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109th Legislature, 2nd Session Committee Hearings BeginThe Nebraska Legislature finished its first week of committee hearings on Friday. Morning floor debate resumed today along with committee hearings this afternoon as the session ramps up. Most notable last week was the conclusion of bill introduction. Overall, there were 545 new bills introduced. This makes for a total of 1,260 bills introduced for the biennium. The 109th Legislature is the first biennium with the self-imposed 20-bill-per-session limit on each senator. This can be compared to the 1,417 bills introduced during the 108th Legislature (2023-2024) and the 1,277 bills introduced during the 107th Legislature (2021-2022).  Graph shows the total number of bills introduced in the Nebraska Legislature for each biennium of the 107th, 108th and 109th legislative session Senators will have until February 19 to designate a personal priority bill. Additionally, Speaker John Arch will be able to designate up to 25 Speaker Priority Bills. Given the time available and overall budget issues, bills that do not receive a priority designation are unlikely to be heard. Speaker Arch has not yet announced whether he will schedule Consent Calendar bills this year, which allows noncontroversial measures to advance quickly. Last week, NBA General Counsel Ryan McIntosh testified in support of LB 717, the Nebraska Department of Banking's omnibus bill. Additional NBA-supported bills will also be heard this week. LB 717 - Nebraska Banking and Finance Modernization Act (2026 Updates) The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance annual omnibus bill updates references to federal laws and regulations to January 1, 2026, revises definitions and regulatory standards for various financial institutions, expands permissible activities for digital asset depositories, raises the threshold or certain loans exempt from interest rate caps, introduces new consumer disclosure requirements for loan refinancing, and raises the exemption threshold for the maximum general interest rate on loans from $25,000 to $100,000, allowing higher-value loans to exceed state interest rate caps. Notably, it expands authority to hold reserve funds of a digital asset depository institution to credit unions and out-of-state banks. (NBA POSITION: SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENT) Keep Your Eye on ThisHearings This Week The following bill of interest will be heard in committee this week: LB 783 - Adoption of Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Act & Tax Exemption for Assignments The bill enacts the Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Act, establishing detailed rules and definitions for voluntary assignments of a debtor's assets to an assignee to satisfy creditor claims. It sets out eligibility and duties of assignees, creditor notification and claims procedures, asset management, priority of distributions, judicial oversight, and protections for parties involved. The bill also amends section 76-902 to exempt these assignments from the documentary stamp tax and provides for severability. (NBA POSITION: SUPPORT) LB 836 - Revisions to Examination Charges and Assessments for Financial Institutions The bill amends several sections of Nebraska law to modernize and broaden the Department of Banking and Finance's authority for levying assessments and examination costs on a wider range of financial entities, including both state-chartered and licensed/registered entities (such as mortgage lenders and money transmitters). It revises the methodology for calculating assessments, expands the basis for such assessments beyond asset size to include other measures (transaction volume, origination, servicing, etc.), and clarifies procedures for billing, proration, and penalties for nonpayment. Provisions relating to billing for examiner time are removed and replaced with broader director-set rates. The bill also expands the grounds for suspension or revocation of charters, licenses, or registrations for nonpayment. (NBA POSITION: SUPPORT) LB 837 - Cash Transaction Rounding Requirements This bill requires that, in most cash transactions (including cash wages), the final cent amount of the total (including taxes) be rounded either up or down to the nearest five cents, depending on the last digit of the cent value. Transactions ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents may be rounded down; those ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents may be rounded up. If the total is 1 or 2 cents, it must be rounded up to 5 cents. The bill exempts all non-cash payment methods from these rounding rules. (NBA POSITION: SUPPORT) LB 838 - Protections Against Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable or Senior Adults The bill adds the definition of 'authorized contact'—an adult designated by a vulnerable or senior adult to be contacted in emergencies or suspected exploitation. It updates references and definitions throughout the law to reflect this addition. The bill allows financial institutions to notify authorized contacts or other associated parties if exploitation is suspected and provides immunity from liability for financial institutions and authorized contacts under certain conditions. It clarifies that financial institutions are not required to implement authorized contact programs and are not liable for decisions not to interact with, or to implement, such programs absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. (NBA POSITION: SUPPORT) LB 1067 - Nebraska Housing and Documentary Stamp Tax Reform Act The bill increases the documentary stamp tax from $2.32 to $3.82 per $1,000 of real estate value transferred. It changes the disbursement of these funds, directing new revenues to the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Fund and the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund, in addition to existing beneficiaries. The bill also eliminates the Legislature's authority to transfer money out of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to other specified funds. Conforming amendments are made to ensure receipt of new tax revenues by these housing funds and clarify the exclusive use of such revenues for their designated purposes. Sunset clauses are established for the Rural and Middle Income Workforce Housing Funds, after which remaining funds transfer to the General Fund. (NBA POSITION: SUPPORT) 2026 State Government Relations ForumYou are encouraged to sign up for the annual NBA State Government Relations Forum on January 29 at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln. Headlining the program will be presentations by Governor Pillen, a panel of state senators, NBA General Counsel Ryan McIntosh and NBA Associate General Counsel Scott Smith. Nebraska Department of Banking Director Kelly Lammers will discuss Department initiatives. The State Government Relations Forum presents an opportunity to meet personally with your state senator during lunch to discuss issues of importance to the banking industry, your institution and your community. We look forward to seeing you on January 29! Stay Informed on NBA NewsMonthly virtual membership updates will keep you informed on the Unicameral session and other NBA news. The next one is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 10:00 a.m. CT.
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