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LB 80

Adopt the Protection Orders Act, require reporting of child abuse and neglect involving military families, provide for domestic violence victims to change rental agreements and request the changing of locks, and change provisions related to landlords and tenants

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Beau Ballard and 2 co-sponsors

LB 80 creates a unified Protection Orders Act that streamlines and expands protection orders for domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault, with updated procedures and remedie

Provisions/portions of LB141 amended into LB80 by AM801
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LB 80

Summary — LB 80 (2025): Protection Orders Act and Related Changes

Status: Enacted — Approved by the Governor May 20, 2025 (Passed Final Reading 46–3). Portions of LB141 and LB267 were incorporated into LB80 by Judiciary Amendment AM801. Fiscal notes were filed.

Purpose

LB 80 consolidates and modernizes Nebraska’s statutes on protection orders by creating the Protection Orders Act, streamlining domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault protection-order law, and harmonizing related statutes. It also (1) requires DHHS notification to military installations in certain child abuse/neglect reports, and (2) adds landlord–tenant protections for victims of domestic violence (e.g., changing rental agreements and requesting lock changes).

Key provisions

  • Protection Orders Act

    • Establishes a unified statutory framework (Sections 1–25) for domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault protection orders and defines key terms (abuse, harass, family/household member, household pet, law enforcement agency, sexual assault offense).
    • Creates distinct petition/affidavit processes and relief available for:
    • Domestic abuse protection orders
    • Harassment protection orders (including renewal authority)
    • Sexual assault protection orders
    • Filing and procedure:
    • Petitions filed with the district court clerk; hearings may be in county or district court.
    • Petitions cannot be withdrawn except by court order.
    • Courts may treat petitions interchangeably (if facts support a different type of order).
    • When an ex parte order is not granted/renewed, the court schedules an evidentiary hearing (generally within 14 days) and provides notice to respondent.
    • Affidavits filed by petitioners are deemed entered into evidence unless excluded.
    • Courts may refer domestic abuse matters to referees for findings/recommendations.
    • Duration and renewal:
    • Initial protection orders may be issued for an initial period set by the court (statutory language extends the initial period to at least 1 year and up to 2 years, at court discretion).
    • Renewal procedures: petitioners may file renewals within 45 days before expiration; renewals can be granted on affidavit in specified circumstances.
    • Relief expanded/clarified:
    • Typical stay-away, no-contact, removal from residence, temporary custody (up to specified days), and ordering possession of household pets (sole possession for the order duration).
    • Court must notify respondents that domestic abuse protection orders may affect federal firearm rights.
    • Orders and related documents may be provided electronically; petitions can request confidential contact information.

  • Penalties

    • Violating a domestic abuse, sexual assault, or valid foreign domestic/sexual-assault protection order: Class I misdemeanor for a first offense; Class IV felony for second/subsequent offense.
    • Violating a harassment or valid foreign harassment protection order: Class II misdemeanor for first offense; Class I misdemeanor for second/subsequent offense.

  • Confidentiality / Data

    • Courts may accept confidential numeric victim ID (DOB, SSN) and must make it available to criminal justice agencies enforcing orders, but such information is not to be entered into state or federal databases.

  • Recognition of out‑of‑state orders

    • Includes recognition provisions for valid foreign (out-of-state) harassment and sexual assault protection orders.

  • Military notification (from LB141, incorporated)

    • Amends Child Protection and Family Safety provisions to require DHHS to notify the appropriate military installation when a report of child abuse or neglect involves a member of a military family.

  • Landlord–tenant provisions (from LB267, incorporated)

    • Adds powers/duties for landlords regarding tenants affected by domestic violence, including measures that facilitate changing rental agreements and requesting lock changes to enhance victim safety.

Who is affected

  • Petitioners/victims of domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault (expanded remedies, confidentiality options).
  • Respondents (new/clarified procedures and criminal penalties for violations).
  • Courts and clerks (consolidated procedures, filing/processing changes).
  • Law enforcement and criminal justice agencies (enforcement, data access).
  • DHHS and military installations (notification duties for child-abuse reports).
  • Landlords and tenants (new duties/options for safety-related rental changes).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The bill reorganized and harmonized multiple statutory sections and repealed conflicting provisions.
  • Enrolled and signed into law May 20, 2025. Implementation will follow standard state agency and court practice to adopt forms and procedures under the new Act. Fiscal notes were prepared and are available.

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

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