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LB 298A

Appropriation Bill

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Arch

LB 298A provides $1.36M General Fund over FY2025-26 and FY2026-27 to implement LB 298, with salary/per diem caps and amended Office of Public Counsel budget.

Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
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Bill Summary · LB 298A

Summary — LB 298A (Appropriation Bill)

Status: Approved by the Governor (signed June 4, 2025).
Introduced: May 19, 2025. Sponsor: Sen. Arch (District 14). Effective: immediate (emergency clause).

Purpose

LB 298A is an appropriations bill to provide General Fund resources to the Legislative Council to aid implementation of Legislative Bill 298 (109th Leg., 1st Sess., 2025). It also amends the appropriation language for the Legislative Council’s Office of Public Counsel (amending section 21 of LB 261) and repeals the original section.

Key provisions

  • Appropriations to implement LB 298:

    • $680,000 from the General Fund for FY2025‑26 to the Legislative Council, Program 129.
    • $680,000 from the General Fund for FY2026‑27 to the Legislative Council, Program 129.
    • A cap on expenditures from these appropriated amounts for permanent and temporary salaries and per diems:
    • Not to exceed $590,500 for FY2025‑26.
    • Not to exceed $615,700 for FY2026‑27.

  • Amendment to LB 261 (Section 21) — Agency No. 3, Legislative Council, Program No. 504 (Office of Public Counsel):

    • Sets General Fund/program totals and salary limits as follows:
    • FY2025‑26 — General Fund / Program Total: $1,522,116; Salary limit: $1,403,997 (with an alternate or comparative salary total shown as $1,522,116 and $1,454,309 in the text).
    • FY2026‑27 — General Fund / Program Total: $2,202,116; Salary limit: $1,994,497 (with alternate figures shown as $2,202,116 and $2,070,009).
    • Reappropriates any unexpended General Fund appropriation balance existing on June 30, 2025.

  • Repeals the original section 21 of LB 261 and replaces it with the amended text.

  • Emergency clause: the act takes effect when passed and approved.

Fiscal impact

  • Total additional General Fund appropriations dedicated by this bill: $680,000 + $680,000 = $1,360,000 across the two fiscal years (FY2025‑26 and FY2026‑27).
  • Salary/per‑diem spending from those appropriations is capped at $590,500 (FY25‑26) and $615,700 (FY26‑27).
  • The amendment to Section 21 establishes program totals and salary limits for the Office of Public Counsel that affect budget planning for that office and allow reappropriation of any unspent FY2024‑25 funds as of June 30, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Legislative Council (Program 129) — receives funds to implement LB 298.
  • Office of Public Counsel (Program 504) — appropriation and salary limits adjusted.
  • State General Fund — increased appropriations and multi‑year budget commitments.
  • Legislative staff and temporary employees (salary/per diem budget subject to the caps).

Legislative timeline / actions

  • Introduced: May 19, 2025.
  • Advanced through Enrollment and Review; placed on Select File and Final Reading in late May 2025.
  • Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause (vote recorded May 30, 2025).
  • Presented to and signed by the Governor: presented May 30, 2025; approved June 4, 2025.
  • Effective upon approval due to the emergency clause.

Notes: LB 298A funds and administrative changes are specifically intended to support carrying out the substantive provisions of LB 298 (the underlying policy bill). This summary does not describe LB 298 itself; readers should consult that bill for details on the programmatic or policy activities that these appropriations will support.

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

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