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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 1058
Introduced by Hallstrom, 1; Dorn, 30.
Read first time January 14, 2026
Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Nebraska Visitors Development Act; to1
amend section 81-3725, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025; to provide2
an additional grant under the Nebraska Visitors Development Act; to3
provide powers and duties to the Nebraska Tourism Commission; to4
state intent relating to funding; to repeal the original section;5
and to declare an emergency. 6
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,7
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Section 1. Section 81-3725, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is1
amended to read: 2
81-3725 (1) The commission shall develop a program to provide3
marketing assistance grants to communities and organizations hosting4
national or international-caliber events held in Nebraska that have the5
potential to attract a significant percentage of out-of-state visitors6
and to generate favorable national or international press coverage for7
Nebraska. 8
(2) A community or organization applying for a marketing assistance9
grant shall provide a plan to the commission that includes: (a)10
Documentation that the event will attract out-of-state visitors; (b)11
details regarding the type of marketing that would be carried out with12
state funds; (c) methodologies used to track the impact of marketing13
efforts and the number of out-of-state visitors attending the event; and14
(d) details regarding the potential national or international press15
coverage that will be generated by the event. 16
(3)(a) The commission shall develop a program to provide innovative17
tourism grants to communities or organizations that provide tourism and18
visitor promotion services, host events, or promote attractions that19
result in either (i) an increased number of nonlocal, instate visitors or20
(ii) an increased number of both nonlocal, instate visitors and out-of-21
state visitors. Innovative tourism grants may include, but not be limited22
to, marketing assistance, planning assistance, basic support, and23
regional cooperation. Innovative tourism grants shall not be used for24
equipment or capital facility development or improvements.25
(b) When awarding innovative tourism grants under the program, the26
commission shall award up to five hundred thousand dollars in innovative27
tourism grants to any such city or village each fiscal year.28
(4)(a) The commission shall develop a program to provide a tourism29
and visitor promotion grant to an organization that provides tourism and30
visitor promotion services in the state through exhibits and trails and31
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that is located along the Missouri River and within five miles of a city1
of the first class. 2
(b)(i) An organization that provides tourism and visitor promotion3
services in the state that meets the requirements of subdivision (4)(a)4
of this section may apply to the commission, in a manner prescribed by5
the commission, for a grant pursuant to this subsection. Such application6
shall include the organization's name, documentation that the7
organization provides tourism and visitor promotion services, how such8
grant shall be used, and any other information that the commission may9
require. 10
(ii) Subject to available funding, the commission shall award a11
grant pursuant to this subsection. Such grant may be used for basic12
support of an organization awarded such a grant. 13
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate one hundred14
fifty thousand dollars form the General Fund to the commission for fiscal15
year 2026-27 to provide grant funding pursuant to this subsection.16
(5) (4) The executive director shall convene a technical review17
committee of no fewer than three individuals representing the public18
sector, the private sector, and citizens at large. The technical review19
committee and the executive director shall review and score applications20
for marketing assistance grants and innovative tourism grants and forward21
recommendations to the commission for approval by the commission or a22
subcommittee of the commission. 23
(6) (5) Communities and organizations receiving marketing assistance24
grants or innovative tourism grants authorized under this section shall25
provide a final report to the commission within ninety days after the26
completion date of the event that includes event attendance, the use of27
funds, and marketing impact information. 28
(7) (6) The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and29
regulations governing the grant programs authorized under this section.30
Sec. 2. Original section 81-3725, Revised Statutes Supplement,31
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2025, is repealed. 1
Sec. 3. Since an emergency exists, this act takes effect when2
passed and approved according to law. 3
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