ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION - 2025
COMMITTEE STATEMENT
LB635
Hearing Date: Monday February 10, 2025
Committee On: General Affairs
Introducer: Hansen
One Liner: Authorize the regulation of professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed
martial arts on ice, amateur kickboxing, and slap fighting by the State Athletic Commissioner
Roll Call Vote - Final Committee Action:
Advanced to General File with amendment(s)
Vote Results:
Aye: 8 Senators Holdcroft, Andersen, Cavanaugh, J., Clouse, DeKay, Quick,
Rountree, Storm
Nay:
Absent:
Present Not Voting:
Testimony:
Proponents: Representing:
Senator Ben Hansen Opening Presenter
Dr. Henry Ems Dynasty Combat Sports
Andrew Sommers VFL, Calculated Violence
Zachary Hughes self
Tim Seretta TBA and Mid America Martial Arts
Opponents: Representing:
Neutral: Representing:
* ADA Accommodation Written Testimony
Summary of purpose and/or changes:
LB 635 proposes to add professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, amateur
kickboxing and all slap fighting matches and their exhibitions to the jurisdiction of the State Athletic Commission, for
participation in a match or exhibition fight for a prize or purse.
SECTION BY SECTION SUMMARY:
Section 1: Amends section 81-8,129 to include professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts,
professional mixed martial arts on ice, amateur kickboxing and all slap fighting matches,
with some exceptions, under the sole direction, management, control, and jurisdiction of the
State Athletic Commissioner, for purposes of holding a match or exhibition for a prize or
Committee Statement: LB635
General Affairs Committee
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Section 2: Amends section 81-8,130. Subsection one, allows licenses and accompanying fees, to be
administered to amateur bare-knuckle mixed martial arts club, association, or organization
by the State Athletic Director. A new subsection two, allows the State Athletic Commissioner
to issue licenses for slap fighting matches or exhibitions, with a fee set by the commissioner,
not less than twenty-five dollars and not more than one hundred dollars.
Section 3: Amends section 81-8,130.01 to allow licenses, permits, and accompanying fees, to be
administered to professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts and professional mixed martial
arts on ice, under the direction, management, control, and jurisdiction of the State Athletic
Commissioner.
Section 4: Amends section 81-8,132 to require a bond in the sum of not less than one thousand dollars
in order to issue a license for amateur kickboxing, or slap fighting, and not less than five
thousand dollars for a license for professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts or
professional mixed martial arts on ice.
Section 5: Amends section 81-8,133 to include professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts,
professional mixed martial arts on ice, amateur kickboxing and slap fighting to the list of
matches at which a licensed referee is required to direct and control the match, and declare
a winner.
Section 6: Amends section 81-8,133.01 to include professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts,
professional mixed martial arts on ice to this section of athletic events at which a licenses to
qualified physicians, managers, matchmakers, professional mixed martial arts, professional
boxing, professional kickboxing, professional bare-knuckle boxing, and professional sparring
match or exhibition judges may be issued, upon submission of an application and annual fee
set by the commissioner.
Section 7: Amends section 81-8,134. Subsection one includes professional bare-knuckle mixed martial
arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, amateur kickboxing match, or slap fighting as
matches conducted in this state and labeled as a championship match must have a regional
or national significance and the approval of a nationally recognized association. Subsection two
includes professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts as an exception to the requirement of
contestants wearing gloves weighing at least eight ounces each. Subsection three includes
professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts contests to not exceed three rounds in length,
except in a championship match that cannot exceed five rounds in length. Section four
includes professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts contestant, professional mixed martial
arts on ice contestant, amateur kickboxing contestant, or slap fighting contestant is allowed
to participate in a contest unless a licensed physician certifies in writing that the contestant
has completed a physical examination the day of the contest and is physically fit to
participate in the proposed contest.
Section 8: Amends section 81-8,135 by requiring amateur kickboxing, professional bare-knuckle mixed
martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice, amateur bare-knuckle mixed martial
arts, or amateur bare-knuckle boxing to submit a written report to the State Athletic
Commissioner which shows the articles of agreement between the contestants, the number
of tickets sold for each contest, the amount of the gross receipts thereof, the gross receipts
Committee Statement: LB635
General Affairs Committee
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Commissioner. Five percent of the total gross receipts are required to be paid to the State
Athletic Commissioner as well. These same requirements are currently in force for any
professional mixed martial arts, amateur mixed martial arts, professional boxing,
professional kickboxing, or professional bare-knuckle boxing match held in the state.
Section 9: Amends section 81-8,138 by adding professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts,
professional mixed martial arts on ice, amateur kickboxing or slap fighting, amateur bare-
knuckle boxing, and amateur bare-knuckle mixed martial arts to the other matches or
exhibitions listed under this statute which places a prohibition on sham or fake professional
and amateur matches. Contestants in these matches or exhibitions will not be paid before
services are rendered, and only if it is determined that the contestant gave an honest
exhibition of his or her skill.
Section 10: Amends section 81-8,139 by allowing the State Athletic Commissioner to adopt and
promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of sections 81-
8,128 to 81-8,142.01 to apply to amateur kickboxing or slap fighting, amateur bare-knuckle
boxing, professional bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, professional mixed martial arts on ice,
amateur bare-knuckle mixed martial arts, and amateur sparring matches, as they currently
exist for referees, physicians, managers, matchmakers, professional boxers, professional
mixed martial arts, professional kickboxing, professional bare-knuckle boxing, and
professional sparring match or exhibition judges.
Section 11: Repealer.
Explanation of amendments:
AM399 is a white copy amendment removing all references of slap fighting matches or exhibitions from LB 635 and
includes amateur and professional Muay Thai to the list of matches and exhibitions to be regulated and controlled by
the State Athletic Commissioner.
Rick Holdcroft, Chairperson
Committee Statement: LB635
General Affairs Committee
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