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LB 550

Require school districts to adopt a policy that excuses students to attend a course for religious instruction

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bob Andersen and 6 co-sponsors

Nebraska LB 550 requires every school district to adopt a policy allowing weekly released-time for religious instruction, with parent consent, sponsor-provided transport, secular c

Title printed. Carryover bill
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LB 550

Summary of Nebraska LB 550 (2025)

Overview

  • Bill: LB 550
  • Title: Require school districts to adopt a policy that excuses students to attend a course for religious instruction (released time)
  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Primary Sponsor: Senator Loren Lippincott; Chair: Senator Dave Murman; Committee: Education
  • Hearing: March 3, 2025
  • Status: Notice of hearing issued for March 3, 2025
  • Emergency clause: The bill includes an emergency provision, making it effective upon passage and approval

Purpose and intent

LB 550 would require every Nebraska school district to adopt a policy that permits and regulates released-time attendance for religious instruction. The policy ensures students may be excused from public school for a weekly released-time course and sets out responsibilities for parents, sponsoring entities, and the school district. The bill aims to formalize access to religious instruction while establishing secular standards for evaluating and crediting the coursework.

Key provisions

Definitions

  • Released time course: A course in religious instruction taught by a sponsoring entity, during which a student is excused from public school to attend.
  • Sponsoring entity: A private organization offering an elective religious instruction course.
  • Educational decisionmaker: As defined in Neb. statute (context references the school decisionmaking authority).
  • School district: As defined by Neb. statute.
  • Secular evaluation criteria: Includes, among other elements, hours of instruction, course syllabus, assessment methods, and instructor qualifications.

Policy requirements and deadlines

  • By July 1, 2025, each school district must adopt a policy allowing a student to attend at least one class period per week of a released-time course.
  • Policy must include:
    • Written consent from the student’s parent, guardian, or educational decisionmaker.
    • Sponsoring entity must maintain attendance records and provide them to the student’s school.
    • Sponsoring entity is responsible for transportation to and from the instructional location (and liability for the student’s attendance).
    • No school district funds (beyond de minimis administrative costs) may be expended for the released time program.
    • A released-time course may not be held on school district property unless a neutral, equal-access policy allows community group use of district facilities.
  • The policy must ensure the district does not reimburse district funds beyond de minimis costs and that transportation is the sponsor’s responsibility.

Attendance, funding, and credit

  • For funding and attendance purposes, a student excused for released time is considered to be attending the district from which they are excused.
  • A district may award academic credit for completion of a released-time course. Credit must be based on secular criteria substantially the same as for comparable courses and must be determined neutrally with respect to religious content or denominational affiliation.

Access, remedies, and enforcement

  • Nothing in the bill denies equal access to funds, benefits, or services available to community groups or other entities.
  • Any person or organization harmed by a violation may sue the responsible school district for appropriate relief, including actual damages, equitable or declaratory relief, and reasonable attorney’s fees.

Effective date

  • Emergency clause: The act takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Affected parties

  • School districts: Must adopt policies by July 1, 2025; oversee recordkeeping and compliance.
  • Students and families: Beneficiaries of released-time access; must provide parental consent.
  • Sponsoring entities: Provide instruction, transportation, records, and assume liability.
  • District staff and facilities: Subject to compliance and potential neutral access provisions.
  • Community groups: Potential access to district facilities if a neutral policy is in place.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Referred to: Education Committee (January 24, 2025)
  • Name additions for sponsors listed (late January 2025)
  • Notice of hearing issued for March 3, 2025 (February 24, 2025)

This summary captures the bill’s core aims, the main requirements on districts, implications for students and sponsors, and the key dates guiding its consideration.

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

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