Nebraska2026Did Not Pass
LB1024
Nebraska Legislative Bill 1024: Teaching the History of Communism
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:18 AM
In one sentence
This bill requires Nebraska schools to teach specific lessons about communism in their social studies classes starting in the 2027-28 school year.
What it does
- Requires all school districts, with help from the State Department of Education, to include instruction on the history of communism within the social studies curriculum by the 2027-28 school year.
- Mandates that lessons cover topics such as communist movements in the U.S., foreign atrocities committed under communism, and comparisons between communism/totalitarianism and American democracy.
- Requires each school board to appoint a three-member committee on American civics annually to review social studies materials and ensure they meet state standards.
- Requires students to take a written test identical to the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization exam before finishing eighth grade and again before finishing twelfth grade, or complete an alternative project involving public body attendance or holiday research.
- Updates state laws to require schools to teach about the contributions of all ethnic groups and hold weekly patriotic exercises for grades below sixth.
Who it affects
- Public, private, denominational, and parochial school districts in Nebraska
- School boards responsible for appointing civics committees
- Students from kindergarten through twelfth grade
- The State Department of Education
Limits and unknowns
- This bill was indefinitely postponed on April 17, 2026, meaning it did not pass into law at that time.
- The official text provided is truncated; the full list of specific topics required for high school civics courses (Section 5) and other details are missing.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Social studies curriculum
- The planned lessons and materials schools use to teach history, government, geography, economics, financial literacy, and civics.
- Committee on American civics
- A group of three school board members appointed each year to review social studies classes, hold public meetings, and ensure they meet state rules.
- Naturalization test
- The exam used by the U.S. government for people applying to become citizens; this bill requires students to take a version of its civics portion before finishing eighth and twelfth grades.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Require school districts and the State Board of Education to provide for instruction on the history of communism
Official activity
Bill history
- Indefinitely postponed