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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 742
Introduced by McKinney, 11.
Read first time January 07, 2026
Committee: Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to schools; to require policies allowing a1
student in seventh or eighth grade to participate in high school2
sports as prescribed; to provide powers and duties to school boards3
and governing authorities of private, denominational, and parochial4
schools; to provide powers and duties to the State Board of5
Education; and to declare an emergency. 6
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,7
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Section 1. (1)(a) Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, each1
school board and each governing authority of an approved or accredited2
private, denominational, or parochial high school shall develop and adopt3
a policy that allows a student in seventh or eighth grade to participate4
and compete in the high school athletic program under the following5
conditions as verified by the principal and athletic director of the high6
school: 7
(i) The student possesses the appropriate skill level as approved by8
the appropriate coach or athletic director at such school on a sport-9
specific level with additional scrutiny given in relation to skill and10
safety if the student is requesting to participate or compete in a high11
school contact sport; 12
(ii) The student has had a documented physical or evaluation by a13
health care professional to ensure safe participation with additional14
scrutiny given if the student is requesting to participate and compete in15
a high school contact sport; 16
(iii) The student has provided written consent from the student's17
parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker as defined in18
section 79-530; and 19
(iv) Such participation by a seventh or eighth grade student in the20
high school sport requested is not prohibited by an athletic association21
such school is a member of, any state or federal law, or any rules and22
regulations adopted and promulgated by the State Board of Education.23
(b) A student authorized to participate or compete in a high school24
sport pursuant to this section shall no longer be eligible to participate25
in such sport at the seventh or eighth grade level.26
(2) A student's participation in a high school sport pursuant to27
this section shall not impact the student's eligibility to participate or28
compete in such sport while the student is in high school.29
(3) The State Board of Education may adopt and promulgate rules and30
regulations to carry out this section. 31
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Sec. 2. Since an emergency exists, this act takes effect when1
passed and approved according to law. 2
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