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
21 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 10 mixed.
Cash grants to keep Nebraska teachers
Teachers can get $2,500 retention grants for signing contracts to complete their 2nd, 4th, or 6th full‑time year in 2023‑24 through 2026‑27. A one‑time $5,000 high‑need grant is available in 2026‑27 for teachers with eligible endorsements earned on or after June 2, 2023 who teach at least one dual‑enrollment course. The Department cannot prioritize grant awards based on which school you work at. Dual enrollment means a course that gives credit at both a high school and a college. The Legislature also intends $1,000,000 each year for the Nebraska Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
College credit for prior learning exams
The Prior Learning Act sets a statewide path to earn college credit from approved exams. By September 1, 2026, the Commission posts the approved exams and cut scores, set to match national practices. By October 1, 2026, each public college must adopt and post policies to award and record this credit, prioritize counting it toward degree requirements, and allow transfer. Colleges must submit policies by October 15, 2026, and the Commission posts a statewide summary, including any higher score justifications. Starting December 31, 2028, and every two years after, colleges report how many students and credits were awarded. The Commission may issue rules for implementation.
Help first, then truancy after 20 absences
Schools must work with you on a plan to fix attendance before any court referral. A case can go to the county attorney only after at least 20 unexcused days, documented interventions that failed, and written notice to the family. Absences for physical or mental illness must be excused and documented by a qualified health professional. Illness that makes attendance impossible is not a basis for referral, and missing school documentation is a defense.
Private-school students can join public activities
Your child can enroll part-time in public school while also attending a private or exempt school. Students from exempt schools can join sports and clubs under the same rules as public students. For activities run by an athletics association, the student must take five credit hours per semester. Districts may require up to five credit hours for other activities. Schools provide transportation to practices and events on the same terms as for public students. Routine school-day transportation is not provided for part-time attendance.
How lottery education money is split
From FY2024-25 to FY2028-29, lottery education money is split by set percentages: 58% to Nebraska Opportunity Grants, 10% to the State Department Improvement Grant Fund, 8% to the Behavioral Training Fund, 7% to Community College Gap Assistance, 3% to distance education, 2% to the College Pathway Program, 8% to Excellence in Teaching, 1% to Door to College Scholarships, and 1.5% each to Expanded Learning and Mental Health Training. Starting in FY2029-30, the Legislature decides the split each year. Agencies, nonprofits, and contractors that use these funds must report spending to the Auditor by September 20 each year, and the Auditor reports to the Legislature by January 1.
Stronger school hiring checks and penalties
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, applicants for jobs with regular student contact must list all employers from the last seven years and authorize records checks. Schools must contact those employers (by phone, email, or in writing) to verify dates and any abuse or misconduct history, and must write down phone-call results. If you answer yes to abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct questions, the school must ask your prior employers for more details. Willfully lying or hiding required facts can bring a civil fine up to $500, denial or loss of the job, and a report to licensing officials. A school may end a job offer or fire immediately if disqualifying child abuse or sexual misconduct is found, with no grievance or tenure process. A school may hire you provisionally for up to 90 days while checks are pending if you followed disclosure rules, there is no known disqualifying information, and an emergency or special need exists. The Department of Education runs a public awareness effort and posts guidance to help applicants and employers follow these rules.
Stronger school rules on abuse and misconduct
The law defines child abuse and sexual misconduct in schools, including messages or contact meant to start a sexual relationship with a student. Schools and other entities cannot make or enforce agreements that hide or destroy records of such investigations; clauses that do are void, except when allegations are false or unsubstantiated as allowed. When one school asks another for an applicant’s records, the school must share them promptly; employers that share are protected from lawsuits unless they knowingly provide false information. Information schools collect about applicants under these rules is not a public record. The law also clarifies who counts as a student, school employee, and educational decisionmaker for these protections.
College Pathway help for low-income students
Starting July 1, 2024, the Department funds providers that serve only underrepresented and low‑income students. Services can include help finishing high school, FAFSA and scholarship help, course selection, college applications, and support to finish a degree. The State Board can set program rules. Each year by December 1, the Department reports who got funding and how well the program works.
New grants for school cybersecurity
The State Board of Education offers improvement grants for cybersecurity. For FY2023-24, 17% of the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund allocation to the Improvement Grant Fund must support competitive innovation grants and cybersecurity.
Public data on open enrollment decisions
School districts must report each year how many option enrollment applications they approved and rejected and why. Reports must note if applicants had an IEP or identified disability. The state compiles and posts the data for lawmakers starting September 1, 2024.
State-backed 3D STEM learning tools
The state funds annual licenses for 3D, game‑based learning platforms for middle and high school STEM courses. The State Board sets standards and awards grants by July 1 each year. Developers that win must give access to all Nebraska school districts. The program applies beginning January 1, 2024.
Statewide K-12 school cybersecurity program
The law creates the K‑12 Education Cybersecurity Act. The ESU Coordinating Council is the statewide contact and assigns a coordinator to train and support ESUs and schools. ESUs help schools complete a free, annual cybersecurity readiness test and use approved tools. The Department provides a model policy and framework, approves products, and runs a funding program for cybersecurity purchases. To get funding, a governing board must finish the annual assessment and adopt the model policy. Schools can braid state, federal, local, and private funds if they buy from the approved list or join group purchases. The State Board may set rules. The program uses the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund when funds are available.
No school transfers for 14 days during probes
If child welfare opens an investigation and you are the parent, guardian, or educational decisionmaker named, your student cannot transfer or be disenrolled for 14 days after you receive the notice or until further notice. Any new election to attend an exempt school filed in that window is invalid. The notice lists only the student’s name and whether transfer is allowed and is kept confidential.
Colleges can raise test scores for credit
Public colleges may require a higher exam score than the statewide cut score to grant credit for a specific course or sequence. The college must get approval from the Coordinating Commission and show evidence that the higher score is needed for student success.
Rules for nonaccredited private school staff
At private, denominational, or parochial schools that choose not to be state‑accredited, employees do not need to meet state teacher certification rules. But anyone who monitors or teaches at those schools cannot have felony convictions under sections 28-319 to 28-322.05, 28-316.01, 28-323, 28-703, or 28-707.
Teacher apprenticeship and training rules updated
The teacher apprenticeship program now requires passing a subject‑area exam set by the Commissioner of Education. It removes the earlier reference to a department‑made pedagogy exam. Participants must still complete a one‑year classroom apprenticeship and have a bachelor’s degree. The Commissioner keeps authority to run institutes and conferences for educator training, and the law removes an old grant program that already ended in 2021.
School lands energy income reporting change
The state no longer keeps a separate, capped accounting (up to $10 million) for wind and solar income from school lands. This removes that reporting step and changes how the money is tracked but does not itself change who gets payments.
School property tax filings due Oct. 15
School districts must submit property tax request documents by October 15 each year, not September 30. Missing the deadline can trigger a hold on state aid for up to six months. If a district still does not comply, the withheld aid goes back to the state General Fund.
More time and data in school reports
Superintendents now have until October 15 to file the fall membership report. Districts must add open enrollment application data to the June 30 annual report. The October 15 report must break down students by grade and by enrollment type and include levy and assessed value data.
New fund and student records system
The state creates the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund. The fund supports improvement grants, a central student records system for youth under juvenile court, and registrar positions. The Legislature may direct transfers to the Education Future Fund, and the fund may be invested. Agencies that run certain lottery‑funded programs may keep part of each transfer to cover real administrative, evaluation, and technical help costs, which reduces money left for direct program uses.
Old education statutes are repealed
The law repeals the listed Nebraska statutes, ending the programs or duties they created. Practical effects depend on what each section did and where new law now governs.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Education Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/10/2026
Final Reading
Yes: 49 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 1 • Other: 9
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 2 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 30 • No: 0 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 14 • No: 28 • Other: 7
legislature vote • 4/7/2026
Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 17 • Other: 11
legislature vote • 3/17/2026
Vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18
legislature vote • 3/17/2026
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 3 • Other: 12
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 1 • Other: 9
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 30 • No: 0 • Other: 19
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 17
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 2 • Other: 12
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 15
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 17 • Other: 11
legislature vote • Unknown
Vote
Yes: 14 • No: 28 • Other: 7
Actions Timeline
Provisions/portions of LB1243 amended into LB937 by AM2454
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB1241 amended into LB937 by AM2454
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB1224 amended into LB937 by AM2454
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB1164 amended into LB937 by AM2454
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB1146 amended into LB937 by AM2454
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB599 amended into LB937 by AM2767
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB417 amended into LB937 by AM2454
4/17/2026legislaturePresented to Governor on April 10, 2026
4/17/2026legislatureApproved by Governor on April 16, 2026
4/16/2026legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
4/10/2026legislaturePassed on Final Reading 49-0-0
4/10/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislatureConrad FA1006 withdrawn
4/10/2026legislatureConrad FA1005 withdrawn
4/10/2026legislatureConrad MO441 withdrawn
4/10/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST92 recorded
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST92 filed
4/8/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST92
4/8/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
4/7/2026legislatureHunt AM3118 withdrawn
4/7/2026legislatureHunt AM3118 filed
4/7/2026legislatureKauth AM3123 adopted
4/7/2026legislatureKauth AM3123 filed
4/7/2026legislatureRountree AM2965 lost
4/7/2026legislatureRountree AM2965 pending
4/7/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
1/9/2026
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted
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