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LB 52

Provide additional offenses for which notification to crime victims is required

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Barry DeKay and 1 co-sponsor

Expands victim notification to include more offenses, ensuring victims are identified and kept informed about offender custody, release, parole, and related status changes.

Approved by Governor on February 25, 2025
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Bill Summary · LB 52

Summary — LB 52 (2025)

Status: Approved by Governor (signed February 25, 2025)
Introduced: January 9, 2025 | Sponsors: Sen. Teresa Ibach (primary), Sen. DeKay (cosponsor)
Statute amended: Section 81-1850, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska

Purpose

LB 52 expands the list of criminal offenses for which victims must be identified to and notified by correctional and parole authorities. The change is intended to ensure victims of additional serious offenses receive statutory notifications (including before and after pardon/commutation proceedings) about custody, release, parole, and related status changes of the convicted person.

Key provisions

  • Amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-1850 to broaden the definition of "covered offense." Newly added offenses include:
    • Manslaughter (§ 28-305) and motor vehicle homicide (§ 28-306)
    • Assault by strangulation or suffocation (§ 28-310.01)
    • Terroristic threats (§ 28-311.01)
    • False imprisonment in the first degree (§ 28-314)
    • Sexual abuse by a school employee (§ 28-316.01)
    • Child enticement via electronic communication device (§ 28-320.02)
    • Sexual abuse of a protected individual (§ 28-322.04)
    • Domestic assault in the first or second degree (§ 28-323)
    • Sex trafficking and labor trafficking (including minors) (§ 28-831)
    • Also includes attempts, solicitations, and conspiracies to commit any listed offense.
  • Harmonizes the ordering of offenses to follow the criminal code statute order.
  • Clarifies notification roles for agencies: county attorneys must forward victim name/address to applicable agencies; agencies covered include the Board of Parole, Department of Correctional Services (DCS), county corrections agencies, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and Board of Pardons.
  • Confirms victims’ names are to be included in the convicted person’s file but not made part of the public record for parole or pardon hearings.
  • Maintains/clarifies victim notification rights and procedures:
    • Victims may waive notification via the county attorney but may later request notification in writing.
    • Board of Parole notifications: tentative release/earliest parole eligibility (within 90 days of conviction), hearings, decisions, return-to-custody, and release of mentally disordered sex offenders or convicted sex offenders.
    • DCS/county corrections notifications: furloughs/releases of 24+ hours, transfer to community status, participation in community-based programs (start and end), escapes and returns, discharge (at least 30 days before when practicable), calculation of earliest parole eligibility (upon request), reductions in minimum sentence, and victims’ right to submit a statement under § 81-1848.
    • DHHS notifications: petitions under Mental Health Commitment Act or Sex Offender Commitment Act and status changes (escapes, discharges, furloughs, release into programs) for committed persons.
  • Repeals the original section (technical clean-up consistent with statutory amendment).

Who is affected

  • Victims (including those who previously waived notification but later request) of the newly added covered offenses gain the statutory right to have their names included in offender files and to receive the enumerated notifications.
  • County attorneys and state/local correctional and parole agencies incur additional duties to collect, include, and transmit victim contact information and provide expanded notifications.
  • Board of Pardons is required to notify victims listed in offender files prior to, and if granted, a pardon or commutation (per bill intent and harmonized statutory language).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Referred to Judiciary Committee (Jan 13, 2025); hearing Jan 22, 2025 (advanced to General File).
  • Final legislative action: Passed Final Reading 48–0–1 (Feb 21, 2025); presented to Governor Feb 21; signed into law by Governor Feb 25, 2025.
  • Effective date: not specified in the summary text; enacted amendment and repeal are part of the enacted slip law (check the published statute or Secretary of State filing for the specific effective date).

Practical implications

  • Expands statutory victim notification protections to more offenses, strengthening victims’ access to information about offender status and opportunities to provide statements.
  • Agencies must update procedures and recordkeeping to reflect the expanded list of covered offenses and comply with timely notification requirements.

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

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