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LB 94

Adopt the Digital Skills Empowerment Act and change the use of the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Terrell McKinney

LB 94 establishes Digital Skills Empowerment Act, funding grants for digital-skill centers, tuition support, and paid apprenticeships in QCTs to aid low-income Nebraskans and returning residents.

Title printed. Carryover bill
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Bill Summary · LB 94

Summary: Legislative Bill LB 94 – Digital Skills Empowerment Act and Workforce Development Fund

What the bill does

LB 94, introduced January 10, 2025 by Senator Terrell McKinney and heard in the Business and Labor Committee, seeks to:
- Adopt the Digital Skills Empowerment Act (DSA) to expand access to digital skills training and related supports, with a focus on Nebraska residents in qualified census tracts (QCTs), including supports for individuals returning from prison.
- Change the use of the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund (a Nebraskan fund used for workforce development activities) as part of implementing the DSA.
- Establish grant programs, curricula standards, and paid apprenticeship opportunities in digital trades, administered by the Department of Labor in coordination with the Department of Economic Development.

Key provisions and changes

1) Purpose and scope (Sec. 2-3)

  • Establish the Digital Skills Empowerment Act to bridge the digital divide, improve employment opportunities in digital trades, and support career progression in technology fields.
  • Target population includes residents of QCTs, with explicit emphasis on economically disadvantaged areas and individuals returning from prison.
  • Local educational institutions (LEIs) and nonprofits are the eligible grant recipients for training centers, and “low-income” individuals are defined as those at 100–200% of the federal poverty level.

2) Grant programs and funding (Sec. 4)

  • Department of Labor (in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development) may award:
    • Grants to LEIs and nonprofits to develop/operate digital skills training centers in QCTs. Cap: up to $20 million per fiscal year.
    • Grants to cover tuition, materials, transportation, equipment, and child care for low-income individuals pursuing digital skills training and certification. Cap: up to $20 million per fiscal year.
  • Applications must include details such as location, programs offered, funding use, and impacts on individuals returning from jail or prison.
  • If funds are insufficient to cover all eligible applicants, the agency must set priorities.

3) Curriculum and industry partnerships (Sec. 5)

  • Development of standardized, industry-aligned curricula for digital skills centers, including:
    • Core digital skills
    • Tracks such as web development, cloud computing, and digital marketing
    • Fast-track bootcamps with both virtual and in-person options
  • Economic Development shall foster partnerships with Nebraska-based and national tech firms for:
    • Curriculum input
    • Guest lectures, mentorship, and hands-on training
    • Access to industry tools and software

4) Apprenticeships in digital trades (Sec. 6)

  • Establish a grant program to fund paid tech apprenticeships (direct, hands-on experience in roles like junior developer, data analyst, cybersecurity assistant).
  • Grants to employers to hire paid apprentices, with a cap of up to $10 million per fiscal year.
  • Applications must detail company information, program location, apprenticeship type, funding use, and benefits to returning residents.

5) Definitions and administration (Sec. 3)

  • Clarifies terms: what constitutes a local educational institution, who is considered a low-income individual, and how a qualified census tract is defined (per 26 U.S.C. 42(d)(5)(B)(ii)(I)) as of Jan 1, 2025).

6) Legal and procedural notes

  • The act will amend Section 81-407, reissue and repeal prior provisions as needed.
  • Operative date: Not explicitly stated in the excerpt; the bill also references plans to repeal the original section (as usual for a comprehensive rewrite).
  • Status: Notice of hearing scheduled for February 3, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Residents of qualified census tracts, especially in Nebraska’s economically disadvantaged communities (e.g., North Omaha).
  • Low-income individuals seeking digital skills certifications and training.
  • Individuals returning from jail or prison who participate in training or employment pathways.
  • Local educational institutions and nonprofits operating or seeking to operate digital skills training centers.
  • Nebraska-based tech firms and national tech companies partnering on curricula, mentorship, or apprenticeships.

Timeline and process

  • Introduced: January 10, 2025
  • Hearing: February 3, 2025 (Committee: Business and Labor)
  • Administrative steps include grant applications, curriculum development, and operation of training centers and apprenticeships, with annual funding caps identified for the grant programs. An operative date is noted but not specified in the provided text.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a one-page briefing for policymakers or draft a stakeholder outline highlighting potential impacts by sector.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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