Nebraska bill revises cash‑device definitions, doubles certain licensing fees every other year

Lawmakers adopted a General Affairs Committee amendment to LB177 that clarifies definitions in the Mechanical Amusement Device Tax Act and aligns licensing schedules and fees with a new every‑other‑year renewal cycle.

Senator Mike Klaus, sponsor of LB177, said the white‑copy amendment AM 87 addresses ambiguities in the definitions of “distributor” and “operator” that produced confusion under changes made in a prior session. He told senators the committee also moved license renewals for manufacturers, distributors and operators to a biennial schedule and doubled per‑device fees to reflect the longer license term.

AM 87 also contains technical revisions to background‑check language to maintain access to the FBI’s background‑check system, Klaus said. The General Affairs Committee adopted the amendment on an 8‑0 committee vote and the floor sustained the committee amendment by a voice/record vote recorded as 35 ayes, no nays.

After adoption of AM 87, the Legislature advanced LB177 to enrollment and review on a 35‑aye, no‑nay vote. Sponsors said the change is designed to reduce administrative burden on state staff and industry by moving to a two‑year licensing cycle and consolidating fee collection. The fiscal note was adjusted to reflect doubling fees (e.g., a distributor fee shown as $200 per device every two years rather than $100 annually).

Senator Holcroft, speaking for the committee, described AM 87 as a “white copy” amendment that retained most of LB177’s content while clarifying fee timing and removing unrelated language from the original bill.

No opponents were recorded at the bill’s General Affairs Committee hearing, committee materials show. With AM 87 adopted, LB177 will proceed through enrollment and review before further floor consideration.