Tenants' Rights Bills Scheduled for Committee Hearings
The Judiciary Committee will hear testimony about the significance on five bills aimed at strengthening renter protections on Wednesday, March 8th, at 1:30.
LB248 - Prohibit Source of Income Discrimination
- Bars landlords from declining any tenant based on how the tenant pays rent (e.g., SSI, Section 8, SSDI, etc.)
- Offers a guarantee program for landlords, similar to the risk mitigation fund offered by the Metro Housing Collaborative
LB175 - Tenant Clean Slate
- Allows certain tenants to petition the court to have their eviction records sealed so they no longer show up on rental history reports
- A tenant qualifies three years after an eviction or if their eviction was dismissed or vacated
LB182 - Imposes Reporting Requirements
- Requires the court system to provide a report on eviction cases with information necessary to track and monitor eviction filings
- Must include the grounds for the eviction (non-payment, criminal activity, non-renewal, etc.)
LB187 – Grants Tenants a Right to Legal Counsel
- Requires appointment of an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings
- Limited to Omaha and Lincoln
LB545 – Change When Eviction Can Occur
- When the court grants an eviction, it issues a writ -- this is what permits a sheriff to change the locks and evict the tenant
- This bill would change the law to say that the sheriff can’t be sent to change the locks for 10 days (i.e., earliest writ issued is on 11th day)
LB270 – Change Provisions Relating to Rental Registration Ordinances
- Limited to cities with a rental registration ordinance already in place (including Omaha)
- The city must inform residents when a code violation is found at rental property
- When the city must condemn a rental property for code violations, the city must have plan to rehouse tenants (providing for transportation, temporary housing, etc.) and meet with residents before condemning the property
- If a landlord isn’t in compliance with the city registration ordinance, they can’t terminate a tenant’s lease
- Requires landlords to remove and replace lead service lines
If this legislation is important to you, you can submit a comment to the Judiciary Committee for the record.
To be considered, comments must be submitted by noon on Tuesday, March 7th.
Link to Committee Hearing Schedule for March 8
Another important housing justice bill is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, March 9th with the Judiciary Committee:
LB8 - changes the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Act
- Makes the rules for dealing with abandoned mobile homes more fair
- Aligns the Mobile Home Act with protections afforded tenants under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
Other Items of Note with Hearings Next Week:
Tuesday, March 7th
Urban Affairs
LB531 - amends last year's ARPA legislation
- $10 million allocated to Lincoln, $10 million allocated to a city outside Lincoln and Omaha, with the rest going to qualified census tracts in Omaha
- Specifics and details are not provided
LB424- creating a state Department of Housing and Urban Development
Wednesday, March 8th
Appropriations will hear several affordable housing development bills:
LB504 and LB741 - appropriating funds
- $50 million over two years to the Rural Workforce Housing Investment fund to provide housing grants
- Allocates another $50 million over two years to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to finance loans, grants, subsidies, credit enhancements, and other financial assistance for community affordable housing projects
LB786 - allocating money
- Appropriates $100 million over two years for the Department of Economic Development and NIFA to provide for development of housing units in Omaha
- Priority given for housing located two miles from an airport, housed in a qualified census tract, and mixed-income housing
LB789 - allocating money
- Appropriates $100 million over two years for the Department and NIFA to provide for innovative housing solutions
LB801 - allocating money to housing funds
- Transfers $200 million over two years to the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund and Affordable Housing Trust Fund to provide workforce housing grants
Health and Human Services
LB310 - change maximum payment level under the aid to dependent children program
- Changes maximum payment level for monthly assistance from 55% of the standard of need to 85%, starting on September 10, 2023
Thursday, March 9th
The Executive Board will hear testimony on LR2CA, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would change Nebraska’s government from a unicameral legislature to a bicameral legislature
