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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 725
Introduced by Quick, 35.
Read first time January 07, 2026
Committee: General Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the State Electrical Act; to amend sections1
81-2102, 81-2107, 81-2108, 81-2109, 81-2112.02, 81-2113, 81-2117.02,2
81-2118, 81-2121, 81-2134, 81-2135, and 81-2144, Reissue Revised3
Statutes of Nebraska; to redefine terms; to change provisions4
relating to licenses; to change provisions relating to fees; to5
change provisions relating to inspections; to change provisions6
relating to directional boring or knifing; to harmonize provisions;7
and to repeal the original sections. 8
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,9
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Section 1. Section 81-2102, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is1
amended to read: 2
81-2102 For purposes of the State Electrical Act, unless the context3
otherwise requires: 4
(1) Apprentice electrician means any person, other than a licensee,5
who, as such person's principal occupation, is engaged in learning and6
assisting in the installation, alteration, and repair of electrical7
equipment as an employee of a licensee and who is registered with the8
board. For purposes of this subdivision, persons who are not engaged in9
the installation, alteration, or repair of electrical wiring and10
apparatus, either inside or outside buildings, shall not be considered11
apprentice electricians; 12
(2) Board means the State Electrical Board; 13
(3) Class A master electrician means a person having the necessary14
qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge to properly15
plan, lay out, and supervise the installation of wiring, apparatus, and16
equipment for electric light, heat, power, power limited systems, and17
other purposes and who is licensed by the board; 18
(4) Class B electrical contractor means a person having the19
necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge20
to properly plan, lay out, install, and supervise the installation of21
wiring, apparatus, and equipment for power limited systems not to exceed22
one hundred volts and one thousand volt-amps in commercial installations,23
industrial installations, systems of not over four hundred ampere24
capacity for light, heat, power, and other purposes in any structure used25
and maintained as a residential dwelling but not larger than a four-26
family dwelling located in any municipality which has a population of27
less than one hundred thousand inhabitants as determined by the most28
recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified29
count by the United States Bureau of the Census and who is licensed by30
the board; 31
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(5) Class B journeyman electrician means a person having the1
necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge2
to wire for or install electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment for3
power limited systems not to exceed one hundred volts and one thousand4
volt-amps in commercial installations, industrial installations, systems5
of not over four hundred ampere capacity for light, heat, power, and6
other purposes in any structure used and maintained as a residential7
dwelling but not larger than a four-family dwelling located in any8
municipality which has a population of less than one hundred thousand9
inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or10
the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of11
the Census and who is licensed by the board; 12
(6) Commercial installation means an installation intended for13
commerce, but does not include a residential installation;14
(7) Electrical contractor means a person having the necessary15
qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge to properly16
plan, lay out, install, and supervise the installation of wiring,17
apparatus, and equipment for electric light, heat, power, power limited18
systems, and other purposes and who is licensed by the board;19
(8) Fire alarm installer means any person having the necessary20
qualifications, training, and experience to plan, lay out, and install21
electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment for only those components of22
fire alarm systems from the first point of overcurrent that operate at23
fifty volts or less and who is licensed by the board;24
(9) Industrial installation means an installation intended for use25
in the manufacture or processing of products involving systematic labor26
or habitual employment and includes installations in which agricultural27
or other products are habitually or customarily processed or stored for28
others, either by buying or reselling on a fee basis;29
(10) Inspector means a person certified as an electrical inspector30
upon such reasonable conditions as may be adopted by the board. The board31
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may permit more than one class of electrical inspector;1
(11) Journeyman electrician means a person having the necessary2
qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge to wire for3
or install electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment, and power limited4
systems, and to supervise apprentice electricians, and who is licensed by5
the board; 6
(12) New electrical installation means the installation of wiring,7
apparatus, and equipment for electric light, heat, power, and other8
purposes; 9
(13) Public-use building or facility means any building or facility10
designated for public use; 11
(14) Residential installation means an installation intended for a12
single-family or two-family residential dwelling or a multi-family13
residential dwelling not larger than three stories in height;14
(15) Residential journeyman electrician means a person having the15
necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge16
to wire for or install electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment in any17
structure used and maintained as a residential dwelling but not larger18
than a four-family dwelling for residential installations and to19
supervise apprentice electricians and who is licensed by the board;20
(16) Routine maintenance means the repair or replacement of existing21
electrical apparatus and equipment of the same size and type for which no22
changes in wiring are made; and 23
(17) Special electrician means a person having the necessary24
qualifications, training, and experience in wiring or installing special25
classes of electrical wiring, apparatus, equipment, or installations26
which shall include irrigation system wiring, well pump wiring, air27
conditioning and refrigeration installation, and sign installation and28
who is licensed by the board. 29
Sec. 2. Section 81-2107, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is30
amended to read: 31
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81-2107 (1) An applicant for an electrical contractor license shall1
(a) be a graduate of a four-year electrical course in an accredited2
college or university or (b) have at least one year's experience,3
acceptable to the board, as a journeyman electrician.4
(2) A Class B electrical contractor license shall be valid only for5
power limited systems not to exceed one hundred volts and one thousand6
volt-amps in commercial and industrial installations. in regard to7
systems of not over four hundred amperes in capacity in structures used8
and maintained as residential dwellings but not larger than four-family9
dwellings located in any municipality which has a population of less than10
one hundred thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal11
decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United12
States Bureau of the Census. 13
Sec. 3. Section 81-2108, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is14
amended to read: 15
81-2108 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section or16
in section 81-2112 or 81-2144, no person shall, for another, wire for or17
install electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment unless he or she is18
licensed by the board as a Class B electrical contractor, an electrical19
contractor, a Class A master electrician, or a fire alarm installer.20
(2) Except as provided in section 81-2106, 81-2112, or 81-2144, no21
person shall wire for or install electrical wiring, apparatus, or22
equipment or supervise an apprentice electrician unless such person is23
licensed as a Class B journeyman electrician, a journeyman electrician, a24
residential journeyman electrician, or a fire alarm installer and is25
employed by a Class B electrical contractor, an electrical contractor, a26
Class A master electrician, or a fire alarm installer.27
(3) For purposes of this section, the holder of a fire alarm28
installer license shall only supervise those apprentices engaged in the29
installation of fire alarm equipment and apparatus operating at fifty30
volts or less. 31
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(4) (3) No person licensed under the State Electrical Act may lend1
his or her license to any person or knowingly permit the use of such2
license by another. 3
Sec. 4. Section 81-2109, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is4
amended to read: 5
81-2109 (1) An applicant for a journeyman electrician license shall6
have at least four years' experience, acceptable to the board, in the7
electrical trade. Registration as an apprentice electrician for those8
years shall, on the approval of the board, constitute evidence of such9
experience. The board may by rule or regulation provide for the allowance10
of one year of experience credit for successful completion of a two-year11
post-high school electrical course approved by the board.12
(2) An On and after July 16, 2004, an applicant for a Class B13
residential journeyman electrician license shall have at least three14
years' experience, acceptable to the board, in the electrical trade.15
Registration as an apprentice electrician for those years shall, on the16
approval of the board, constitute evidence of such experience. The board17
may by rule or regulation provide for the allowance of one year of18
experience credit for successful completion of a two-year post-high19
school electrical course approved by the board. A residential journeyman20
electrician license shall be valid only for residential installations.21
(3) A Class B journeyman electrician license shall be valid only for22
power limited systems not to exceed one hundred volts and one thousand23
volt-amps in commercial and industrial installations. electrical systems24
of not over four hundred amperes in capacity in structures used and25
maintained as residential dwellings but not larger than four-family26
dwellings located in any municipality which has a population of less than27
one hundred thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal28
decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United29
States Bureau of the Census. 30
Sec. 5. Section 81-2112.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is31
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amended to read: 1
81-2112.02 On and after September 9, 1993, any person licensed as a2
fire alarm installer may plan, lay out, and install electrical wiring,3
apparatus, and equipment for only those components of fire alarm systems4
that operate at fifty volts or less. An applicant for a fire alarm5
installer license shall have at least two years experience, acceptable to6
the board, in planning, laying out, and installing fire alarm systems.7
Sec. 6. Section 81-2113, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is8
amended to read: 9
81-2113 (1) A person may register with the board and pay a fee as10
provided in section 81-2118 to work as an apprentice electrician. Such11
registration shall entitle the registrant to act as an apprentice12
electrician to a Class B electrical contractor, an electrical contractor,13
a Class B journeyman electrician, a journeyman electrician, a residential14
journeyman electrician, or a Class A master electrician as provided in15
subsection (2) of this section. At the time of registration renewal, an16
apprentice shall pay the fee for renewal provided by section 81-2118 and17
present documentary evidence of any continuing education courses under18
section 81-2117.01 completed by the applicant. The board shall assess up19
to a six-month increase of required experience necessary for the20
applicant to qualify for the examination under section 81-2115 unless the21
applicant presents documentary evidence of the requisite hours of22
continuing education courses under section 81-2117.01.23
(2) An apprentice electrician shall do no electrical wiring except24
under the direct personal on-the-job supervision and control and in the25
immediate presence of a licensee under the State Electrical Act. Such26
supervision shall include both on-the-job training and related classroom27
training as approved by the board. The licensee may employ or supervise28
apprentice electricians at a ratio not to exceed three apprentice29
electricians to one licensee, except that such ratio and the other30
requirements of this section shall not be applicable to a teacher-student31
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relationship within a classroom of a community college.1
(3) For purposes of this section, the direct personal on-the-job2
supervision and control and in the immediate presence of a licensee shall3
mean the licensee and the apprentice electrician shall be working at the4
same project location but shall not require that the licensee and5
apprentice electrician must be within sight of one another at all times.6
(4) (3) An apprentice electrician shall not install, alter, or7
repair electrical equipment except as provided in this section, and the8
licensee employing or supervising an apprentice electrician shall not9
authorize or permit such actions by the apprentice electrician.10
Sec. 7. Section 81-2117.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is11
amended to read: 12
81-2117.02 (1) No license as a Class A master electrician , Class B13
electrical contractor, or Class B journeyman electrician shall be issued14
on or after September 9, 1993, but such license licenses may be renewed15
as provided in this section. 16
(2) A person licensed as a Class A master electrician , a Class B17
electrical contractor, a Class B journeyman electrician, or a special18
electrician on September 9, 1993, may renew such license on or after such19
date upon presentation of documentary evidence of successful completion20
of the requisite hours of continuing education courses under section21
81-2117.01 and payment of the fee for renewal provided by section22
81-2118. 23
Sec. 8. Section 81-2118, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is24
amended to read: 25
81-2118 All licenses or registrations issued under the State26
Electrical Act shall expire on December 31 of each even-numbered year.27
All license or registration applications shall include the applicant's28
social security number. 29
The board shall, by a unanimous vote of the board, set reasonable30
fees for examination, issuance, and renewal of licenses and registrations31
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issued under the State Electrical Act in amounts necessary to cover the1
costs incurred by the State Electrical Division and the board in2
administering and carrying out the purposes of the State Electrical Act3
and in a manner that unnecessary surpluses are avoided. The board shall4
annually file a report with the Attorney General and the Legislative5
Fiscal Analyst stating the amount of the fees set by the board. Such6
reports shall be submitted on or before July 1 of each year. The report7
submitted to the Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall be submitted8
electronically. The board shall establish the following fees:9
(1) For examination for the following licenses:10
(a) Electrical contractor; 11
(b) Class B electrical contractor; 12
(c) (b) Journeyman electrician; 13
(d) Class B (c) Residential journeyman electrician;14
(e) Resident journeyman electrician; 15
(f) (d) Fire alarm installer; and 16
(g) (e) Special electrician license , sixty dollars;17
(2) For each year of the two-year license period for issuance and18
renewal of the following licenses: 19
(a) Electrical contractor; and 20
(b) Class B electrical contractor; 21
(c) (b) Journeyman electrician; 22
(d) Class B , residential journeyman electrician;23
(e) Residential journeyman electrician; 24
(f) Fire , fire alarm installer; and 25
(g) Special , or special electrician; 26
(3) For each year of the two-year registration period for issuance27
and renewal as an apprentice electrician; and 28
(4) For renewal on or after September 9, 1993, of the Class A master29
electrician license following licenses issued prior to such date for each30
year of the two-year license period. : 31
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(a) Class B electrical contractor; 1
(b) Class A master electrician; and 2
(c) Class B journeyman electrician. 3
The holder of a an expired license or registration may renew the4
license or registration beginning October 1 through November 31 of even5
numbered years upon payment of the license or registration fee. The6
holder of a license or registration may renew the license or registration7
from December 1 through December 31 of even numbered years for a period8
of three months from the date of expiration upon payment of the license9
or registration fee plus ten percent of the renewal fee for each month or10
portion thereof past the expiration date. All holders of expired licenses11
or registrations expired for more than three months shall apply for a new12
license or registration. 13
Sec. 9. Section 81-2121, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is14
amended to read: 15
81-2121 Nothing in the State Electrical Act shall be construed to:16
(1) Require employees of municipal corporations, public power17
districts, public power and irrigation districts, electric membership or18
cooperative associations, public utility corporations, railroads,19
telephone or telegraph companies, or commercial or industrial companies20
performing manufacturing, installation, and repair work for such employer21
to hold licenses while acting within the scope of their employment;22
(2) Require any person doing work for which a license would23
otherwise be required under the act to hold a license issued under the24
act if he or she is the holder of a valid license issued by any city or25
other political subdivision, so long as he or she makes electrical26
installations only in the jurisdictional limits of such city or political27
subdivision and such license issued by the city or political subdivision28
meets the requirements of the act; 29
(3) Cover the installation, maintenance, repair, or alteration of30
vertical transportation or passenger conveyors, elevators, moving walks,31
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dumbwaiters, stagelifts, manlifts, or appurtenances thereto beyond the1
terminals of the controllers. The licensing of elevator contractors or2
constructors shall not be considered a part of the licensing requirements3
of the act; 4
(4) Require a license of any person who engages any electrical5
appliance where approved electrical outlets are already installed;6
(5) Prohibit an owner of property from performing work on his or her7
principal residence, if such residence is not larger than a single-family8
dwelling, or farmstead farm property, excluding commercial or industrial9
installations or installations in public-use buildings or facilities, or10
require such owner to be licensed under the act; 11
(6) Require that any person be a member of a labor union in order to12
be licensed; or 13
(7) Prohibit a pump installation contractor or pump installation14
supervisor licensed under the Water Well Standards and Contractors'15
Practice Act from wiring pumps and pumping equipment at a water well16
location to the first control. 17
Sec. 10. Section 81-2134, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is18
amended to read: 19
81-2134 (1) As to state inspections: (a) At or before commencement20
of any electrical installation which is required by law to be inspected,21
the person responsible for the installation shall forward a request for22
inspection to the board completed in the manner prescribed by the23
board. ; and 24
(b) On installations requiring more than six months in the process25
of construction and in excess of three hundred dollars total inspection26
fees, the persons responsible for the installation may, after a minimum27
filing fee of one hundred dollars, pay a prorated fee for each month and28
submit it with an order for payment initiated by the electrical29
inspector. 30
(2) Where wiring is to be concealed, the inspector must be notified31
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within reasonable time to complete a rough-in inspection prior to1
concealment, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. If wiring is2
concealed before rough-in inspection without adequate notice having been3
given to the inspector, the person responsible for having enclosed the4
wiring shall be responsible for all costs resulting from uncovering and5
replacing the cover material. 6
(3) Inspections shall be made within one week of the appropriate7
request. When necessary, circuits may be energized by the authorized8
installer prior to inspection but the installation shall remain subject9
to condemnation and disconnection. 10
Sec. 11. Section 81-2135, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is11
amended to read: 12
81-2135 (1) The board shall, by a unanimous vote of the board, set13
reasonable fees for state electrical inspections under the State14
Electrical Act in amounts necessary to cover the costs incurred by the15
State Electrical Division and the board in administering and carrying out16
the purposes of the State Electrical Act and in a manner that unnecessary17
surpluses are avoided. The board shall annually file a report with the18
Attorney General and the Legislative Fiscal Analyst stating the amount of19
the fees set by the board. Such reports shall be submitted on or before20
July 1 of each year. The report submitted to the Legislative Fiscal21
Analyst shall be submitted electronically. 22
(2) All state electrical inspection fees shall be due and payable to23
the board at or before commencement of the installation and shall be24
forwarded with the request for inspection. Inspection fees set by the25
board in accordance with this section shall not apply within the26
jurisdiction of any county, city, or village if the county, city, or27
village has adopted an ordinance or resolution as set forth in the State28
Electrical Act. 29
(3) The board shall establish the following fees:30
(a) Minimum fee for each separate inspection of an installation,31
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replacement, alteration, or repair; 1
(b) Services, change of services, temporary services, additions,2
alterations, or repairs on either primary or secondary services;3
(c) Field irrigation system inspections; 4
(d) The first reinspection required as a result of a correction5
order; a second reinspection required as a result of noncompliance with6
the same correction order; and subsequent reinspections associated with7
the same correction order; and 8
(e) An inspection is requested by an owner. 9
(4) The fee for fire and accident inspections shall be computed at10
the rate set by the board per hour, and mileage and other expenses shall11
be reimbursed as provided in section 81-1176. 12
(5) After an inspection the board may charge an additional fee if13
the cost incurred during the inspection is greater than what was covered14
by the original inspection fee. 15
Sec. 12. Section 81-2144, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is16
amended to read: 17
81-2144 (1) A person who is a directional boring or knifing18
contractor may install underground conduit or conductors on the load side19
of the meter under the direct supervision of a Class A master20
electrician, or journeyman electrician , or Class B journeyman21
electrician who is employed by an electrical contractor.22
(2) Electrical contractors who own and provide directional boring or23
knifing services shall only allow employees that have an apprentice24
registration or a journeyman electrician, a Class A master electrician,25
or an electrical contractor license perform directional boring26
activities. 27
Sec. 13. Original sections 81-2102, 81-2107, 81-2108, 81-2109,28
81-2112.02, 81-2113, 81-2117.02, 81-2118, 81-2121, 81-2134, 81-2135, and29
81-2144, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, are repealed.30
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