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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 899
Introduced by Lonowski, 33; Storm, 23.
Read first time January 08, 2026
Committee: Health and Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Engineers and Architects Regulation1
Act; to amend sections 81-3437.01 and 81-3451, Reissue Revised2
Statutes of Nebraska, and section 81-3449, Revised Statutes3
Supplement, 2025; to change the requirements for using seals; to4
eliminate an exception relating to the practice of architecture by5
certain nonresidents; to change and eliminate provisions relating to6
certain applications relating to engineers; 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 81-3437.01, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska,1
is amended to read: 2
81-3437.01 (1) Each licensee authorized to practice architecture or3
engineering must obtain a seal. The design of the seal shall be4
determined by the board. If a professional engineer's license has been5
issued in a specific discipline, the discipline shall be specified on the6
seal. The following information shall be on the seal: State of Nebraska;7
licensee's name; licensee's license number; and the words Architect or8
Professional (discipline) Engineer. 9
(2) Whenever the seal is applied, the licensee's signature and the10
date of the seal's application shall be placed across or adjacent to the11
seal in a manner that does not obscure the licensee's name or the license12
number on the seal. The board may adopt and promulgate rules and13
regulations for application of the seal. 14
(3) The seal and the date of its placement shall be on all technical15
submissions and calculations whenever presented to a client or any public16
or governmental agency. It shall be unlawful for a licensee to affix his17
or her seal or to permit his or her seal to be affixed to any document18
after the expiration of the certificate or for the purpose of aiding or19
abetting any other person to evade or attempt to evade the Engineers and20
Architects Regulation Act. 21
(4) The seal and date shall be placed on all originals, copies,22
tracings, or other reproducible drawings and the first page and last23
pages of specifications, reports, and studies in such a manner that the24
seal, signature, and date will be reproduced and be in compliance with25
rules and regulations of the board. The application of the licensee's26
seal shall constitute certification that the work was done by the27
licensee or under the licensee's control. 28
(5) In the case of a temporary permit issued to a licensee of29
another state, the licensee shall use his or her state of licensure seal30
and shall affix his or her signature and temporary permit to all his or31
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her work. 1
Sec. 2. Section 81-3449, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is2
amended to read: 3
81-3449 The provisions of the Engineers and Architects Regulation4
Act regulating the practice of architecture do not apply to the following5
activities: 6
(1) The construction, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of a7
detached single-family through four-family dwelling of less than five8
thousand square feet of above grade finished space. Any detached or9
attached sheds, storage buildings, and garages incidental to the dwelling10
are not included in the tabulation of finished space. Such exemption may11
be increased by rule and regulation of the board adopted pursuant to the12
Negotiated Rulemaking Act but shall not exceed the Type V, column B,13
limitations set forth by the allowable height and building areas table in14
the state building code adopted in section 71-6403;15
(2) The construction, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of a16
one-story commercial or industrial building or structure of less than17
five thousand square feet of above grade finished space which does not18
exceed thirty feet in height unless such building or structure, or the19
remodeling or repairing thereof, provides for the employment, housing, or20
assembly of twenty or more persons. Any detached or attached sheds,21
storage buildings, and garages incidental to the building or structure22
are not included in the tabulation of finished space. Such exemption may23
be increased by rule and regulation of the board adopted pursuant to the24
Negotiated Rulemaking Act but shall not exceed the Type V, column B,25
limitations set forth by the allowable height and building areas table in26
the state building code adopted in section 71-6403;27
(3) The construction, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of farm28
buildings, including barns, silos, sheds, or housing for farm equipment29
and machinery, livestock, poultry, or storage, if the structures are30
designed to be occupied by no more than twenty persons. Such exemption31
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may be increased by rule and regulation of the board adopted pursuant to1
the Negotiated Rulemaking Act but shall not exceed the Type V, column B,2
limitations set forth by the allowable height and building areas table in3
the state building code adopted in section 71-6403;4
(4) Any public works project with contemplated expenditures for a5
completed project that do not exceed one hundred thousand dollars. The6
board shall adjust the dollar amount in this subdivision every fifth7
year. The first such adjustment after August 27, 2011, shall be effective8
on July 1, 2014. The adjusted amount shall be equal to the then current9
amount adjusted by the cumulative percentage change in the Consumer Price10
Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Federal Bureau of Labor11
Statistics for the five-year period preceding the adjustment date. The12
amount shall be rounded to the next highest one-thousand-dollar amount;13
(5) Any alteration, renovation, or remodeling of a building if the14
alteration, renovation, or remodeling does not affect architectural or15
engineering safety features of the building; 16
(6) The teaching, including research and service, of architectural17
subjects in a college or university offering a degree in architecture18
accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board;19
(7) The preparation of submissions to architects, building20
officials, or other regulating authorities by the manufacturer, supplier,21
or installer of any materials, assemblies, components, or equipment that22
describe or illustrate the use of such items, the preparation of any23
details or shop drawings required of the contractor by the terms of the24
construction documents, or the management of construction contracts by25
persons customarily engaged in contracting work; 26
(8) The preparation of technical submissions or the administration27
of construction contracts by employees of a person or organization28
lawfully engaged in the practice of architecture if such employees are29
acting under the direct supervision of an architect;30
(9) A public service provider or an organization who employs a31
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licensee performing professional services for itself;1
(10) A nonresident who holds the certification issued by the2
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards offering to render3
the professional services involved in the practice of architecture. The4
nonresident shall not perform any of the professional services involved5
in the practice of architecture until licensed as provided in the6
Engineers and Architects Regulation Act. The nonresident shall notify the7
board in writing that (a) he or she holds a National Council of8
Architectural Registration Boards certificate and is not currently9
licensed in Nebraska but will be present in Nebraska for the purpose of10
offering to render architectural services, (b) he or she will deliver a11
copy of the notice to every potential client to whom the applicant offers12
to render architectural services, and (c) he or she promises to apply13
immediately to the board for licensure if selected as the architect for14
the project; 15
(10) (11) The practice by a qualified member of another legally16
recognized profession who is otherwise licensed or certified by this17
state or any political subdivision to perform services consistent with18
the laws of this state, the training, and the code of ethics of the19
respective profession, if such qualified member does not represent20
himself or herself to be practicing architecture and does not represent21
himself or herself to be an architect; 22
(11) (12) Financial institutions making disbursements of funds in23
connection with construction projects; 24
(12) (13) Earthmoving and related work associated with soil and25
water conservation practices performed on farmland or any land owned by a26
political subdivision that is not subject to a permit from the Department27
of Water, Energy, and Environment or for work related to livestock waste28
facilities that are not subject to a permit by the Department of Water,29
Energy, and Environment; and 30
(13) (14) The work of employees and agents of a political31
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subdivision or a nonprofit entity organized for the purpose of furnishing1
electrical service performing, in accordance with other requirements of2
law, their customary duties in the administration and enforcement of3
codes, permit programs, and land-use regulations and their customary4
duties in utility and public works construction, operation, and5
maintenance. 6
Sec. 3. Section 81-3451, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is7
amended to read: 8
81-3451 (1) The following shall be considered as the minimum9
evidence satisfactory to the board that an applicant is eligible for10
enrollment as an engineer-intern: 11
(a)(i) Graduation from a program accredited by the Engineering12
Accreditation Commission of ABET; 13
(ii) Graduation from a program accredited by the Canadian14
Engineering Accreditation Board; or 15
(iii) Meeting the Education Standard of the National Council of16
Examiners for Engineering and Surveying as determined by the council;17
(b) Passage of an examination in the fundamentals of engineering as18
accepted by the Board of Engineers and Architects;19
(c) Submittal of an application accompanied by the fee established20
by the board; and 21
(d) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by22
attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references23
acceptable to the board shall be included in the application for24
enrollment. 25
(2)(a) The following shall be considered as the minimum evidence26
satisfactory to the board that an applicant is eligible for admission to27
the examination on the principles and practice of engineering that is28
adopted by the board: 29
(i)(A) Graduation from a program accredited by the Engineering30
Accreditation Commission of ABET; 31
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(B) Graduation from a program accredited by the Canadian Engineering1
Accreditation Board; or 2
(C) Meeting the Education Standard of the National Council of3
Examiners for Engineering and Surveying as determined by the council;4
(ii) Passage of an examination in the fundamentals of engineering as5
accepted by the Board of Engineers and Architects; 6
(iii) Submittal of an application accompanied by the fee established7
by the board; and 8
(iv) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by9
attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references10
acceptable to the board shall be included in the application.11
(b) A candidate who fails the principles and practice of engineering12
examination may apply for reexamination, which may be granted upon13
payment of a fee established by the board. In the event of a second or14
subsequent failure, the examinee may, at the discretion of the board, be15
required to appear before the board with evidence of having acquired the16
necessary additional knowledge to qualify before admission to the17
examination. 18
(2) (3) The following shall be considered as the minimum evidence19
satisfactory to the board that an applicant is eligible for licensure as20
a professional engineer: 21
(a)(i) Graduation from a program accredited by the Engineering22
Accreditation Commission of ABET; 23
(ii) Graduation from a program accredited by the Canadian24
Engineering Accreditation Board; or 25
(iii) Meeting the Education Standard of the National Council of26
Examiners for Engineering and Surveying as determined by the council;27
(b) Passage of an examination in the fundamentals of engineering28
that is accepted by the Board of Engineers and Architects;29
(c) (a) Passage of an examination in the principles and practice of30
engineering that is accepted by the board examination as set forth in31
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subsection (2) of this section; 1
(d) (b) A record of four years or more of progressive post-2
accredited-degree experience on engineering projects of a grade and3
character which indicates to the board that the applicant may be4
competent to practice engineering; 5
(e) Submittal of an application for licensure as a professional6
engineer accompanied by a fee established by the board;7
(f) (c) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character8
by attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of9
references acceptable to the board shall be included in the application10
for licensure; and 11
(g) (d) Successful passage of an examination on the statutes, rules,12
and other requirements unique to this state. 13
(3) (4) An individual holding a license to practice engineering14
issued by a proper authority of any jurisdiction, based on credentials15
that do not conflict with subsection subsections (2) and (3) of this16
section and other provisions of the Engineers and Architects Regulation17
Act, may, upon application, be licensed as a professional engineer after:18
(a) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by19
attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references20
acceptable to the board shall be included in the application for21
licensure; and 22
(b) Successful passage of an examination on the statutes, rules, and23
other requirements unique to this state. 24
(4) (5) An individual who has been licensed to practice engineering25
for fifteen years or more in one or more jurisdictions and who has26
practiced engineering for fifteen years in compliance with the licensing27
laws in the jurisdictions where his or her engineering practice has28
occurred since initial licensure may, upon application, be licensed as a29
professional engineer after: 30
(a) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by31
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attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references1
acceptable to the board shall be included in the application for2
licensure; and 3
(b) Successful passage of an examination on the statutes, rules, and4
other requirements unique to this state. 5
(5) (6) The board may designate a professional engineer as being6
licensed in a specific discipline or branch of engineering signifying the7
area in which the professional engineer has demonstrated competence.8
(6) (7) Upon application to the board in writing and payment of a9
fee established by the board, an individual who holds a valid license to10
practice engineering in another jurisdiction may be issued a temporary11
permit, valid for a definite period of time, to provide engineering12
services for a specific project. An individual may not be issued more13
than one temporary permit. No right to practice engineering accrues to14
such applicant with respect to any other work not set forth in the15
temporary permit. Temporary permit holders are subject to all of the16
provisions of the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act governing the17
practice of engineering. 18
(7) (8) None of the examination materials described in this section19
shall be considered public records. 20
(8) (9) The board or its agent shall direct the time and place of21
the engineering examinations referenced in subsections (1) and , (2) ,22
and (3) of this section. 23
(9) (10) The board may adopt the examinations and grading procedures24
of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The25
board may also adopt guidelines published by the council.26
(10) (11) Licensure shall be effective upon issuance.27
Sec. 4. Original sections 81-3437.01 and 81-3451, Reissue Revised28
Statutes of Nebraska, and section 81-3449, Revised Statutes Supplement,29
2025, are repealed. 30
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