All Roll Calls
Yes: 552 • No: 164
NebraskaLB921109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Adopt the Nebraska Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and the Health Care Staffing Agency Registration Act and change provisions of the Employment Security Law, the In the Line of Duty Compensation Act, the Non-English-Speaking Workers Protection Act, and the State Miscellaneous Claims Act
Sponsored By: Teresa Ibach
Signed by Governor
Business and Labor Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 5 mixed.
Easier line‑of‑duty benefits for public safety families
For claims on or after January 1, 2022, some deaths and illnesses are presumed to be in the line of duty. This covers a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture during or within 24 hours of nonroutine, strenuous duty; certain exposure‑related cancers; and deaths tied to cumulative traumatic duty events. Families must file within three years after death. The Risk Manager will say within two weeks if the claim is complete, and the State Claims Board must decide within 180 days for complete claims. If denied, the family can seek a review.
Who counts as employed for unemployment
The law updates who is covered as an employee for unemployment insurance. It clarifies where work is counted as Nebraska work, including base‑of‑operations and out‑of‑country rules for American employers. It keeps or sets thresholds, like farm work coverage if cash pay in a quarter is $20,000 or more or if 10+ workers are employed in a quarter, and domestic service coverage when annual pay is $1,000 or more. It keeps many exclusions (for example, ministers, some students, and some commission‑only real estate or insurance agents) and adds a three‑part test for independent contractors. A pay‑period rule and federal override ensure coverage when federal law requires it.
No noncompetes or hiring fees for temp health workers
Staffing agencies cannot restrict a worker’s right to take a permanent job with a health care entity. They also cannot charge the worker liquidated damages, employment fees, or other payments for getting hired. A health care entity may pay the agency, but the amount must drop pro rata and reach zero after no more than 720 hours of work. A special exception can apply for some foreign workers with an initial single‑entity assignment of at least 24 months. Any clause that violates these rules is void.
Stricter response rules for unemployment claims
If you claim unemployment, you must respond within one week to interview invites and job offers for suitable work. You must attend scheduled interviews or notify the employer if you cannot. Without good cause, failing to respond, appear, accept suitable work, or return to customary self‑employment disqualifies you for that week and the next 12 weeks. Your total benefit amount drops by the number of disqualified weeks.
Language help required at some worksites
If over 5% of employees speak the same non‑English language, the employer must provide an interpreter for each shift. For Spanish, the interpreter must be from the Commissioner’s list. For other languages, the interpreter must be able to explain job terms and answer questions. The employer must also have a referral agent at the worksite, post the agent’s name in the workers’ language, and help workers connect to community services.
Stronger layoff notice for big employers
Employers with 100+ workers must give written notice 90 days before a business closing or mass layoff. The notice must list dates, job titles, names of affected workers, and contact and policy info, and be posted where workers can see it in any language spoken by at least 5% of the workforce. The seller gives notice for actions through the sale date; the buyer gives notice for actions after the sale date. Employers can shorten the notice only in narrow cases like unforeseeable business problems, certain strikes/lockouts, direct natural disasters, or active last‑minute capital/business efforts, and must explain why. Paying severance or wages in lieu can reduce the notice day‑for‑day, but pay must at least equal regular wages for those days. Violations can be fined up to $100 per day; this is the only remedy under the Act and courts cannot use this Act to stop a closure. The Department of Labor enforces the law and can issue rules.
Health staffing agencies must register and carry insurance
The state creates a registration program for health care staffing agencies and some online platforms. Starting July 1, 2027, agencies must register each year, pay $1,500 per Nebraska location (or one $1,500 statewide fee if no Nebraska location), and renew at least 60 days before expiration. Agencies must verify worker licenses and health requirements, keep records, and carry at least $1,000,000 per‑occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate liability insurance. They must show workers’ comp coverage, approved self‑insurance, a signed statement of nonrequirement, or an occupational accident policy. If an agency closes, it must keep Nebraska records for two years and provide them within 14 days on request. The Department posts a public registry, takes complaints, and can audit with at least three business days’ notice. Penalties can be up to $500 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for later offenses, or a one‑year registration revocation that applies across locations. The Department runs the program, can set rules, and places collected fees into the Contractor and Professional Employer Organization Registration Cash Fund.
New county recovery and state claims rules
Counties can recover prosecution costs for correctional‑facility incidents that happened on or after May 1, 2015, but only the amount over a threshold tied to a 2.5‑cent per $100 valuation levy. A county may file extra claims for the same incident only if the first claim passes the threshold and not more than once per year unless prosecution is resolved. Related approved state claims that arise from the same facts must be combined. The law also repeals certain prior statutes to put these rules in place.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Teresa Ibach
Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/10/2026
Final Reading
Yes: 37 • No: 12
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 30 • No: 8 • Other: 11
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 1 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 9 • Other: 6
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 9 • No: 27 • Other: 13
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 7 • No: 28 • Other: 14
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 41 • No: 0 • Other: 8
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 33 • No: 3 • Other: 13
legislature vote • 3/23/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 6 • Other: 9
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 6 • Other: 9
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 9 • No: 27 • Other: 13
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 29 • No: 1 • Other: 19
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 30 • No: 8 • Other: 11
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 7 • No: 28 • Other: 14
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 41 • No: 0 • Other: 8
Actions Timeline
Provisions/portions of LB1170 amended into LB921 by AM2864
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB813 amended into LB921 by AM3061
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB544 amended into LB921 by AM2863
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB308 amended into LB921 by AM2864
4/17/2026legislaturePresented to Governor on April 10, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureApproved by Governor on April 14, 2026
4/14/2026legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
4/10/2026legislaturePassed on Final Reading 37-12*-0
4/10/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST90 recorded
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST90 filed
4/8/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST90
4/8/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
4/7/2026legislatureSorrentino AM3061 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureBostar FA1184 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureSorrentino AM3061 pending
4/7/2026legislatureBostar FA1184 pending
4/7/2026legislatureBostar FA1184 to AM3061 filed
4/7/2026legislatureCavanaugh, M. FA1144 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureKauth FA580 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER164 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureSorrentino AM3061 filed
4/1/2026legislatureCavanaugh, M. FA1144 filed
4/1/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER164 filed
3/30/2026legislaturePlaced on Select File with ER164
3/30/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
1/9/2026
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted
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