,… - Broader drug schedules and FDA exceptions: mixed, medium. The law expands Schedule I to cover many new drugs, including fentanyl-like substances, nitazenes, synthetic cannabinoids, substituted phenethylamines, substituted tryptamines, and several cathinones. It adds Mesocarb and Methiopropamine to Schedule I. It makes xylazine a Schedule III drug but keep… - Limits on OTC ephedrine purchases: mixed, low. Stores may sell Primatene Tablets and Bronkaid if they keep them behind the counter or locked, check ID for 18+, and follow quantity limits. You can buy up to 3.6 grams of ephedrine base in 24 hours and up to 9 grams in 30 days. The products must meet OTC labeling rules and cannot be marketed for s… - Mandatory drug treatment for offenders: mixed, low. If you are convicted and put on probation, you must complete approved drug treatment and counseling. If you are sentenced to the Department of Correctional Services, you must attend drug treatment and counseling while in custody. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Bob Hallstrom, Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-21 | legislature | Final Reading | pass | 47 | 1 | | | 2025-02-07 | legislature | Vote | fail | 32 | 1 | 16 | | 2025-01-30 | legislature | Vote | fail | 39 | 0 | 10 | ## Actions (13) - 2025-02-25: Approved by Governor on February 25, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-02-21: Presented to Governor on February 21, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-02-21: President/Speaker signed (legislature) - 2025-02-21: Passed on Final Reading 47-1*-1 (legislature) - 2025-02-21: Dispensing of reading at large approved (legislature) - 2025-02-18: Placed on Final Reading (legislature) - 2025-02-07: Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment (legislature) - 2025-02-04: Placed on Select File (legislature) - 2025-01-30: Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial (legislature) - 2025-01-28: Placed on General File (legislature) - 2025-01-14: Notice of hearing for January 22, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-01-13: Referred to Judiciary Committee (legislature) - 2025-01-09: Date of introduction (legislature) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2025-01-09: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB72.pdf) - Enrolled / Slip Law: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB72.pdf) - Final / Enacted: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB72.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/LB72.pdf) - [Enrolled / Slip Law (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB72.pdf) - [Final / Enacted (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB72.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-LB72-109 (as of 2026-10-17).