All Roll Calls
Yes: 1,057 • No: 133
NebraskaLB965109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessionslegislature
Prohibit sexual abuse of a probationer or problem solving court participant and sexual abuse by a conservator, guardian, guardian ad litem, or child welfare service provider; change provisions relating to protection orders, certain offenses, attorney's fees, and victim notification requirements; and provide requirements for immunity for probation employees, Brady-Giglio disclosures, confidentiality for certain officers, registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act, county conflict counsel, and determinations of the best interest of the child
Sponsored By: Eliot Bostar
Signed by Governor
Judiciary Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
More lawyers for poor defendants
Courts must appoint the public defender or county conflict counsel for indigent felony cases, and may use the Commission on Public Advocacy if there is a conflict. Counties with a public defender may set up conflict counsel, and in counties over 170,000 people they must be full time. For juveniles and for commitment cases, courts must use county conflict counsel when the public defender is not appointed. Private appointed lawyers ask the court for reasonable fees, and the county must pay. Independent experts in commitment cases ask the mental health board for fees, and the county must pay. Fee rules in section 43-273 do not apply to public defenders or county conflict counsel.
Expanded incest law protects more children
Incest now includes sexual contact or penetration with stepchildren under 19, adopted children, and foster children. Incest remains a Class III felony, but incest with a person under 18 is a Class IIA felony. The victim's testimony has the same evidentiary weight as victims of other crimes.
New rules for officer disclosures
In counties with 100,000 or more people, prosecutors must use an advisory review and give written notice before naming an officer. In smaller counties, prosecutors must give written notice with reasons and a final written decision. Officers can ask a judge to review within ten days. The judge reviews privately and rules in about 60 days. Agencies cannot fire, discipline, or pull a license just because an officer is named, or for using these rights. Agencies must hide officers' home and ID details from public records, with narrow legal exceptions.
No sexual contact by caregivers
The law bans sexual contact or penetration by people in power over others. It covers probation staff with probationers and problem solving court participants. It covers conservators, guardians, and guardians ad litem with the people they serve. It covers child welfare providers with minors under 19 in their care. Consent is not a defense. Lawful searches and spousal contact are excluded. Penalties: penetration is a Class IIA felony; contact is a Class IIIA felony.
Custody must weigh equal parent access
Judges must consider solid proof that equal access to both parents helps a child's growth. This is an added best-interest factor in custody and parenting plans. Courts still weigh safety and all other required factors.
Stronger protections for sexual abuse victims
Any child protection report about sexual abuse must go straight to police or prosecutors. Victims and witnesses who report or seek help get immunity for minor alcohol or drug offenses. Caregiver sexual abuse crimes now require sex offender registration, and courts may consider more prior sexual offenses as evidence. If the victim was pregnant, listed crimes get a one-class penalty increase. These offenses count as sexual assault for victims' rights and confidentiality. Advocates should use the victim's language or a qualified interpreter, and agencies may share identity with health providers when needed.
Tougher penalties for domestic violence
The law rewrites domestic assault into degrees and raises repeat-offense penalties. Third degree is usually a misdemeanor, but repeats become felonies. Second degree involves dangerous instruments. First degree involves serious injury and has the highest penalties. Penalties for violating protection orders now rise with each prior violation. Similar out-of-state or federal strangulation convictions now count to raise current penalties. These changes strengthen protection for victims of intimate partner violence.
Overdose care immunity for probation staff
Probation employees who give overdose-reversal medicine in good faith are protected. If they follow office policy, they are shielded from criminal, civil, and job actions. This protection does not cover willful, wanton, or grossly negligent acts. It does not change the office's own liability.
Updates to burglary tools and impersonation
It is a crime to knowingly have burglary tools or postal mailbox keys to steal. Pretending to be a peace officer and acting in that role is now a Class IV felony. The list of dangerous misdemeanors changes. Resisting arrest, fleeing by vehicle, and obstructing now count. Impersonating an officer no longer does.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Eliot Bostar
Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/10/2026
Final Reading
Yes: 39 • No: 10
legislature vote • 4/8/2026
Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10
legislature vote • 4/8/2026
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Yes: 43 • No: 0 • Other: 6
legislature vote • 4/8/2026
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Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 7
legislature vote • 4/8/2026
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Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 7
legislature vote • 4/8/2026
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Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 36 • No: 1 • Other: 12
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 36 • No: 5 • Other: 8
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 44 • No: 0 • Other: 5
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 34 • No: 5 • Other: 10
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 28 • No: 1 • Other: 20
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 12 • No: 26 • Other: 11
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 29 • No: 2 • Other: 18
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 30 • No: 0 • Other: 19
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 11 • No: 22 • Other: 16
legislature vote • 3/31/2026
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Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 16
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 7
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 44 • No: 0 • Other: 5
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 28 • No: 1 • Other: 20
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 12 • No: 26 • Other: 11
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 39 • No: 0 • Other: 10
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 37 • No: 0 • Other: 12
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 16
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 18
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 36 • No: 5 • Other: 8
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 11 • No: 22 • Other: 16
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 43 • No: 0 • Other: 6
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 30 • No: 0 • Other: 19
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 34 • No: 5 • Other: 10
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 29 • No: 2 • Other: 18
legislature vote • Unknown
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Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 7
Actions Timeline
Provisions/portions of LB1123 amended into LB965 by AM3014
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB1000 amended into LB965 by AM3012
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB965 amended into LB965 by AM3009
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB908 amended into LB965 by AM3010
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB859 amended into LB965 by AM3015
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB818 amended into LB965 by AM3013
4/17/2026legislatureProvisions/portions of LB785 amended into LB965 by AM3016
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 39-10-0
4/10/2026legislatureDispensing of reading at large approved
4/10/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST100 recorded
4/8/2026legislatureEnrollment and Review ST100 filed
4/8/2026legislaturePlaced on Final Reading with ST100
4/8/2026legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
4/8/2026legislatureConrad MO477 withdrawn
4/8/2026legislatureDungan AM3125 adopted
4/8/2026legislatureDungan AM3125 filed
4/8/2026legislatureDungan AM3140 adopted
4/8/2026legislatureDungan AM3140 filed
4/8/2026legislatureDungan AM3038 adopted
4/8/2026legislatureDungan AM3038 filed
4/8/2026legislatureConrad FA1175 withdrawn
4/8/2026legislatureConrad MO476 withdrawn
4/8/2026legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
1/12/2026
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted
Related Bills
LB979, Change provisions of the Game Law and the State Boat Act
LB962, Adopt the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act
LB958, Provide for implementation of a home and community-based services waiver, retroactive coverage of certain benefits, and reimbursement of doula services and change reporting requirements under the Medical Assistance Act, change provisions relating to the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program, and provide limits for crisis assistance payments under the low-income home energy assistance program
LB935, Provide for court fees; change provisions relating to incentives for rural legal practice, protection orders, hearsay, sentencing, support order liens, and paternity proceedings; provide for no-contact periods for victims of certain assaults and civil actions for conduct relating to prohibited content or child exploitation devices; and provide for and change offenses involving mobile tracking devices, stalking, unlawful intrusion, operation of unmanned aircraft systems, and swatting
LB955, Provide for practice agreements between pharmacists and physician assistants
LB972A, Appropriation Bill