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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 981
Introduced by Urban Affairs Committee: McKinney, 11, Chairperson;
Cavanaugh, J., 9; Quick, 35; Rountree, 3.
Read first time January 12, 2026
Committee: Urban Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to political subdivisions; to amend section1
71-1575, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and sections 14-102,2
71-1572, and 71-15,169, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,3
2024; to provide powers to cities of the metropolitan class to4
regulate housing authorities by ordinance; to define terms; to5
change provisions relating to a complaint process, provide duties6
for certain housing agencies relating to bed bugs, and require a7
report under the Nebraska Housing Agency Act; to harmonize8
provisions; and to repeal the original sections.9
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,10
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Section 1. Section 14-102, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,1
2024, is amended to read: 2
14-102 In addition to the powers granted in section 14-101, cities3
of the metropolitan class shall have power by ordinance:4
(1) To levy any tax or special assessment authorized by law;5
(2) To provide a corporate seal for the use of the city, and also6
any official seal for the use of any officer, board, or agent of the7
city, whose duties require an official seal to be used. Such corporate8
seal shall be used in the execution of municipal bonds, warrants,9
conveyances, and other instruments and proceedings as required by law;10
(3) To provide all needful rules and regulations for the protection11
and preservation of health within the city, including providing for the12
enforcement of the use of water from public water supplies when the use13
of water from other sources shall be deemed unsafe;14
(4) To appropriate money and provide for the payment of debts and15
expenses of the city; 16
(5) To adopt all such measures as may be deemed necessary for the17
accommodation and protection of strangers and the traveling public in18
person and property; 19
(6) To punish and prevent the discharge of firearms, fireworks, or20
explosives of any description within the city, other than the discharge21
of firearms at a shooting range pursuant to the Nebraska Shooting Range22
Protection Act; 23
(7) To regulate the inspection and sale of meats, flour, poultry,24
fish, milk, vegetables, and all other provisions or articles of food25
exposed or offered for sale in the city; 26
(8) To require all elected or appointed officers to give bond and27
security for the faithful performance of their duties, except that no28
officer shall become bonded and secured upon the official bond of another29
or upon any bond executed to the city; 30
(9) To require from any officer of the city at any time a report, in31
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detail, of the transactions of his or her office or any matter connected1
with such office; 2
(10) To provide for the prevention of cruelty to children and3
animals; 4
(11) To regulate, license, or prohibit the running at large of dogs5
and other animals within the city as well as in areas within the6
extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of the city; to guard against7
injuries or annoyance from such dogs and other animals; and to authorize8
the destruction of such dogs and other animals when running at large9
contrary to the provisions of any ordinance. Any licensing provision10
shall comply with subsection (2) of section 54-603 for service animals;11
(12) To provide for keeping sidewalks clean and free from12
obstructions and accumulations; to provide for the assessment and13
collection of taxes on real estate and for the sale and conveyance14
thereof; and to pay the expenses of keeping the sidewalk adjacent to such15
real estate clean and free from obstructions and accumulations as16
provided by law; 17
(13) To provide for the planting and protection of shade or18
ornamental and useful trees upon streets or boulevards; to assess the19
cost of such trees to the extent of benefits upon the abutting property20
as a special assessment; to provide for the protection of birds and21
animals and their nests; to provide for the trimming of trees located22
upon streets and boulevards or when the branches of trees overhang23
streets and boulevards when in the judgment of the mayor and city council24
such trimming is made necessary to properly light such street or25
boulevard or to furnish proper police protection; and to assess the cost26
of such trimming upon the abutting property as a special assessment;27
(14) To provide for, regulate, and require the numbering or28
renumbering of houses along public streets or avenues; and to care for29
and control and to name and rename streets, avenues, parks, and squares30
within the city; 31
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(15) To require weeds and worthless vegetation growing upon any lot1
or piece of ground within the city or its extraterritorial zoning2
jurisdiction to be cut and destroyed so as to abate any nuisance3
occasioned by such vegetation; to prohibit and control the throwing,4
depositing, or accumulation of litter on any lot or piece of ground5
within the city or its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction; to require6
the removal of such litter so as to abate any nuisance occasioned7
thereby. If the owner fails to cut and destroy weeds and worthless8
vegetation or remove litter, or both, after notice as required by9
ordinance, the city may assess the cost of such destruction or removal10
upon the lots or lands as a special assessment. The required notice may11
be by publication in the official newspaper of the city and may be12
directed in general terms to the owners of lots and lands affected13
without naming such owners; 14
(16) To prohibit and regulate the running at large or the herding or15
driving of domestic animals, such as hogs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats,16
fowls, or animals of any kind or description within the corporate limits;17
to provide for the impounding of all animals running at large, herded, or18
driven contrary to such prohibition and regulations; and to provide for19
the forfeiture and sale of animals impounded to pay the expense of taking20
up, caring for, and selling such impounded animals, including the cost of21
advertising and fees of officers; 22
(17) To regulate the transportation of articles through the streets23
and to prevent injuries to the streets from overloaded vehicles;24
(18) To prevent or regulate any amusement or practice having a25
tendency to annoy persons passing in the streets or on the sidewalks; and26
to regulate the use of vehicles propelled by steam, gas, electricity, or27
other motive power, operated on the streets of the city;28
(19) To regulate or prohibit the transportation and keeping of29
gunpowder, oils, and other combustible and explosive articles;30
(20) To regulate, license, or prohibit the sale of domestic animals31
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or of goods, wares, and merchandise at public auction on the streets,1
alleys, highways, or any public ground within the city;2
(21) To regulate and prevent the use of streets, sidewalks, and3
public grounds for signs, posts, awnings, awning posts, scales, or other4
like purposes; and to regulate and prohibit the exhibition or carrying or5
conveying of banners, placards, advertisements, or the distribution or6
posting of advertisements or handbills in the streets or public grounds7
or upon the sidewalks; 8
(22) To provide for the punishment of persons disturbing the peace9
by noise, intoxication, drunkenness, or fighting, or otherwise violating10
the public peace by indecent or disorderly conduct or by lewd and11
lascivious behavior; 12
(23) To provide for the punishment of vagrants, tramps, street13
beggars, prostitutes, disturbers of the peace, pickpockets, gamblers,14
burglars, thieves, persons who practice any game, trick, or device with15
intent to swindle, and trespassers upon private property;16
(24) To prohibit, restrain, and suppress houses of prostitution,17
opium joints, gambling houses, prize fighting, dog fighting, cock18
fighting, and other disorderly houses and practices, all games and19
gambling, and all kinds of indecencies; to regulate and license or20
prohibit the keeping and use of billiard tables, bowling alleys, shooting21
galleries except as provided in the Nebraska Shooting Range Protection22
Act, and other similar places of amusement; and to prohibit and suppress23
all lotteries and gift enterprises of all kinds under whatsoever name24
carried on, except that nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to25
apply to bingo, lotteries, lotteries by the sale of pickle cards, or26
raffles conducted in accordance with the Nebraska Bingo Act, the Nebraska27
Lottery and Raffle Act, the Nebraska Pickle Card Lottery Act, the28
Nebraska Small Lottery and Raffle Act, or the State Lottery Act;29
(25) To make and enforce all police regulations for the good30
government, general welfare, health, safety, and security of the city and31
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the citizens of the city in addition to the police powers expressly1
granted by law; in the exercise of the police power, to pass all needful2
and proper ordinances and impose fines, forfeitures, and penalties for3
the violation of any ordinance; to provide for the recovery, collection,4
and enforcement of such fines; and in default of payment to provide for5
confinement in the city or county prison or other place of confinement as6
may be provided by ordinance; 7
(26) To prevent immoderate driving on the street;8
(27) To establish and maintain public libraries, art galleries, and9
museums and to provide the necessary grounds or buildings for such10
libraries, galleries, and museums; to purchase books, papers, maps,11
manuscripts, works of art, and objects of natural or of scientific12
curiosity and instruction for such libraries, galleries, and museums; to13
receive donations and bequests of money or property for such libraries,14
galleries, and museums in trust or otherwise; and to pass necessary15
bylaws and regulations for the protection and government of such16
libraries, art galleries, and museums; 17
(28) To erect, designate, establish, maintain, and regulate18
hospitals, houses of correction, jails, station houses, fire engine19
houses, asphalt repair plants, and other necessary buildings; to erect,20
designate, establish, maintain, and regulate plants for the removal,21
disposal, or recycling of garbage and refuse or to make contracts for22
garbage and refuse removal, disposal, or recycling, or all of the same;23
and to charge equitable fees for such removal, disposal, or recycling, or24
all of the same, except as provided by law. The fees collected pursuant25
to this subdivision shall be credited to a single fund to be used26
exclusively by the city for the removal, disposal, or recycling of27
garbage and refuse, or all of the same, including any costs incurred for28
collecting the fee. Before any contract for such removal, disposal, or29
recycling is let, the city council shall make specifications for such30
contract, bids shall be advertised for as now provided by law, and the31
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contract shall be let to the lowest and best bidder, who shall furnish1
bond to the city conditioned upon his or her carrying out the terms of2
the contract, the bond to be approved by the city council. Nothing in3
this section, and no contract or regulation made by the city council,4
shall be so construed as to prohibit any person, firm, or corporation5
engaged in any business in which garbage or refuse accumulates as a6
byproduct from selling, recycling, or otherwise disposing of his, her, or7
its garbage or refuse or hauling such garbage or refuse through the8
streets and alleys under such uniform and reasonable regulations as the9
city council may by ordinance prescribe for the removal and hauling of10
garbage or refuse; 11
(29) To erect and establish market houses and market places and to12
provide for the erection of all other useful and necessary buildings for13
the use of the city and for the protection and safety of all property14
owned by the city. Such market houses, market places, and buildings may15
be located on any street, alley, or public ground or on land purchased16
for such purpose; 17
(30) To prohibit the establishment of additional cemeteries within18
the limits of the city; to regulate the registration of births and19
deaths; to direct the keeping and returning of bills of mortality; and to20
impose penalties on physicians, sextons, and others for any default in21
the premises; 22
(31) To provide for the inspection of steam boilers, electric light23
appliances, pipefittings, and plumbings; to regulate their erection and24
construction; to appoint inspectors; and to declare their powers and25
duties, except as otherwise provided by law; 26
(32) To enact a fire code and regulate the erection of all buildings27
and other structures within the corporate limits; to provide for the28
removal of any buildings or structures or additions to buildings or29
structures erected contrary to such code or regulations and to provide30
for the removal of dangerous buildings; but no such code or regulation31
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shall be suspended or modified by resolution, nor shall exceptions be1
made by ordinance or resolution in favor of any person, firm, or2
corporation or concerning any particular lot or building; to direct that3
when any building has been damaged by fire, decay, or otherwise, to the4
extent of fifty percent of the value of a similar new building above the5
foundation, shall be torn down or removed; to prescribe the manner of6
ascertaining such damages and to assess the cost of removal of any7
building erected or existing contrary to such code or regulations against8
the lot or real estate upon which such building or structure is located9
or shall be erected or to collect such costs from the owner of any such10
building or structure; and to enforce the collection of such costs by11
civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction;12
(33) To regulate the construction, use, and maintenance of party13
walls, to prescribe and regulate the thickness, strength, and manner of14
constructing stone, brick, wood, or other buildings and the size and15
shape of brick and other material placed in such buildings; to prescribe16
and regulate the construction and arrangement of fire escapes and the17
placing of iron and metallic shutters and doors in or on such fire18
escapes; to provide for the inspection of elevators; to prescribe,19
regulate, and provide for the inspection of all plumbing, pipefitting, or20
sewer connections in all houses or buildings now or hereafter erected; to21
regulate the size, number, and manner of construction of halls, doors,22
stairways, seats, aisles, and passageways of theaters and buildings of a23
public character, whether now built or hereafter to be built, so that24
there may be convenient, safe, and speedy exit in case of fire; to25
prevent the dangerous construction and condition of chimneys, fireplaces,26
hearths, stoves, stovepipes, ovens, boilers, and heating appliances used27
in or about any building and to cause such appliances to be removed or28
placed in safe condition when they are considered dangerous; to prevent29
the deposit of ashes in unsafe places and to cause such buildings and30
enclosures as may be in a dangerous state to be put in a safe condition;31
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to prevent the disposing of and delivery or use in any building or other1
structure of unsuitable building material within the city limits and2
provide for the inspection of building materials; to provide for the3
abatement of dense volumes of smoke; to regulate the construction of4
areaways, stairways, and vaults and to regulate partition fences; and to5
enforce proper heating and ventilation of buildings used for schools or6
other buildings where large numbers of persons are liable to congregate;7
(34) To regulate levees, depots and depot grounds, and places for8
storing freight and goods and to provide for and regulate the laying of9
tracks and the passage of railways through the streets, alleys, and10
public grounds of the city; 11
(35) To require the lighting of any railway within the city and to12
fix and determine the number, size, and style of all fixtures and13
apparatus necessary for such lighting and the points of location for such14
lampposts. If any company owning or operating such railways shall fail to15
comply with such requirements, the city council may cause such lighting16
to be done and may assess the expense of such lighting against such17
company. Such expense shall constitute a lien upon any real estate18
belonging to such company and lying within such city and may be collected19
in the same manner as taxes for general purposes; 20
(36) To provide for necessary publicity and to appropriate money for21
the purpose of advertising the resources and advantages of the city;22
(37) To erect, establish, and maintain offstreet parking areas on23
publicly owned property located beneath any elevated segment of the24
National System of Interstate and Defense Highways or portion thereof, or25
public property title to which is in the city on May 12, 1971, or26
property owned by the city and used in conjunction with and incidental to27
city-operated facilities; and to regulate parking on such property by28
time limitation devices or by lease; 29
(38) To acquire, by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or30
otherwise, lease, purchase, construct, own, maintain, operate, or31
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contract for the operation of public passenger transportation systems,1
excluding taxicabs, transportation network companies and railroad2
systems, including all property and facilities required for such public3
passenger transportation systems, within and without the limits of the4
city; to redeem such property from prior encumbrance in order to protect5
or preserve the interest of the city in such property; to exercise all6
powers granted by the Constitution of Nebraska and laws of the State of7
Nebraska or exercised by or pursuant to a home rule charter adopted8
pursuant thereto, including, but not limited to, receiving and accepting9
from the government of the United States or any agency thereof, from the10
State of Nebraska or any subdivision thereof, and from any person or11
corporation donations, devises, gifts, bequests, loans, or grants for or12
in aid of the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of such public13
passenger transportation systems; to administer, hold, use, and apply14
such donations, devises, gifts, bequests, loans, or grants for the15
purposes for which such donations, devises, gifts, bequests, loans, or16
grants may have been made; to negotiate with employees and enter into17
contracts of employment; to employ by contract or otherwise individuals18
singularly or collectively; to enter into agreements authorized under the19
Interlocal Cooperation Act or the Joint Public Agency Act; to contract20
with an operating and management company for the purpose of operating,21
servicing, and maintaining any public passenger transportation systems22
the city shall acquire; and to exercise such other and further powers as23
may be necessary, incident, or appropriate to the powers of the city; and24
(39) In addition to powers conferred elsewhere in the laws of the25
state, to implement and enforce an air pollution control program within26
the corporate limits of the city under subdivision (23) of section27
81-1504 or subsection (1) of section 81-1528, which program shall be28
consistent with the federal Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et29
seq. Such powers shall include without limitation those involving30
injunctive relief, civil penalties, criminal fines, and burden of proof.31
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Nothing in this section shall preclude the control of air pollution by1
resolution, ordinance, or regulation not in actual conflict with state2
air pollution control regulations; and . 3
(40) To require any housing authority in a city of the metropolitan4
class to comply with any city rental inspection and registration5
ordinance, code enforcement, and inspection of residential rental6
properties. 7
Sec. 2. Section 71-1572, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,8
2024, is amended to read: 9
71-1572 Sections 71-1572 to 71-15,170 and sections 5 and 6 of this10
act shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Housing Agency Act.11
Sec. 3. Section 71-1575, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is12
amended to read: 13
71-1575 For purposes of the Nebraska Housing Agency Act:14
(1) Affiliate means any corporation, entity, partnership, venture,15
syndicate, or arrangement in which a local housing agency participates by16
holding an ownership interest or participating in its governance,17
including both controlled and noncontrolled affiliates;18
(2) Affordable housing means dwelling units that may be rented or19
purchased, as the case may be, by persons of eligible income and20
qualifying tenants, with or without government assistance;21
(3) Agreement means a contract or other legal relations with another22
party, whether public or private; 23
(4) Area of operation means the geographical area within which a24
local housing agency may own or operate housing developments as described25
in section 71-1588; 26
(5) Bed bug means a member of the Cimicidae family of parasitic27
insects; 28
(6) (5) City means an incorporated city or village;29
(7) (6) Commissioner means a person serving on the governing board30
of a local housing agency, including any person identified under prior31
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law as a member of a housing authority; 1
(8) (7) Community facilities means real and personal property2
suitable for recreational, educational, health, or welfare purposes,3
including, but not limited to, buildings, equipment, and parks and other4
spaces or structures; 5
(9) (8) Controlled affiliate means any affiliate of a local housing6
agency (a) in which commissioners, officers, employees, and agents of7
such agency constitute a majority of the governing body of such entity or8
(b) in which such agency holds a majority of the ownership interests;9
(10) (9) Development or housing development means and includes all10
dwellings and associated appurtenances, including real and personal11
property, and all other facilities and improvements of every kind and12
description which a local housing agency may own or operate or in which13
it may hold an interest under the provisions of the act; all land upon14
which such dwellings, appurtenances, and facilities are situated; all15
work and activities undertaken by a local housing agency or others16
relating to the creation of such property and all tangible and intangible17
personal property relating thereto, including all leases, licenses,18
agreements, and other instruments; and all rights and obligations arising19
thereunder establishing or confirming ownership, title, or right of use20
or possession in or to any such property by a local housing agency;21
(11) (10) Establishing a housing agency means taking all actions22
required under sections 71-1576 to 71-1587 to be taken by the governing23
body of a city or county or, in the case of a regional housing agency, by24
the governing bodies of all political subdivisions participating therein,25
for a housing agency to conduct business and to exercise its powers. In26
the case of a housing agency or housing authority existing on January 1,27
2000, established means that such agency has been authorized to conduct28
business and exercise its powers in accordance with prior law;29
(12) (11) Family means a single person or a number of persons that30
may, but need not, include children, that a local housing agency accepts31
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for occupancy of a dwelling, or to which such agency offers or provides1
other assistance, as particularly defined in the eligibility and2
occupancy standards adopted by the agency; 3
(13) (12) Guest means any person, not a resident of such4
development, who is present within a development, or any person, not a5
resident in such dwelling, who is present within a dwelling in a6
development, as an invitee of or otherwise with the acquiescence or7
consent of a resident of such development or dwelling, as the case may8
be; 9
(14) (13) Hold an interest means ownership, control of, or10
participation in an arrangement with respect to a development by a local11
housing agency or any affiliate thereof; 12
(15) (14) Household means a family as defined in subdivision (12)13
(11) of this section; 14
(16) (15) Housing agency or agency means and includes both a local15
housing agency established pursuant to sections 71-1576 to 71-1580 and a16
regional housing agency established pursuant to sections 71-1581 to17
71-1587. Reference in any prior or other law to housing authority is18
deemed to refer to housing agency. Wherever the context requires or19
permits, housing agency or agency includes controlled affiliates of a20
housing agency; 21
(17) (16) Local housing agency or agency means a public body,22
corporate and politic, previously established or to be established by a23
city or a county pursuant to the authority provided in the act,24
exercising necessary and essential governmental functions for the25
purposes stated in the act in matters of statewide concern, although its26
operations are local in nature. A local housing agency shall be a27
political subdivision of this state, independent from the city or county28
which established or establishes it or which may appoint some or all of29
its commissioners. Any reference in the act to a local housing agency30
includes a housing agency or a regional housing agency, unless the31
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context clearly otherwise requires. The term local housing agency also1
includes any housing authority established under prior law;2
(18) (17) Mixed-finance development means a development that is3
financed both by funding derived from the private sector and funding4
provided by the government that is permitted to be used for the5
development of affordable housing; 6
(19) (18) Mixed-income development means a housing development7
intended to be, and which in fact is, occupied both by persons of8
eligible income and by other persons, and if such other persons are9
living in a development constructed or acquired and substantially10
occupied after January 1, 2000, the incomes of such other persons at11
initial occupancy shall not exceed one hundred percent of the median12
income in the county in which the development is located;13
(20) (19) Noncontrolled affiliate means an affiliate in which a14
local housing agency participates that is not a controlled affiliate;15
(21) (20) Person includes a family; 16
(22) Pest control professional means a person licensed as a17
commercial applicator under the Pesticide Act; 18
(23) (21) Persons of eligible income means: 19
(a) With respect to state or federally funded activities or20
developments, individuals or families who meet the applicable income21
requirements of the state or federal program involved, if any such state22
or federal income requirements are applicable, and, if none are so23
applicable, then individuals or families who meet the requirements of24
subdivision (b) of this subdivision; and 25
(b) With respect to activities and developments other than those to26
which subdivision (a) of this subdivision is applicable, individuals or27
families who, in the determination of the local housing agency, lack28
sufficient income or assets, taking into account all resources available29
to such individuals or families from whatever source derived or30
reasonably derivable, to enable them, without undue hardship or31
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governmental financial assistance, to purchase or rent, as the case may1
be, decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings of adequate size, except that2
the income of such families shall not exceed eighty percent of the area3
median income for families of like size; 4
(24) (22) Public agency means and includes any: (a) County, city,5
village, or township; school, drainage, tax, improvement, or other6
district; local housing agency; department, division, or political7
subdivision of this state or another state; housing agency, housing8
finance agency, or housing trust of this state or another state; and9
other agency, bureau, office, authority, or instrumentality of this state10
or another state; (b) board, agency, commission, division, or other11
instrumentality of a city or county; and (c) board, commission, agency,12
department, or other instrumentality of the United States, or any13
political subdivision or governmental unit thereof;14
(25) (23) Qualifying tenants means persons described in subdivision15
(23)(b) (21)(b) of this section and individuals and families whose income16
does not exceed one hundred twenty-five percent of the maximum income17
standard applicable under subdivision (23)(b) (21)(b) of this section;18
(26) (24) Regional housing agency means a public body, corporate and19
politic, and a governmental subdivision of this state, formed by two or20
more cities, two or more counties, or a combination of cities and21
counties, pursuant to the authority provided in sections 71-1581 to22
71-1587, exercising necessary and essential governmental functions for23
the purposes stated in the act in matters of statewide concern, although24
its operations are local or regional in nature. It is a political25
subdivision of this state, independent from political subdivisions of26
this state which established it or which may appoint some or all of its27
commissioners; 28
(27) (25) Representative means a commissioner, officer, employee, or29
agent of a local housing agency; and 30
(28) (26) Resident means a person residing in a development of a31
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housing agency pursuant to an agreement with such agency.1
Sec. 4. Section 71-15,169, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,2
2024, is amended to read: 3
71-15,169 (1) A housing agency for a city of the metropolitan class4
shall establish a complaint process. Any resident of an agency property5
may file a complaint by any of the following means:6
(a) A complaint form filled out online on the housing agency's7
website; 8
(b) A telephone call made to a housing agency; or9
(c) A complaint form filled out in person. Such complaint form shall10
be made available at designated offices. 11
(2) The complaint form, whether completed by the complainant online,12
in-person, or by a housing agency employee answering a telephone call13
complaint, shall include the following information:14
(a) The name of the complainant; 15
(b) Contact information including the telephone number, email16
address, and mailing address of the complainant; 17
(c) The nature of the complaint, including, but not limited to,18
whether a maintenance issue, a discrimination claim, or a rent dispute;19
and 20
(d) Relevant dates. 21
(3) Notice of the right to file a complaint up until the time of an22
eviction shall be included on both the online and printed complaint form.23
(4) The complainant may provide any supporting documentation with24
the complaint, including, but not limited to, photographs or digital25
images, receipts, and correspondence. 26
(5) Upon receipt of the complaint, the agency shall send an27
acknowledgment to the complainant by email or regular first-class mail28
within five business days. Each complaint shall be assigned a unique case29
number for tracking purposes. 30
(6)(a) (6) The agency shall conduct a thorough investigation of the31
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complaint, including, but not limited to, interviewing relevant parties,1
inspecting property and relevant documents, and reviewing applicable laws2
and regulations. 3
(b) Throughout the investigation, the agency shall provide the4
complainant with regular updates on the status of the complaint by email,5
telephone, or regular first-class mail. 6
(c) The agency shall provide tenants with reasonable notice in7
advance of entering a dwelling unit for purposes of investigating8
complaints, including for inspection, bed bug remediation, or monitoring9
in connection with a bed bug complaint. 10
(7)(a) For any complaint involving an actual or suspected bed bug11
infestation: 12
(i) The agency shall perform an inspection or obtain investigatory13
services from a pest control professional within ten days after receiving14
the complaint. The inspection or investigatory services shall include any15
unit directly adjacent to, above, or below the dwelling unit or common16
area from which the original complaint came; and 17
(ii) Upon a determination of a bed bug infestation, the agency18
shall: 19
(A) Provide all tenants of units affected by the complaint with20
notice of the agency's or pest control professional's determination in21
connection with such unit within ten days after such determination is22
made; 23
(B) Obtain and provide remedial services from a pest control24
professional within twenty-one days after receipt of the complaint; and25
(C) Maintain a written record of the complaint and any control26
measures provided, including any report of chemicals applied and other27
remedies provided by the pest control professional. Such records shall be28
maintained for two years. 29
(b) For all other complaints: 30
(i) (7) The agency housing authority shall resolve the complaint31
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within fourteen days after receipt of the complaint. If additional time1
is required, the complainant shall be notified and provided with an2
updated timeline ; and . Throughout the investigation, the agency shall3
provide the complainant with regular updates on the status of the4
complaint by email, telephone, or regular first-class mail.5
(ii) (8) The agency shall notify the complainant of the resolution6
of the complaint in writing within five business days after such7
resolution. The notice shall include (A) (a) a summary of the8
investigation findings, (B) (b) the action taken to address the9
complaint, (C) (c) any remedies or compensation provided, (D) (d)10
information on how to file a complaint with the political subdivision11
responsible for code enforcement, if applicable, and (E) (e) information12
about the city's complaint process if the complainant is not satisfied13
with the resolution of the complaint. 14
(8) A complainant who is dissatisfied with the resolution of his or15
her complaint may bring an action against the agency under the terms of16
his or her lease agreement. 17
(9) The agency shall invite the complainant to provide feedback on18
the complainant's experience with the complaint process, including19
suggestions for improvement. 20
(10) The agency shall monitor complaint trends, analyze root causes,21
and report on complaint resolution statistics regularly to identify areas22
for improvement. The agency shall submit a report to the commissioners at23
every board meeting detailing (a) the number of complaints filed, (b) the24
nature of such complaints, (c) the status of completed and pending25
inspections, and (d) the number of unfilled inspector positions within26
the housing agency. The report shall also be made available to the public27
on the agency's website and at the agency's office.28
(11) The agency shall inform persons applying for housing about the29
complaint process during the resident application process and inform30
residents about the complaint process (a) annually, (b) at the time a31
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complaint is filed, and (c) by posting on the agency's website and on any1
public boards in any common housing spaces. 2
Sec. 5. A housing agency for a city of the metropolitan class shall3
have the following responsibilities relating to bed bugs:4
(1) Prior to renting a dwelling unit, the agency shall visually5
inspect the unit for any evidence of the presence of bed bugs, which may6
be indicated by observation of a living bed bug, a bed bug carapace, eggs7
or egg casings, or brownish or blood spotting on linens, mattresses, or8
furniture; 9
(2) The agency shall not show, rent, or lease to a prospective10
tenant any vacant dwelling unit that the agency knows or reasonably11
suspects has a current bed bug infestation; 12
(3) Prior to renting a dwelling unit, the agency shall disclose to a13
prospective tenant if an adjacent unit or units are currently infested14
with or are being treated for bed bugs; and 15
(4) The agency shall be responsible for the costs of investigating16
and remediating any bed bug infestation. 17
Sec. 6. A housing agency for a city of the metropolitan class shall18
submit a report every six months to such city of the metropolitan class19
and to the Urban Affairs Committee of the Legislature. The report shall20
include: 21
(1) Information regarding any pest control management activities22
undertaken during the six-month period covered by the report;23
(2) The number of eviction filings during the six-month period24
covered by the report; 25
(3) The number and nature of complaints or grievances filed during26
the six-month period covered by the report and their resolutions;27
(4) Current vacancy rates; and 28
(5) Any relevant updates from meetings of the agency's board of29
commissioners. 30
Sec. 7. Original section 71-1575, Reissue Revised Statutes of31
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Nebraska, and sections 14-102, 71-1572, and 71-15,169, Revised Statutes1
Cumulative Supplement, 2024, are repealed. 2
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