All Roll Calls
Yes: 86 • No: 1
NebraskaLB80A109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Appropriation Bill
Sponsored By: Bob Hallstrom
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Lower costs and faster court steps
Filing and service fees are waived if you seek only Protection Orders Act relief. The court may charge fees only for bad‑faith, false petitions, and may order the respondent to pay costs at the final hearing. When an order issues, you get two free certified copies; the sheriff must serve the respondent and file a return within 14 days. If no ex parte order is issued, the court sets a hearing within 14 days. For ex parte orders, respondents have 10 business days to ask for a hearing, which must be set within 30 days. Your petition and affidavit count as evidence unless the court excludes them, and courts may send matters to referees. File with the district court clerk; a county judge can hear the case, and the order has district court force. The Protection Orders Act controls when laws conflict, and older sections are repealed.
Nebraska honors out-of-state orders
Nebraska enforces valid protection orders from other states, tribes, or territories. Courts and police treat them like Nebraska orders when the other court had jurisdiction and gave notice.
Safer rentals for abuse victims
If you rent and are a domestic violence victim, you can remove the perpetrator from the lease by giving your landlord a protective order or certification and a written notice. Landlords must replace or rekey locks or reset codes. If they do not, you can change the locks and must give the landlord a key or code. These rules apply even if your lease says otherwise.
Stronger protection orders for victims
The law creates three protection orders: domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault. Courts can order no contact, removal from a home, stay-away zones, up to 90 days of temporary child custody, gun limits, and pet possession. Orders last 1 to 2 years, and you can renew within 45 days before they expire. Judges may convert a filing to the right order type based on the facts. A respondent can get an order only by filing a cross petition and the court finding abuse against them.
Stronger arrest rules for orders
Police must arrest for protection‑order violations when they have probable cause and confirm the order. Arrestees are taken to a judge, who sets release terms and a no‑contact order. Officers can arrest without a warrant for more crimes, including listed acts against household members. Anyone arrested without a warrant must see a judge within seven days. Police should issue citations instead of arrests for minor offenses, except in protection‑order cases.
Tougher penalties and weapon limits
Breaking a protection order is a crime. Repeat offenses bring higher penalties. Domestic abuse and sexual assault order violations start as Class I misdemeanors; later offenses are Class IV felonies. Harassment order violations are Class II misdemeanors first, then Class I misdemeanors. The law raises penalties for using weapons in crimes and adds more dangerous misdemeanors. People under and knowingly violating a current protection order cannot possess certain weapons. Courts must serve a notice that federal law may bar firearms when a domestic abuse order is issued.
More support services for victims
Victims and families can get emergency help, counseling, prevention programs, and help filling out protection‑order forms. Programs can also offer services for abusers.
Stronger child and military safeguards
When a child‑abuse report involves a military family, the department notifies the military installation after contacting the family and uses agreements to share information safely. After an investigation, the department sends written results to custodians and to the person investigated. If the subject is a school employee, it also notifies the Commissioner of Education; if in a military family, it notifies the military. The law updates key child‑protection definitions to guide cases.
Elder-care isolation rule clarified
Following valid protection or exclusion orders, or certain nursing‑home actions, does not count as "isolation" under elder‑abuse rules. This helps prevent wrongful elder‑abuse findings.
Police training on domestic abuse
All police agencies must train officers on domestic abuse laws, protection orders, and victim services.
Targeted data sharing for enforcement
If you provide your Social Security number or birth date with your petition, the court shares it with law enforcement to enforce your order. Agencies must keep the data confidential but may enter it into state and federal databases.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Bob Hallstrom
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 5/14/2025
Final Reading
Yes: 48 • No: 1
legislature vote • 4/28/2025
Vote
Yes: 38 • No: 0 • Other: 11
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor on May 20, 2025
5/21/2025legislaturePassed on Final Reading 48-1-0
5/14/2025legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
5/14/2025legislaturePresented to Governor on May 14, 2025
5/14/2025legislaturePlaced on Final Reading
5/12/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
5/8/2025legislaturePlaced on Select File
4/30/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
4/28/2025legislatureDate of introduction
4/23/2025legislaturePlaced on General File
4/23/2025legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
5/21/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted