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LB 635

Authorize the regulation of professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, professional muay thai, amateur muay thai, and amateur kickboxing by the State Athletic Commissioner

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ben Hansen

LB 635 brings bare-knuckle MMA, MMA on ice, muay thai, and amateur kickboxing under the State Athletic Commissioner’s licensing, safety rules, bonding, and 5% gross-receipts remit.

Approved by Governor on May 13, 2025
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Bill Summary · LB 635

Summary — LB 635 (2025)

Status: Approved by Governor (May 13, 2025)
Introduced: Jan 22, 2025 | Sponsor: Sen. Ben Hansen

Main purpose

LB 635 expands the State Athletic Commissioner’s regulatory authority to include additional combat-sports activities. The law authorizes the Commissioner to license, regulate, and enforce safety and business rules for:
- professional bare‑knuckle mixed martial arts (MMA),
- professional mixed martial arts on ice,
- professional muay thai,
- amateur muay thai, and
- amateur kickboxing.

The bill harmonizes these new inclusions with existing athletic regulation statutes and gives the Commissioner rule‑making and enforcement authority.

Key provisions and changes

  • Jurisdiction: Amends section 81‑8,129 to place the listed professional and amateur events under the sole direction, management, control, and jurisdiction of the State Athletic Commissioner.
  • Licensing:
    • Amateur club/organization licenses: fee set by rule; minimum $25, maximum $100 (section 81‑8,130).
    • Professional promoter licenses: fee set by rule; minimum $100, maximum $300 (section 81‑8,130.01).
    • Licenses for referees, physicians, managers, matchmakers, judges, timekeepers, contestants, and seconds: fees set by rule with specified minima/maxima (referees $10–$40; matchmakers $10–$100; physicians/managers/judges/timekeepers/contestants/seconds $10–$20) (sections 81‑8,133 & 81‑8,133.01).
  • Bonding: License applicants must post a bond — at least $1,000 for amateur events and at least $5,000 for professional events (section 81‑8,132).
  • Event operations and safety:
    • Requires a licensed referee to be in attendance and to stop matches for safety reasons; referee must declare the winner.
    • Professional bare‑knuckle MMA is explicitly excepted from the eight‑ounce glove requirement.
    • Bare‑knuckle contests limited to three rounds (non‑championship) and up to five rounds for championship bouts.
    • Contestants must present a written physician certification that they underwent a same‑day physical examination and are fit to fight.
  • Financial reporting and fee: Promoters must file written reports after events detailing agreements, tickets sold, gross receipts (including TV rights), etc. Promoters must remit 5% of total gross receipts to the State Athletic Commissioner (section 81‑8,135).
  • Anti‑fraud and enforcement: Extends existing prohibitions on sham/fake matches and provides rulemaking authority so safety and administrative standards that already apply to boxing and MMA apply to the newly included events (sections 81‑8,138 & 81‑8,139).
  • Repealer/harmonization: Amends multiple sections (81‑8,129; 81‑8,130; 81‑8,130.01; 81‑8,132; 81‑8,133; 81‑8,133.01; 81‑8,134; 81‑8,135; 81‑8,138; 81‑8,139) and harmonizes related provisions.

Who is affected

  • Promoters, clubs, and organizations staging the newly covered events (must be licensed and bonded).
  • Athletes (professional and amateur bare‑knuckle MMA, MMA on ice, muay thai, kickboxing) — subject to licensing, medical exams, and safety rules.
  • Officials (referees, physicians, judges, matchmakers, timekeepers) — licensing and fee structure.
  • Broadcasters and commercial partners (event reporting and revenue‑share obligations).
  • The State Athletic Commissioner (expanded regulatory workload and rulemaking responsibility).

Legislative timeline & votes

  • Referred to General Affairs: Jan 24, 2025; hearing: Feb 10, 2025.
  • Committee amendment AM399 (Feb 27) removed some originally proposed activities (e.g., slap fighting) and added muay thai language; further technical amendments via Enrollment & Review (ER63).
  • Advanced through General File and Select File; Enrollment and Review ER63 adopted Apr 30, 2025.
  • Passed Final Reading in Legislature: May 9, 2025 (vote: 45–2–2); presented to Governor May 9; approved by Governor May 13, 2025.

Practical impact

LB 635 brings several combat-sport disciplines under Nebraska’s athletic regulatory framework—establishing licensing, bonding, safety checks, official oversight, financial reporting, and a 5% gross‑receipts remittance. It formalizes oversight for promoters and participants and enables the Commissioner to promulgate rules to protect athlete safety and event integrity.

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

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