Nebraska transportation laws

What it would do: Designates the Urban Affairs Committee to conduct an interim study examining inland port authorities, their current operations, and their progress in developing land, infrastructure, and opportunities in their areas.

What it would do: Requires commercial motor vehicle driver training courses beginning January 1, 2027 to include a minimum of thirty minutes of antitrafficking training as prescribed by the Attorney General, who must establish curriculum by December 1, 2026 and review it at least every three years.

What it would do: Requires motor carriers, including transportation network companies, operating in Nebraska to obtain a license from the commission before transporting railroad employees in intrastate commerce, with a two hundred fifty dollar fee for initial and renewal licenses.

What it would do: Amends the Public Service Commission's railroad safety powers to allow it to adopt federal railroad safety standards from 49 U.S.C. chapters 201-213 and 49 C.F.R. parts 200-299 as of January 1, 2026, conduct inspections under the Federal Railroad Administration's State Safety Participation Program, and report violations to the FRA.

What it would do: Creates licenses for intrastate medicaid nonemergency medical transportation services issued by the Public Service Commission, and exempts rates charged by motor carriers and regulated motor carriers under such licenses from Public Service Commission regulation when determined by agreement with a state agency.

What it would do: Amends the Public Service Commission's authority to investigate railroad accidents by requiring railroads to report serious personal injuries, loss of life, explosions, fires, or noxious fume releases at railroad crossings to the commission within twenty-four hours, and makes violations a Class IV misdemeanor.

What it would do: Amends motor carrier authorization provisions by clarifying burdens of proof for applicants and protesters in certificate and permit applications, establishing procedures for medicaid nonemergency medical transportation designations, and modifying authorization requirements for transportation network companies.

What it would do: Creates a new criminal offense for knowingly, willfully, or recklessly interfering with railroad infrastructure, equipment, personnel, or operations without lawful authority, including tampering with tracks, signals, trains, or making terroristic threats regarding railroads. Violation is a Class IIIA felony.

What it would do: Adopts the Railroad Safety Act, requiring railroads to limit trains carrying hazardous substances to 8,500 feet on main lines, install wayside detector systems every 20 miles, not obstruct public crossings longer than 10 minutes, and provide emergency responder training, with violations subject to fines of $10,000 to $25,000 or up to $100,000.

What it would do: Requires the commission to mandate a minimum of one million dollars in uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage per occupant for certificated intrastate motor carriers, household goods carriers, and motor carriers transporting railroad employees.

What it would do: Requires personal identifying information of train crew members in railroad fatality reports to be redacted from public reports and kept confidential by law enforcement, while allowing access to unredacted copies by railroads, courts, and certain officials. Exempts train crew members from displaying operator's licenses to law enforcement.

What it would do: Allows trial courts to dismiss direct negligence claims against defendants in civil actions involving commercial motor vehicles if the defendant stipulates the negligent person was their employee or independent contractor acting within the scope of employment, limiting defendant liability to respondeat superior doctrine.

What it would do: Amends the Grain Warehouse Act to establish a streamlined licensing process for applicants holding valid United States Warehouse Act licenses, caps annual warehouse license fees at rates from the 2025/2026 USDA Agricultural Marketing Service notice, and requires entities licensed under the United States Warehouse Act to notify the commission annually and post bond information.

What it would do: Reduces the statewide cap on inland port districts from six to five under the Municipal Inland Port Authority Act.

What it would do: Changes motor vehicle tax allocation percentages effective July 1, 2028, increases county treasurer retention from one percent to two percent, creates a motor vehicle tax supplement for school districts, modifies motor vehicle tax and fee schedules, and adds motor vehicle tax receipts to local system formula resources.

What it would do: Amends section 74-1335 to clarify that a railroad's successor in interest, including agents, successors, assignees, trustees, receivers, and persons acquiring interests in railroad land, must provide and maintain adequate crossing means for landowners with property on both sides of the right-of-way.

What it would do: Allows any person 18 years or older who holds a valid commercial driver's license to be issued a hazardous materials endorsement to haul hazardous materials intrastate, and makes conforming amendments to the Motor Vehicle Operator's License Act.