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LB 513

Change judges' salaries

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Carolyn Bosn

Raises in Nebraska Supreme Court judges' annual salaries to 228,431.18 starting 7/1/2025 and 231,857.65 starting 7/1/2026, with linked adjustments for other judges.

Approved by Governor on May 30, 2025
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Bill Summary · LB 513

Summary — LB 513 (2025): Change judges' salaries

Status: Enacted — Approved by the Governor May 30, 2025 (Final Reading passed 38–11).
Introduced: January 21, 2025. Sponsor: Sen. Carolyn Bosn. Committee: Judiciary.

Purpose

LB 513 amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-201.01 to increase the statutory salary of the Chief Justice and the judges of the Nebraska Supreme Court, and (by reference in law) adjusts salaries of judges in other Nebraska courts accordingly.

Key provisions

  • Amends section 24-201.01 to set new Supreme Court judicial salaries as follows:
    • Effective July 1, 2025: $228,431.18 (annual salary for the Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges).
    • Effective July 1, 2026: $231,857.65 (annual salary).
  • Retains the previously statutorily specified salary history for July 1, 2022 ($198,426.51), July 1, 2023 ($212,316.37), and July 1, 2024 ($225,055.35).
  • Salaries remain payable in equal monthly installments.
  • Includes an emergency clause; the bill was approved by the Governor on May 30, 2025. The statute also specifies an operative date of July 1, 2025, and the enactment contains language declaring an emergency.

Note on amendments: The Judiciary Committee adopted amendment AM1157, which replaced the original text and set the salary figures reflected in the enacted law.

Who is affected

  • Directly: Chief Justice and the judges of the Nebraska Supreme Court (new annual salary levels).
  • Indirectly: Judges in other Nebraska courts whose salaries are statutorily linked or adjusted in relation to Supreme Court salaries (e.g., appellate, district, county judges) — those salaries will be adjusted as provided by existing law.
  • State budget/state agencies: increased payroll costs for judicial pay (fiscal notes were prepared during consideration).

Legislative process / timeline

  • Referred to Judiciary Committee Jan 23, 2025; hearing Feb 21, 2025. Proponents included representatives of the Nebraska Supreme Court, County Judges Association, and State Bar Association. No recorded opponents at committee.
  • AM1157 filed April 28, 2025 and adopted May 8, 2025.
  • Motion to indefinitely postpone (Conrad MO39) was filed and later failed.
  • Advanced through General File, Select File, and Final Reading. Placed on Final Reading May 13; passed Final Reading with emergency clause May 28 (vote 38–11); presented to Governor May 28; approved May 30, 2025.
  • The enacted statute specifies the July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026 salary effective dates and contains an emergency clause.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal notes were prepared (versions submitted Feb 20 and May 12, 2025). The bill increases ongoing salary costs for the judicial branch and related employer contributions; the enacted law sets specific annual amounts for budgeting beginning FY2025–26. For exact dollar impacts on state and county budgets, refer to the published fiscal notes.

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

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