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Bill

LR 299CA

Constitutional amendment to create the Nebraska Board of Commutation and transfer powers of the Board of Pardons

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

Nebraska constitutional amendment creates new Board of Commutation, transferring commutation authority from the Board of Pardons to restructure clemency processes.

Notice of hearing for February 12, 2026
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LR 299CA

Legislative bill overview

LR 299CA proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a new Nebraska Board of Commutation and transfer certain powers currently held by the Board of Pardons to this new entity. The amendment would restructure how Nebraska handles commutation decisions, separating this function from the existing pardon authority.

Why is this important

This change affects how incarcerated individuals can seek sentence reductions in Nebraska and alters the state's executive clemency structure. The separation of commutation powers from pardon authority could streamline the clemency process, though it may also create jurisdictional questions about which board handles which types of relief requests.

Potential points of contention

  • Constitutional amendment threshold: Since this requires constitutional amendment status, it needs substantial legislative support and may face voter approval hurdles, raising questions about whether this restructuring justifies that high bar
  • Undefined scope of power transfer: The bill description doesn't specify which exact powers transfer from the Board of Pardons to the new Board of Commutation, creating uncertainty about operational impacts and potential overlap
  • Impact on clemency applicants: Establishing a separate board could either improve processing efficiency or create confusion and delay if jurisdictional boundaries between boards aren't clearly defined

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

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