All Roll Calls
Yes: 555 • No: 99
NebraskaLB937109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Adopt the Prior Learning Act and the K-12 Education Cybersecurity Act and change provisions relating to student transfers, school absences, option enrollment, extracurricular activities, reports, school employment, the improvement grant program, monitoring or providing instruction, deadlines, the Nebraska Teacher Apprenticeship Program, the Nebraska Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act, and the College Pathway Program Act
Sponsored By: Education Committee
Signed by Governor
Education Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
20 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 9 mixed.
Cash grants to retain and upskill teachers
Eligible teachers can get $2,500 retention grants for hitting key service milestones in school years 2023-24 through 2026-27. Milestones are the second, fourth, and sixth complete school years under contract. A separate $5,000 high-need retention grant is available if you earned a qualifying endorsement (like special education, math, science, technology, or dual-credit) on or after June 2, 2023 and meet the teaching and contract rules. You can receive only one high-need grant.
College credit for prior learning exams
By September 1, 2026, the state commission approves a list of prior learning exams and sets the cut score for each. By October 1, 2026, every public college must post and use written policies to grant credit for each approved exam when the student meets the cut score, and send those policies to the commission by October 15. Schools can require a higher score only with commission approval and evidence. The law defines key terms. By December 31, 2028 and every even-numbered year after, public colleges report how many students earned credit and how many credits were awarded; the commission posts the data and reports findings by December 31, 2029.
College Pathway grants for low-income students
Beginning July 1, 2024, the Department runs the College Pathway Program and gives grants to providers that work only with underrepresented and low-income students. Grants fund help to finish high school, apply to college, complete the FAFSA, and stay on track to finish a degree. By December 1 each year, the Department reports who got grants and how well the program works.
Teacher apprenticeship path to certification
The State Department of Education runs the Nebraska Teacher Apprenticeship Program. To earn a certificate or permit, you must complete a one-year classroom apprenticeship, have a bachelor’s degree, and pass subject and teaching exams. You can apply if you already work for an approved school or have a contract to start at the beginning of the school year. The Legislature intends to provide $1,000,000 each year from the Education Future Fund, starting in fiscal year 2023-24, to support the program.
How lottery education dollars are split
For fiscal years 2024-25 through 2028-29, the education share of lottery money is divided as follows: 8% Behavioral Training, 2% College Pathway, 7% Community College Gap Assistance, 10% Improvement Grants, 3% distance education incentives, 1% Door to College Scholarship, 8% Excellence in Teaching, 1.5% Expanded Learning Opportunity, 1.5% Mental Health Training, and 58% Nebraska Opportunity Grant. For 2029-30 and after, the Legislature may change these transfers.
Statewide K-12 cybersecurity support
The Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council is the statewide contact for K‑12 cybersecurity and must assign a coordinator. The coordinator links state partners, runs readiness work, and provides training and technical help. Educational Service Units give local support to schools for assessments, tools, and assistance. Schools and ESUs may braid state cybersecurity funds with federal, local, and private money, as long as purchases are on the approved list.
New help and referrals for absences
Every district must have a written attendance policy reviewed each year with the county attorney. When a student reaches 20 days absent, the school must provide services, including letters and meetings to make a plan; the plan can lead to an evaluation if needed. If required efforts are documented and the plan does not work, a school may refer a child with 20 or more unexcused absences to the county attorney. The family must get written notice first, and lack of school documentation can be used as a defense.
Part-time classes and activities for private students
School boards must let students in private or exempt schools enroll part‑time in district classes. Students at exempt schools may also join district extracurriculars on the same terms as public‑school students, if the exempt school sets academic standards and provides assurances. To join activities, districts must require up to five district credit hours per semester, or the lower minimum set by the activity’s governing body; boards cannot favor full‑time students. Part‑time or exempt‑school participants are not entitled to general transportation or reimbursement, but they can get rides to practices and events like other participants.
More reporting on school transfers
Starting July 1, 2024, every district must report each July 1 on option applications they rejected, including counts, reasons, and whether an IEP or disability was noted. The Commissioner compiles a statewide report to the Legislature by September 1 each year. If anyone files or requests a transfer or disenrollment for a student under a state notice restricting transfers, the school or Commissioner must notify the Department of Health and Human Services right away.
Stricter district reports with possible withholds
Key district due dates are set: the ages 5–18 census is due July 20; the year-end summary is due June 30; the annual financial report is due November 1; and the October 1 membership report is due by October 15. If the membership report is still missing by November 1, the Commissioner may withhold state aid and direct county treasurers to hold school funds until the report arrives.
Stronger school hiring and safety checks
Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, schools may not hire anyone who works regularly with students unless the applicant lists recent child-contact employers, allows those employers to share records, and discloses any child-abuse or sexual-misconduct history. Employers must contact those past employers and keep phone-call notes in writing. A school can hire someone for up to 90 days while checks finish if the person made all disclosures and there are special or urgent needs. Lying or omitting required facts on an application can lead to discipline, denial of a job, or a civil fine up to $500. For hires made after the act’s effective date, a school can immediately end a job or rescind an offer if it finds disqualifying child-abuse or sexual-misconduct history, and that action is not subject to grievance or tenure appeals. Background-review information is not a public record. Employers who share records in good faith are immune from most lawsuits unless they knowingly provide false information. Schools cannot sign contracts that hide or block reporting of suspected child abuse or sexual misconduct; clauses that try to do this are void. The Department of Education runs a public awareness effort and posts guidance to help with compliance.
Clearer school transfer denials and appeals
When a district rejects an option enrollment or release request, it must send a certified letter with the exact reasons. For students with an IEP or diagnosed disability, the letter must explain which services the district cannot provide. The letter must also tell you how to appeal to the State Board of Education.
Annual reports on lottery education spending
By September 20 each year, any agency, fund administrator, recipient, or contractor that gets lottery education money must report to the Auditor about how it was used. The Auditor compiles one report and sends it to the Legislature by January 1. By December 31, 2027, the Education Committee also recommends how to split lottery education money for the five years starting in fiscal year 2029-30.
STEM game-based learning licenses for schools
Beginning January 1, 2024, the State Board runs a lottery-funded grant program to buy annual licenses for 3D, game-based STEM learning platforms for middle and high schools. Developers must meet state standards and give access to all Nebraska school districts. Grants are awarded by July 1 each year, with annual reporting to the Legislature.
New Education Improvement Grant Fund
The State Department of Education created the Improvement Grant Fund. It holds lottery transfers, repaid grants, and interest. The fund pays for the improvement grant program, a centralized school records system for students under juvenile court, and registrar jobs. The Legislature may move money from this fund to the Education Future Fund.
Earlier district filing or lose aid
Districts must submit required documents to support property tax request authority by September 30 each year. If a district does not submit or show compliance, the Commissioner withholds state aid for six months after notice. If the district still does not comply in six months, the withheld aid goes back to the state’s General Fund.
Hold on school transfers during abuse probes
If a parent or guardian is the subject of an active abuse or neglect investigation, the department notifies the district and Commissioner. From that notice, the named adult cannot transfer or disenroll the student for 14 days or until further notice. Any new election to move the student to an exempt (nonaccredited) school during that period is invalid. Notices are confidential and may include only the student’s name and whether transfer or disenrollment is allowed.
New rules for exempt private schools
State rules for private, denominational, or parochial schools that opt out of accreditation are limited to how the election form is received and how transfer‑restriction steps are carried out. A parent’s signed assurance counts as proof the school teaches basic skills. If the parent’s election cites a nonreligious reason, the school must follow the state immunization rules.
Cybersecurity grants and rules for K-12
The Department offers grants to schools and ESUs to buy approved cybersecurity products and services, subject to available funds from the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund. Boards must complete an annual readiness check and adopt a policy aligned with the state’s model to be eligible. The Department provides a standard readiness assessment at no cost and keeps a tiered list of approved products, including low-cost options for small or rural schools. Applications are scored with priority for higher-need and regional partnerships, and consortiums can apply together. Each year the Commissioner calculates how much each board can access. The State Board can set rules, and the ESU Coordinating Council helps with statewide alignment and technical support.
Old education statutes repealed
The law removes several named education sections from Nebraska statutes, including sections 79‑309.01 and 79‑718 and other listed sections. The repeal text does not state what replaces them or how programs or funding change.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Education Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 1 • Other: 9
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 14 • No: 28 • Other: 7
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 17 • Other: 11
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 2 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • 4/24/2026
Vote
Yes: 30 • No: 0 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 4/10/2026
Final Reading
Yes: 49 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 1 • Other: 9
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 17 • Other: 11
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 14 • No: 28 • Other: 7
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 30 • No: 0 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 2 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15
legislature vote • 3/17/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 3 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/17/2026
Vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18
Actions Timeline
Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureApproved by Governor on April 16, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureConrad MO441 withdrawn
4/10/2026legislatureConrad FA1005 withdrawn
4/10/2026legislatureConrad FA1006 withdrawn
4/10/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislaturePassed on Final Reading 49-0-0
4/10/2026legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
4/10/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST92
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST92 filed
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST92 recorded
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ER155 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureConrad MO438 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureConrad MO439 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureKauth FA554 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureMurman AM3084 filed
4/7/2026legislatureNo objections to unanimous consent request to withdraw and substitute amendment
4/7/2026legislatureMurman FA556 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureMurman AM3084 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureLonowski FA1177 to AM3084 filed
4/7/2026legislatureLonowski FA1177 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureKauth FA1180 to AM3084 filed
4/7/2026legislatureKauth FA1180 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureMurman FA558 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureConrad FA1003 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
4/17/2026
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted