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LB 678

State intent regarding appropriations to the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Brian Hardin

Appropriates General Fund to the Nebraska State Colleges to cover negotiated salary increases and health insurance premium hikes for FY2025-26 and FY2026-27, via emergency clause.

Title printed. Carryover bill
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Bill Summary · LB 678

Summary of Nebraska LB 678 (2025)

Overview

LB 678 is a bill introduced by Senator Brian Hardin in the 109th Nebraska Legislature (First Session, 2025) that expresses the intent to appropriate General Fund resources to the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges. The stated purpose is to fund salary increases required by negotiated agreements and minimum health insurance premium increases for FY2025-26 and FY2026-27. The measure includes an emergency clause, taking effect upon enactment.

  • Primary sponsor: Senator Brian Hardin
  • Committee: Appropriations
  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Referred to: Appropriations (January 24, 2025)
  • Hearing notice: February 5, 2025
  • Hearing date: February 25, 2025
  • Program/Agency: Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges, Program 48

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill states the intent to appropriate funds from the General Fund to support:
    • Salary increases negotiated with employee associations
    • Minimum wage or wage-related increases
    • Health insurance premium increases
  • It targets the Nebraska State College System and the Board of Trustees, to help satisfy obligations under negotiated labor agreements.

Key Provisions

  • Section 1: Appropriates General Fund dollars for two fiscal years:
    • FY2025-26: $XXX from the General Fund to the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges, Program 48
    • FY2026-27: $XXX from the General Fund to the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges, Program 48
    • The appropriations are specifically for salary increases required by negotiated agreements with the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPO) and the State College Education Association (SCEA), and for minimumHealth insurance premium increases.
  • Section 2: References to salary/wage increases for the State College System, aligned with applicable wage acts or negotiated increases (text appears garbled in places but indicates funding for wage-related adjustments).
  • Emergency clause: The act contains an emergency declaration, making it effective immediately upon passage and approval.

Fiscal Implications

  • The bill contemplates General Fund appropriations for two future fiscal years (FY2025-26 and FY2026-27) to cover negotiated salary increases and health insurance costs.
  • Specific dollar amounts are shown as placeholders ($XXX), indicating the exact figures would be determined or set in an enacted version or through subsequent appropriation processes.
  • By design, LB 678 provides funding authority to the Nebraska State College System to meet contractual wage obligations and health benefit costs.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Nebraska State College System and its governance via the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges
  • Employees covered by the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPO) contracts and the State College Education Association (SCEA)
  • The broader state budget framework, as it appropriates General Fund dollars to Program 48 within the college system

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Referred to Appropriations: January 24, 2025
  • Notice of hearing published: February 5, 2025
  • Hearing: February 25, 2025
  • The exact appropriations ($XXX) are not specified in the document provided and would be determined during the legislative process.

Additional Observations

  • The bill’s emergency clause indicates a desire for immediate effect, driven by the urgency of funding negotiated and mandated annual increases.
  • As introduced, the bill sets the framework for funding but relies on subsequent legislative action to finalize the exact dollar amounts.

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

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