ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION - 2025
COMMITTEE STATEMENT
LB144
Hearing Date: Monday January 27, 2025
Committee On: Business and Labor
Introducer: Rountree
One Liner: Change provisions relating to veterans preferences for employment
Roll Call Vote - Final Committee Action:
Advanced to General File with amendment(s)
Vote Results:
Aye: 7 Senators Hansen, Ibach, Kauth, McKeon, Raybould, Sorrentino,
McKinney
Nay:
Absent:
Present Not Voting:
Testimony:
Proponents: Representing:
Senator Victor Rountree Opening Presenter
Michelle Richart U.S. Department of Defense
Aimee Salter Military & Family Readiness, 5S Force Support
Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base NE
Randy Norwood Greater Omaha Chamber
Ryan McIntosh National Guard Association of NE
Opponents: Representing:
Neutral: Representing:
* ADA Accommodation Written Testimony
Summary of purpose and/or changes:
LB 144 would amend Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-225, 48-226, 48-227, and 48-238 (“Statutes”), statutes dealing with
veteran preference in hiring for the State of Nebraska as well as private employers.
The Statutes were intended to give veterans and their spouses preference when being hired by the State of
Nebraska. The Statutes also allowed for private employers, if they chose to enact a veterans preference policy, to
offer the same preference to veterans and their spouses.
The Statutes currently define spouse of a veterans for purposes of whether they can get the veterans preference to
just include spouses of one hundred percent disabled veterans. The proposed legislation would change the definition
to include spouses of veterans who were killed in the line of duty or died due to their military service. The hiring
Committee Statement: LB144
Business and Labor Committee
Page 1 86804f170532655d1155668c12b1a9c2 authority for the State or the private employers who have adopted a veterans preference policy would be required to
be provided proof of the death in the line of duty or due to military service in order to offer the veterans preference.
The proposed legislation would add a definition of servicemember and clarify what a spouse of a servicemember is.
The spouse of a servicemember wanting to use the veterans preference for State of Nebraska jobs would be required
to provide the hiring authority proof of the servicemember’s active status and proof of marriage to the servicemember.
For spouses of servicemembers who want to use the veterans preference with a private employer who has adopted
such a policy, the preference would only be available during the servicemember’s active status or one hundred eighty
days after the servicemember’s discharge or separation from service. Additionally, the bill allows the veterans
preference to be used for promotion, reassignment, and transferring to a new position, in addition to hiring and
rehiring.
Section-by-Section Summary:
Section 1: Amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-225 to remove the requirement of being on active duty to the definition of
servicemember. It amends the definition of spouse of a veteran to include the spouses of servicemembers who were
killed in the line of duty or died during their military service. It amends the language regarding active duty to remains
on active status. Finally, it adds a definition of veteran preference to be the preference given to preference eligible
individuals pursuant to 48-225 through 48-231.
Section 2: Amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-226 to have the veterans preference apply to not just initial employment and
returns to employment with the State of Nebraska, but also to promotions, reassignments, and transfers to new
positions.
Section 3: Amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-227 to change “veterans” to “preference eligibles” and “qualifying veteran” to
“preference eligible.” It also amends the language to allow a spouse to provide documentation showing the veteran
spouse was killed in the line of duty or died during their military service in order to qualify for the veterans preference.
The spouse is also required to show the hiring authority documentation of the servicemember’s active status and
proof of their marriage to the servicemember.
Section 4: Amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-238, dealing with private employers who have adopted veterans preference
policies, to add a definition of “preference eligible” to include veterans and the spouses of servicemembers, but only
spouses of active status servicemembers or 180 days after they are discharged or sperate from service. It amends
the definition of veteran to include the spouses of servicemembers who were killed in the line of duty or died during
their military service. The spouse is also required to show private employers who have adopted a veterans
preference policy documentation of the servicemember’s active status and proof of their marriage to the
servicemember.
Section 5: Repeals the original sections being amended.
Explanation of amendments:
Standing Committee Amendment removes the proposed change of allowing the use of veterans preference for
promotions. Additionally, the amendment removes an erroneous reference to a definition in a section that does not
exist.
Committee Statement: LB144
Business and Labor Committee
Page 2 86804f170532655d1155668c12b1a9c2 Kathleen Kauth, Chairperson
Committee Statement: LB144
Business and Labor Committee
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