LB 784 — Change residency requirements for sheriffs in certain counties, requirements for uniforms for sheriffs and deputies, and continuing education requirements for law enforcement officers

(d) Pink tan color trousers in appropriate seasonal weights;

(e) Pink tan color skirts in appropriate seasonal weights;

(e) (f) Pink tan color necktie;

(f) (g) Shoes or boots in the same color as the leather worn;

(g) (h) Chocolate brown color service jacket, zipper front with badge or insignia approved by the sheriff holder;

(h) (i) Hip-length year-round outer jacket, dark brown in color;

(i) (j) Badge bearing state or state seal, rank, and county and consisting of a seven-point star;

(i) Gold in color for sheriff and deputies of the rank of sergeant or above;

(ii) Silver in color for deputies under the rank of sergeant;

and (iii) Consisting of seven-point star;

(j) (k) Collar ornaments :

(i) Gold for sheriff and deputies;

of the rank of sergeant or above;

and (ii) Silver for deputies under the rank of sergeant;

(k) (l) Shoulder emblem to be worn on upper sleeve and include sheriff's office or department and county name - design optional;

(l) (m) Leather to be either brown or black at the individual department's choice;

and (m) (n) Brown winter cap with flap.

(3) The Class B or patrol uniform for a county sheriff or their deputies shall consist of:

(a) Black or any variation of brown hat, depending on the season;

(b) Black or any variation of brown color external carrier, with badge;

(c) Black or any variation of brown color shirt with either long or short sleeves depending on season;

(d) Black or any variation of brown color trousers in appropriate seasonal weights;

(e) Black or any variation of brown color shoes or boots;

(f) Black or any variation of brown color jacket, with a badge or insignia approved by the sheriff;

(g) Badge bearing state or state seal, rank, and county and consisting of a seven-point star;

(h) Shoulder emblem to be worn on upper sleeve and include sheriff's office or department and county name - design optional;

and (i) Leather to be either black or any variation of brown at the individual department's choice.

(4) The honor guard or color guard uniform for a county sheriff or their deputies shall consist of:

(a) Any variation of brown color campaign hat, center crease in sheriff or western style;

(b) Any variation of brown color uniform jacket;

(c) Any variation of brown color pants;

(d) Black leather shoes or boots;

(e) Shoulder emblem to be worn on upper sleeve and include sheriff's office or department and county name - design optional;

and (f) Badge bearing state or state seal, rank, and county and consisting of a seven-point star.

(2) Uniforms shall be purchased directly from the supplier or suppliers with whom the Department of Administrative Services has contracted.

(5) (3) A committee from the Nebraska Sheriffs' and Peace Officers' Association shall assist the Department of Administrative Services in developing specifications and selecting material for the uniforms.

Sec.

5.

Section 32-604, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, is amended to read:

32-604 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or (4) of this section, no person shall be precluded from being elected or appointed to or holding an elective office for the reason that he or she has been elected or appointed to or holds another elective office.

(2) No person serving as a member of the Legislature or in an elective office described in Article IV, section 1 or 20, or Article VII, section 3 or 10, of the Constitution of Nebraska shall simultaneously serve in any other elective office, except that such a person may simultaneously serve in another elective office which is filled at an election held in conjunction with the annual meeting of a public body.

(3) Whenever an incumbent serving as a member of the Legislature or in an -2- LB784 LB784 2026 elective office described in Article IV, section 1 or 20, or Article VII, section 3 or 10, of the Constitution of Nebraska assumes another elective office, except an elective office filled at an election held in conjunction with the annual meeting of a public body, the office first held by the incumbent shall be deemed vacant.

(4) No person serving in a high elective office shall simultaneously serve in any other high elective office, except that (a) a county attorney may serve as the county attorney for more than one county if appointed under subsection (2) of section 23-1201.01 and (b) a county sheriff may serve as the county sheriff for more than one county if appointed under subsection (4) (3) of section 23-1701.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, any person holding more than one high elective office upon July 15, 2010, shall be entitled to serve the remainder of all terms for which he or she was elected or appointed.

(6) For purposes of this section, (a) elective office has the meaning found in section 32-109 and includes an office which is filled at an election held in conjunction with the annual meeting of a public body created by an act of the Legislature but does not include a member of a learning community coordinating council appointed pursuant to subsection (5) or (7) of section 32-546.01 prior to January 5, 2017, and (b) high elective office means a member of the Legislature, an elective office described in Article IV, section 1 or 20, or Article VII, section 3 or 10, of the Constitution of Nebraska, or a county, city, community college area, learning community, regional metropolitan transit authority, or school district elective office.

Sec.

6.

Section 81-1414.07, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is amended to read:

81-1414.07 (1)(a) In order to maintain his or her professional status and serve the law enforcement profession, the community, and the residents of Nebraska, each law enforcement officer , other than a noncertified conditional officer, shall attend continuing education courses for the number of hours required in subdivision (1)(b) of this section in the areas of criminal justice and law enforcement as provided in this section.

during each calendar year beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31.

(b) A law enforcement officer is not required to meet the continuing education requirements in the year in which he or she first becomes fully certified.

(c) A law enforcement officer may retire from service in good standing without meeting the continuing education requirements in the calendar year of the officer's retirement.

(d) The requirements of this section do not apply to a noncertified conditional officer.

(b) The number of continuing education hours required under this subsection shall be:

(i) Until January 1, 2022, twenty hours;

(ii) Beginning January 1, 2022, and until January 1, 2023, twenty-eight hours;

and (iii) Beginning January 1, 2023, thirty-two hours.

(2)(a) Each calendar year, a law enforcement officer shall attend at least:

(i) For a law enforcement officer employed by a law enforcement agency that employs less than twenty-five full-time law enforcement officers, twenty- four hours of continuing education;

and (ii) For a law enforcement officer employed by a law enforcement agency that employs twenty-five or more full-time law enforcement officers, thirty-two hours of continuing education.

(b) Such annual continuing education (2) The annual continuing education required by this section shall include:

(i) A refresher course on de-escalation;

(a) Refresher courses on de-escalation, mental health, and substance abuse issues;

(ii) (b) A minimum of two hours of anti-bias and implicit bias training;

(iii) (c) Firearms training;

(iv) (d) Officer wellness training;

(v) (e) Legal update training updates, including, but not limited to, legislative changes and First Amendment and Fourth Amendment issues;

and (f) Vehicular pursuit policy review;

and (vi) (g) Any other training as determined by a law enforcement agency.

(3)(a) At least once in each three-calendar-year period, a law enforcement officer shall attend continuing education that includes:

(i) Refresher courses on mental health and substance abuse issues;

and (ii) A review of vehicular pursuit policies.

(b) The continuing education hours required by this subsection are counted for purposes of the required hours under subsection (2) of this section.

(4) (3) Continuing education courses may be offered in the form of seminars, advanced education which may include college or university classes, conferences, instruction conducted within the law enforcement officer's law enforcement agency, or instruction conducted over the Internet.

Continuing education shall be of a type which has application to and seeks to maintain and improve the skills of the law enforcement officer in carrying out his or her duties and responsibilities.

Sec.

7.

Sections 6 and 9 of this act become operative on January 1, 2027.

The other sections of this act become operative on their effective date.

Sec.

8.

Original sections 23-1717 and 23-1719, Reissue Revised Statutes -3- LB784 LB784 2026 of Nebraska, and sections 23-1701, 23-1701.01, and 32-604, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, are repealed.

Sec.

9.

Original section 81-1414.07, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is repealed.

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