Nebraska 109th Legislature (2025-2026) Status: Enacted

LB 823 — Change provisions relating to burning permits and the statewide open burning ban

Last action — Approved by Governor on April 14, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Legislature
  4. ✓
    To Executive
  5. 5
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jim Pillen (Republican) on April 17, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

102 added · 117 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill LB 823 introduces a more detailed framework for permits related to open burning, allowing local fire chiefs to oversee waivers for statewide burning bans. Key additions to the permit requirements include specific details such as the type of burning (prescribed or controlled) and the approximate acres to be burned. These changes are significant because they aim to enhance safety and accountability in fire management practices, helping to prevent uncontrolled fires while still allowing necessary land-management activities.

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LB823 LB823 2026 LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION LEGISLATIVE BILL 823 FINAL READING   Introduced by Wordekemper, 15.
LB823 LB823 2026 LEGISLATIVE BILL 823 Approved by the Governor April 14, 2026   Introduced by Wordekemper, 15.
Read first time January 07, 2026 Committee:
  A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to land-management burning;
Natural Resources A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to land-management burning;
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, -1- LB823 LB823 2026 Section 1.
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, Section 1.
81-520.01 (1) There shall be a statewide open burning ban on all bonfires, outdoor rubbish fires, and fires for the purpose of clearing land.
81-520.01 (1) There shall be a statewide open burning ban on all bonfires, outdoor rubbish fires, and fires for the purpose of clearing land.
This fee shall be remitted to the -2- LB823 LB823 2026 governing body for inclusion in the general funds allocated to the fire department.
This fee shall be remitted to the governing body for inclusion in the general funds allocated to the fire department.
(2) For purposes of sections 81-520.04 and 81-520.05, land- management burning means the controlled application of fire to existing vegetative matter on land utilized for grazing, pasture, forests, or grassland to control weeds, pests, insects, and disease, prevent wildland fires, manage watersheds, care for windbreaks, and conduct scientific research.
(2) For purposes of sections 81-520.04 and 81-520.05, land-management burning means the controlled application of fire to existing vegetative matter on land utilized for grazing, pasture, forests, or grassland to control weeds, pests, insects, and disease, prevent wildland fires, manage watersheds, care for windbreaks, and conduct scientific research.
-3- LB823 LB823 2026 Sec.
Sec.
81-520.05 (1) A landowner, tenant, or other landowner's agent of the land where land-management burning is proposed shall file an application for a permit and a plan for conducting such burning.
81-520.05 (1) A landowner, tenant, or other landowner's agent of the land where land-management burning is proposed shall file an application for a permit and a plan for conducting such burning.
(c) The type of land-management burning and the objective to be accomplished;
-1- LB823 LB823 2026 (c) The type of land-management burning and the objective to be accomplished;
If a plan fails to comply with all provisions of such subsection, a permit -4- LB823 LB823 2026 for land-management burning shall not be issued.
If a plan fails to comply with all provisions of such subsection, a permit for land-management burning shall not be issued.
-5-
-2-
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Action History

  1. Approved by Governor on April 14, 2026

  2. President/Speaker signed

  3. Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026

  4. Passed on Final Reading 49-0-0

  5. Placed on Final Reading

  6. Kauth FA452 withdrawn

  7. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

  8. Placed on Select File

  9. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

  10. Placed on General File

  11. Notice of hearing for January 22, 2026

  12. Referred to Natural Resources Committee

  13. Kauth FA452 filed

  14. Date of introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed on Final Reading 49-0-0

Passed 49 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 49000
Total 49000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
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
Fred Meyer — Yea
George Dungan — Yea
Glen Meyer — Yea
Jana Hughes — Yea
Jane Raybould — Yea
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 — Yea
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

Official roll call →

Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

Passed 30 Yea · 0 Nay · 19 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 300019
Total 300019
% of votes cast 61%0%0%39%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Ashlei Spivey — Not Voting
Barry DeKay — Not Voting
Beau Ballard — Yea
Bob Andersen — Not Voting
Bob Hallstrom — Yea
Brian Hardin — Yea
Carolyn Bosn — Yea
Cavanaugh, J. — Not Voting
Cavanaugh, M. — Yea
Christy Armendariz — Not Voting
Dan Lonowski — Not Voting
Dan Quick — Yea
Danielle Conrad — Not Voting
Dave Murman — Yea
Dave Wordekemper — Yea
Dunixi Guereca — Not Voting
Eliot Bostar — Not Voting
George Dungan — Yea
Hansen, B. — Yea
Jana Hughes — Not Voting
Jane Raybould — Yea
Jared Storm — Yea
Jason Prokop — Not Voting
John Arch — Yea
John Fredrickson — Yea
Kathleen Kauth — Yea
Loren Lippincott — Yea
Margo Juarez — Yea
Megan Hunt — Not Voting
Merv Riepe — Yea
Meyer, F. — Not Voting
Meyer, G. — Yea
Mike Jacobson — Yea
Mike Moser — Yea
Myron Dorn — Not Voting
Paul Strommen — Not Voting
Rick Holdcroft — Yea
Rita Sanders — Not Voting
Robert Clements — Yea
Robert Dover — Not Voting
Stan Clouse — Yea
Tanya Storer — Yea
Teresa Ibach — Yea
Terrell McKinney — Yea
Tom Brandt — Yea
Tony Sorrentino — Not Voting
Victor Rountree — Yea
Wendy DeBoer — Not Voting
von Gillern — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors LB 823?
LB 823 is sponsored by Dave Wordekemper.
What is the current status of LB 823?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track LB 823?
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