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DHHS‑backed bill would rename division to reflect disability and aging services
Summary
LB733, presented by Sen. Merv Riepe for DHHS, would rename the Division of Developmental Disabilities to the Division of Disability and Aging and make conforming statutory edits; proponents said the change is organizational and does not change services or eligibility.
Senator Merv Riepe introduced LB733, a Department of Health and Human Services request bill that renames the Division of Developmental Disabilities as the Division of Disability and Aging and updates statutory references to reflect operational changes already effected inside DHHS.
Tony Green, director of the division, said the change follows a multi‑year reorganization (waiver moves in 2020, special health care needs transfer in 2024, and merger of the state unit on aging in 2024) intended to consolidate aging and disability functions, reduce administrative redundancies and improve continuity of care. “This change reflects work that’s been underway since 2020,” Green told the committee.
Advocates and service providers including the Nebraska Association of Service Providers and the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities testified in support, saying the new name reduces confusion among families and better reflects programs for people across the lifespan. Several witnesses emphasized the bill does not create new programs, expand services or change eligibility standards.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether the bill alters services; department witnesses and advocates reiterated it is primarily a statutory alignment to ongoing administrative changes.
Next steps: the bill was heard with proponents present and no in‑room opposition testimony recorded; the sponsor waived the close.
