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Bill

LB 31

Require school policies relating to the use of student surveillance, monitoring, and tracking technology by school districts

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Danielle Conrad and 1 co-sponsor

LB31 creates a state model policy on school surveillance tech and requires districts to adopt it, publish tool inventories, and uphold privacy protections for students.

Title printed. Carryover bill
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Bill Summary · LB 31

Summary of Nebraska LB31 (2025)

Overview

LB31 would require the Nebraska State Board of Education to create a model policy governing the use of student surveillance, monitoring, and tracking technology by school districts. It also mandates a phased adoption by local districts to ensure standardized standards for purchasing and using mass surveillance tools, with a focus on transparency, privacy protections, and student rights.

What the bill would do

  • Create and distribute a model policy by December 1, 2025.
  • Require each school district to adopt a written policy consistent with the model policy, with implementation at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
  • Establish minimum standards for district policies, to be aligned with the State Board’s model policy.
  • Require districts to publicly post an inventory of tools and related information on their websites, with hard-copy availability on request.

Key requirements in the model policy (minimum standards)

  • Inventory of surveillance tools and student surveys that collect personal information, including:
    • Name and contact information for each vendor/government entity.
    • Costs of purchase and ongoing maintenance.
    • Description of each tool, including privacy protections and data collection/sharing practices.
    • Whether parents can opt their child out.
    • How data may be shared with law enforcement and any implications for Student Discipline Act actions.
    • Accommodations for students with disabilities or IEPs.
    • How biometric or personally identifiable information is stored, shared, or sold with vendors/government entities.
    • Remedies for privacy violations (referencing laws such as the Consumer Protection Act, the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act, and relevant privacy statutes).
  • Public posting of the inventory and related information on each district’s website; hard copies must be available upon request.
  • Guidelines for standards and procedures for the purchase and use of mass surveillance tools, ensuring alignment with privacy and civil liberties.

Who is affected

  • Nebraska school districts and boards of education (district policies and procurement practices).
  • Students and their parents/guardians (privacy rights, opt-out options, data protections).
  • Private vendors, contractors, and government entities that provide or support surveillance, monitoring, or tracking tools.
  • School administrators and staff (implementation and compliance with policy).

Timeline and procedural aspects

  • Introduced: January 9, 2025.
  • Hearing: February 4, 2025 (Education Committee).
  • Model policy deadline: December 1, 2025.
  • Policy adoption deadline: Beginning May 1, 2026; implementation at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
  • Status: As of the provided information, amendments (AM358) were filed and later noted as “lost” in committee activity, with LB31 moving through committee before potential general-file action.

Amendments (AM358)

An amendment package (AM358) proposed edits to several lines of the bill to adjust language related to awareness, balancing interests, and specificity around tracking/surveillance terminology. The amendments targeted wording changes rather than major policy shifts, and the overall framework of LB31 remains focused on model policy development and district adoption.

Considerations

  • The bill emphasizes transparency, parental rights, and strong privacy protections for students.
  • It creates a structured, state-guided approach to regulate school district use of surveillance technology.
  • Potential impacts include planning and resource needs for districts to inventory tools, assess privacy protections, and ensure compliance with posting and adoption timelines.

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

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