Read the full stored bill text
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 975
Introduced by Conrad, 46.
Read first time January 12, 2026
Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Attorney General; to adopt the Private1
Attorney Retention Sunshine Act; and to provide severability.2
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,3
LB975
2026
LB975
2026
-1-
Section 1. Sections 1 to 7 of this act shall be known and may be1
cited as the Private Attorney Retention Sunshine Act.2
Sec. 2. The Legislature finds that in order to increase3
transparency and accountability of taxpayer dollars and in order to4
establish uniformity among state agencies for the provision of contract5
services, including legal services, the Legislature adopts the Private6
Attorney Retention Sunshine Act. The act will ensure that if state7
litigation is delegated to private attorneys, government lawsuits will be8
prosecuted in a manner to further the public interest rather than to9
increase the profitability of private attorneys. Taxpayers deserve10
oversight and accountability when state contracts for legal services are11
executed to ensure an open, transparent, and competitive public bidding12
process. Additionally, taxpayers deserve a mechanism for oversight and13
accountability regarding contracts for legal services and components such14
as expenses, the fee agreement, and other record keeping should be15
disclosed upon completion of the contract. 16
Sec. 3. For purposes of the Private Attorney Retention Sunshine17
Act, a contract for legal services exceeding ten thousand dollars means a18
contract in which the fee paid to a private attorney or law firm whether19
a flat, hourly, or contingent fee, and expenses, exceeds or can20
reasonably be expected to exceed ten thousand dollars.21
Sec. 4. (1) The Attorney General shall not retain a private22
attorney or law firm to perform legal services on behalf of the state23
until an open and competitive bidding process has been completed24
consistent with the requirements set forth in section 73-807.25
(2)(a) When executing a contract for legal services exceeding ten26
thousand dollars, the Attorney General shall file the proposed contract27
with the Appropriations Committee of the Legislature, if the Legislature28
is in session, or with the Executive Board of the Legislative Council, if29
the Legislature is not in session. 30
(b) Within ten days after the filing, the committee or executive31
LB975
2026
LB975
2026
-2-
board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed contract and thereafter1
issue a report to the Attorney General. The report shall include any2
changes to the proposed contract approved by the committee or executive3
board. The Attorney General shall review the report and adopt a proposed4
final contract taking into consideration the committee's or executive5
board's findings and shall file the proposed final contract with the6
committee or executive board. 7
(c) If the proposed final contract does not contain the changes8
proposed by the committee or executive board, the Attorney General shall9
include an explanation of the reasons for the omission of the proposed10
changes, including any exigent circumstances, with the proposed final11
contract. No earlier than thirty days after sending the proposed final12
contract and any explanation to the committee or executive board, the13
Attorney General may execute the final contract. 14
Sec. 5. (1) At the conclusion of a legal proceeding for which a15
private attorney or law firm has been retained on a contingent-fee basis,16
the private attorney or law firm shall provide the Attorney General with17
a statement of the hours worked, expenses incurred, the aggregate fee18
amount, and a breakdown of the hourly rate, calculated based on hours19
worked divided by the amount of the fee recovered, minus expenses.20
(2) The state shall not incur legal fees greater than one thousand21
dollars per hour for legal services rendered. If a disclosure submitted22
in accordance with this section indicates an hourly rate in excess of one23
thousand dollars per hour, the rate shall be reduced to one thousand24
dollars per hour. 25
Sec. 6. The Private Attorney Retention Sunshine Act applies to26
contracts between private attorneys and the Attorney General executed on27
or after the effective date of this act. 28
Sec. 7. The Private Attorney Retention Sunshine Act shall not be29
construed to expand the authority of the Attorney General to execute a30
contract if no such authority otherwise exists. 31
LB975
2026
LB975
2026
-3-
Sec. 8. If any section in this act or any part of any section is1
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the declaration shall not affect2
the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions.3
LB975
2026
LB975
2026
-4-