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Legislature advances LB80 to harmonize and extend protection orders; committee amendment adopted
Summary
The Legislature adopted a committee amendment and advanced LB80, which consolidates domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment protection orders into a single Protection Orders Act, extends initial order durations, and provides procedural and confidentiality changes.
Senator Kathleen Hallstrom presented LB80, a bill consolidating existing domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment protection orders into a single Protection Orders Act and allowing courts to issue initial orders for at least one year and up to two years. The Judiciary Committee advanced the package and the Legislature adopted the committee amendment AM801 before advancing LB80 to select file.
The committee amendment adds language permitting courts to order relief the court deems necessary to protect the safety and welfare of petitioners in harassment and sexual-assault protection order cases, mirroring existing domestic-abuse provisions. Senator Suzanne Boson, chair of the Judiciary Committee, said the change aligns protections across order types and preserves judicial discretion.
LB80 also requires certified copies of protection orders be provided at no cost to petitioners and law-enforcement agencies, broadens the statutory definitions (including "unlawful intrusion"), and authorizes court staff to assist petitioners in completing protection-order requests consistent with court policy. Sponsor Senator Hallstrom said longer initial orders reduce the burden on survivors who otherwise must repeatedly return to court.
Senator Rountree described two provisions incorporated into the amendment: LB141, which clarifies Department of Health and Human Services coordination with military family advocacy programs when child-abuse investigations involve military families, and LB267, which modifies landlord-tenant protections for survivors of domestic violence to allow eviction of only the perpetrator when appropriate documentation is provided.
The Judiciary Committee advanced the base bill on a nearly unanimous vote. The body adopted AM801 and recorded the committee amendment adoption as 38 ayes and no nays; later the clerk recorded advancement of LB80 to E & R initial with a roll call showing 35 ayes and 1 nay.
Supporters said LB80 strengthens survivor protections and streamlines related statutes; some senators asked staff to review language governing renewal and rescission of orders and to consider how enhanced penalties might interact with nonconfrontational communications (for example, logistical contacts initiated by petitioners). The Judiciary Committee and sponsors indicated willingness to refine language between general and select file.
