New laws take effect in Nebraska

Several new laws in Nebraska took effect on Saturday, September 2. Bills passed by the Nebraska Unicameral take effect three months and one day after the Legislature adjourns, unless otherwise specified in the bill. Due to time constraints, many of the bills passed by the legislature were “Christmas tree bills”, which means they include many different laws placed in a package.

The following laws took effect on September 2:

Legislative Bill 77 will allow individuals over 21 years of age to carry concealed firearms without a state permit or safety training. In response, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird signed an executive order stating that firearms will remain prohibited on city property which includes buildings, parks, and libraries. Mayor Jean Stothert of Omaha signed an executive order stating that firearms are prohibited at any buildings, facilities, parks and public spaces that are leased or owned and managed by the city of Omaha. These places will be marked with signs.

Legislative Bill 50 consists of a variety of criminal justice reforms. The extensive bipartisan bill aims to address issues with overcrowding in prisons through limiting the practice of habitual criminal enhancements or increasing sentences because of prior convictions. These limits will not apply to offenses involving violence, sex, or firearms. The bill also decreases the wait time for parole for older inmates under specific circumstances. The other goal of LB 50 is to improve the reentering of inmates into society with reforms that incentivize inmates to participate in programming (the services and interventions offered in prison) and provide mental health support. The bill also requires that firearm dealers have to distribute information about suicide prevention and that the state provides correctional officers with protective vests.

Legislative Bill 157 includes an eclectic mix of laws, one of which allows household pets to be protected under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act.

Legislative Bill 565 is related to natural resources and eliminates the requirement of a permit to kill predators that are preying on a landowner’s livestock or poultry. Predators specified by the bill include badgers, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, weasels and more.

By Aubrey Benton