LB 388 — Change provisions relating to judicial nominating commissions
Last action — Approved by Governor on April 29, 2025
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Legislature
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✓To Executive
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5Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Jim Pillen (Republican) on May 01, 2025.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
261 added · 292 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to Bill LB 388 makes significant changes regarding who can serve on judicial nominating commissions in Nebraska. It clarifies that most members must reside in the area they serve, ensuring local representation in the selection of judges. Additionally, the bill updates terms of office and processes for handling vacancies and automatic removals. These changes are important because they aim to create a more accountable and representative system for nominating judges, which can ultimately impact the fairness of the judicial process in the state.
LB388 LB388 2025 LEGISLATURELEGISLATIVE OFBILL NEBRASKA388 ONEApproved HUNDREDby NINTHthe LEGISLATUREGovernor FIRSTApril SESSION29, LEGISLATIVE2025 BILL 388 FINAL READING Introduced by DeBoer, 10;
Read firstA timeBILL JanuaryFOR 17,AN 2025ACT Committee:relating to judicial nominating commissions;
Judiciary A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to judicial nominating commissions;
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, -1- LB388 LB388 2025 Section 1.
No member of any nominating commission, including the Supreme Court member of any such commission, shall serve more than a total of twelve eight consecutive years as a member of the commission, and if such member has served for more than ten six years as a member of the commission, he or she shall -2- LB388 LB388 2025 not be eligible for reelection or reappointment.
24-806 (1)(a)24-806 (1)(a) (1) Lawyer members and alternate lawyer members of any judicial nominating commission shall be active members of the bar of the State of Nebraska, and shall reside in the judicial district or area of the state served by the commission, and shall be registered to vote except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
Not more than two -3- LB388 LB388 2025 lawyer members of each commission shall be registered members of the same political party or category, and not more than two alternate lawyer members shall be registered members of -1- LB388 LB388 2025 the same political party or category.
(3) The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall mail or electronically deliver a ballot with the name of each nominee to all members of the bar -4- LB388 LB388 2025 of Nebraska residing in the judicial district or area designating a date at least ten days and not more than thirty fourteen days after the date of such mailing or electronic delivery by the Clerk of the Supreme Court when the ballots will be opened and counted.
-5- LB388 LB388 2025 Sec.
24-80824-808 (1) (1) A vacancy Each year, on or before September 1, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall determine what, if any, vacancies exist on any judicial nominating commission and shall report the status of each judicial nominating commission to the Governor.
-2- LB388 LB388 2025 Sec.
Section 24-809, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is -6- LB388 LB388 2025 amended to read:
(3) Vacancies of lawyer members or alternate lawyer members caused by disqualification or inability to serve at a particular commission meeting shall be considered temporary and shall be filled as provided in this section but service as a member or alternate member shall cease -7- LB388 LB388 2025 after the commission sends the names of the candidates to the Governor.
The chairperson shall notify each commission member in writing of the time and place of the meeting and shall also cause appropriate notice to be published by various news media of the time and place of the public hearing of the judicial nominating commission and of the interest of the commission in receiving -8- LB388 LB388 2025 applications from information relating to qualified candidates for the judicial vacancy.
(3) The judicial nominating commission may, before or after the hearing provided for in subsection (1) of this section, institute a search for -3- LB388 LB388 2025 additional candidates.
If additional candidates are obtained, the commission shall hold further public hearings in the same manner as -9- LB388 LB388 2025 provided in such subsection.
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Action History
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Approved by Governor on April 29, 2025
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Dispensing of reading at large approved
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Passed on Final Reading 46-0-3
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President/Speaker signed
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Presented to Governor on April 25, 2025
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Placed on Final Reading with ST21
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Enrollment and Review ST21 filed
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Enrollment and Review ST21 recorded
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Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
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Placed on Select File
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Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
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Speaker priority bill
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Placed on General File
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Notice of hearing for February 21, 2025
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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Date of introduction
Sponsors
- Wendy DeBoer · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 48 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (48)
48 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 48 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 46 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 46 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 94% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
How each member voted (49)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Meyer | — | Yea |
| McKeon | — | Not Voting |
| Ashlei Spivey | — | Yea |
| Barry DeKay | — | Yea |
| Beau Ballard | — | Yea |
| Ben Hansen | — | Yea |
| Bob Andersen | — | Yea |
| Bob Hallstrom | — | Yea |
| Brian Hardin | — | Yea |
| Carolyn Bosn | — | Yea |
| Christy Armendariz | — | Yea |
| Dan Lonowski | — | Yea |
| Dan Quick | — | Yea |
| Danielle Conrad | — | Yea |
| Dave Murman | — | Yea |
| Dave Wordekemper | — | Yea |
| Dunixi Guereca | — | Yea |
| Eliot Bostar | — | Yea |
| George Dungan | — | Yea |
| Jana Hughes | — | Yea |
| Jane Raybould | — | Not Voting |
| Jared Storm | — | Yea |
| Jason Prokop | — | Yea |
| John Arch | — | Yea |
| John Cavanaugh | — | Yea |
| John Fredrickson | — | Yea |
| Kathleen Kauth | — | Yea |
| Loren Lippincott | — | Yea |
| Machaela Cavanaugh | — | Yea |
| Margo Juarez | — | Yea |
| Megan Hunt | — | Yea |
| Merv Riepe | — | Yea |
| Mike Jacobson | — | Yea |
| Mike Moser | — | Yea |
| Myron Dorn | — | Yea |
| Paul Strommen | — | Yea |
| R. Brad von Gillern | — | Yea |
| Rick Holdcroft | — | Yea |
| Rita Sanders | — | Not Voting |
| Robert Clements | — | Yea |
| Robert Dover | — | Yea |
| Stan Clouse | — | Yea |
| Tanya Storer | — | Yea |
| Teresa Ibach | — | Yea |
| Terrell McKinney | — | Yea |
| Tom Brandt | — | Yea |
| Tony Sorrentino | — | Yea |
| Victor Rountree | — | Yea |
| Wendy DeBoer | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| % of votes cast | 80% | 0% | 0% | 20% |
How each member voted (49)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors LB 388?
- LB 388 is sponsored by Wendy DeBoer.
- What is the current status of LB 388?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track LB 388?
- Track LB 388 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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