LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

by Jennifer Turco Meyer, Chair, NATA Legislative Committee

NATA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR CIVIL JUSTICE IN NEBRASKA

The 2025 Nebraska state legislative session brought forth one of the most significant and troubling proposals we’ve seen in recent decades—an attempt to rewrite Nebraska’s civil justice system in favor of powerful out-of-state interests. On May 12, 2025, the Judiciary Committee advanced LB 79 to the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. This sweeping tort reform bill, championed by national insurance, trucking, and petrochemical companies, poses a direct and immediate threat to the rights of injured Nebraskans and the foundational principles of our legal system.

LB 79 is a multi-pronged assault on access to civil justice. It proposes a $2.25 million cap on noneconomic damages in commercial vehicle cases, effectively stripping Nebraska juries of the authority to fully value pain, suffering, and loss. It also eliminates direct negligence claims against employers in trucking cases, removing a vital layer of accountability when companies hire unqualified drivers or put unsafe vehicles on our roads. The bill cuts the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in half—from four years to just two— and alters the recovery for past and future medical damages to allow only the amounts actually paid, not the amounts billed. Further, it allows defendants to introduce evidence of a plaintiff’s failure to wear a seatbelt, potentially reducing recoveries beyond the current 5%, even in cases where negligence is clearly established.

NATA unequivocally opposes LB 79. Despite the proponents’ claims to the contrary, this bill is not the result of balanced negotiation or meaningful compromise between all interested parties. This legislation strips away the constitutional right to trial by jury, erodes public safety, weakens accountability, and tilts the scales of justice in favor of corporate defendants at the expense of our clients—real people whose lives have been destroyed through no fault of their own.

As this newsletter goes to print, only three days remain in this legislative session, and while LB 79 is unlikely to be debated in that time, we are far from out of the woods. The bill has been designated as a priority and is expected to return during the short session of the biennium in January 2026. We have a critical window to organize, educate and prepare for the fight that lies ahead. The NATA Legislative Committee and our lobbyists will remain fully engaged—monitoring every development and aggressively opposing this dangerous legislation. But our success also depends on you:

• CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and urge them to vote against LB 79 and a motion for cloture.

• MOBILIZE YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORK by sharing our press releases and social media materials to raise public awareness.

• ELEVATE REAL STORIES —if you have a client willing to share their story in opposition, that testimony can make a powerful difference.

• DONATE TO THE NATA-PAC to support the election of representatives that value civil justice and will protect the rights of injured Nebraskans.

This is a pivotal moment for our organization and the clients we serve. The threat to civil justice in Nebraska is real and ongoing, and we must rise to the challenge and respond with coordinated, collective resolve. Let’s use this time to build momentum, strengthen our advocacy, and stand united in defense of the rights of injury victims across Nebraska. SEPTEMBER

DECEMBER

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