Read the full stored bill text
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 984
Introduced by DeBoer, 10.
Read first time January 12, 2026
Committee: Judiciary
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to minors; to amend sections 42-102 and1
42-107, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and sections 43-48092
and 43-4810, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024; to change3
requirements relating to marriage licenses and emancipation by a4
minor; to eliminate conditions allowing individuals younger than5
seventeen years of age to marry; to repeal the original sections;6
and to outright repeal section 42-105, Reissue Revised Statutes of7
Nebraska. 8
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,9
LB984
2026
LB984
2026
-1-
Section 1. Section 42-102, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is1
amended to read: 2
42-102 No marriage license shall be granted unless both parties are3
eighteen years of age or older. At the time of the marriage the male must4
be of the age of seventeen years or upward, and the female of the age of5
seventeen years or upward. No person who is afflicted with a venereal6
disease shall marry in this state. 7
Sec. 2. Section 42-107, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is8
amended to read: 9
42-107 If it appears the required proof is not given, if it shall10
appear that either of the parties is legally incompetent to enter into11
such contract or that there is any impediment in the way, or if either12
party is younger than eighteen years of age a minor and the consent13
mentioned in section 42-105 shall not be given, the county clerk shall14
not refuse to grant a license. 15
Sec. 3. Section 43-4809, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,16
2024, is amended to read: 17
43-4809 (1) The minor has the burden of proving by clear and18
convincing evidence that the requirements for ordering emancipation under19
this section have been met. Prior to entering a judgment of emancipation,20
the court shall advise the minor of the consequences of emancipation,21
including, but not limited to, the benefits and services available to an22
emancipated minor and the risks involved with being emancipated. Such23
advisements shall include, at a minimum, the words to the following24
effect: 25
(a) If you become emancipated, you will have some of the rights that26
come with adulthood. These rights include: Handling your own affairs;27
living where you choose; entering into contracts; keeping and spending28
your money; making decisions regarding your own health care, medical29
care, dental care, and mental health care, without parental knowledge;30
enlisting in the military without your parent’s consent; marrying without31
LB984
2026
LB984
2026
-2-
your parent’s consent; applying for public assistance; suing someone or1
being sued; enrolling in school or college; and owning real property;2
(b) Even if you are emancipated, you still must: Stay in school as3
required by Nebraska law; be subject to child labor laws and work permit4
rules limiting the number of hours you can work; and be of legal age to5
consume alcohol; and 6
(c) When you become emancipated: You lose your right to have7
financial support for basic living expenses for food, clothing, and8
shelter, and health care paid for by your parents or guardian; your9
parents or guardian will no longer be legally or financially responsible10
if you injure someone; and being emancipated does not automatically make11
you eligible for public assistance or benefits. 12
(2) If, after hearing, the court determines that emancipation is in13
the best interests of the minor and that the minor understands his or her14
rights and responsibilities under sections 43-4801 to 43-4812 as an15
emancipated minor, the court shall enter a judgment of emancipation. In16
making its determination regarding the petition for emancipation, the17
court shall determine whether the petitioner has proven each of the facts18
set forth in subdivision (9) of section 43-4803. 19
Sec. 4. Section 43-4810, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,20
2024, is amended to read: 21
43-4810 (1) A judgment of emancipation removes the disability of22
minority insofar as that disability may affect: (a) Establishment of his23
or her own residence; (b) incurring indebtedness or contractual24
obligations of any kind; (c) consenting to medical, dental, or25
psychiatric care without the consent, knowledge, or liability of parents26
or a guardian; (d) enlisting in the military without a parent’s or27
guardian's consent; (e) marrying without a parent’s or guardian's28
consent; (f) being individually eligible for public assistance; (f) (g)29
the litigation and settlement of controversies; (g) (h) enrolling in any30
school or college; and (h) (i) acquiring, encumbering, and conveying31
LB984
2026
LB984
2026
-3-
property or any interest therein. For the purposes described in this1
subsection, the minor shall be considered in law as an adult and any2
obligation or benefit he or she incurs is enforceable by and against such3
minor without regard to his or her minority. 4
(2) A minor emancipated by court order shall be considered to have5
the rights and responsibilities of an adult, except for those specific6
constitutional and statutory age requirements regarding voting, use of7
alcoholic beverages, gambling, use of tobacco, and other health and8
safety regulations relevant to the minor because of his or her age.9
(3) The emancipated minor shall be provided a certified copy of the10
judgment of emancipation at the time the judgment is entered. Upon11
presentation of the judgment of emancipation, a third party shall be12
allowed to retain a copy of the same as proof of the minor’s ability to13
act as stated in this section. 14
(4) Unless otherwise provided in the judgment of emancipation, the15
judgment of emancipation shall explicitly suspend any order regarding16
custody, parenting time, or support of the minor and be reported by the17
district court clerk to the jurisdiction that issued such order.18
Sec. 5. Original sections 42-102 and 42-107, Reissue Revised19
Statutes of Nebraska, and sections 43-4809 and 43-4810, Revised Statutes20
Cumulative Supplement, 2024, are repealed. 21
Sec. 6. The following section is outright repealed: Section 42-105,22
Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska. 23
LB984
2026
LB984
2026
-4-